Live performances can be exceptionally exhilarating, particularly when the venue is well set up and the lighting, sound and visual aspects compliment each other gracefully. Often a production can be so captivating that our immediate instinct is to record the performance so that we can relive our favourite moments over and over again. However, there are a few unwritten rules when it comes to taking photos and videos, especially in a technological era where cameras are built in to our handheld devices. Luckily, we’ve put together a few spectator Dos and Don’ts to keep you ahead of the curve:
Do
Scope out the venue to see if there are any licensed recordings already taking place. If a production company is already taking care of the live recording, you can allow yourself to get lost in the moment and enjoy versus distract yourself by searching for your camera. Another positive aspect to this can also be that that the quality of the licensed recording may be higher than that of your personal device. Once the show is over, if you’re eager to share content with your friends and family, you can search a member of the AV staff who can provide you on when the details of the recording release date will be available for fans to watch.
Don’t
Block other spectators with your device or use a distracting flash. Nothing is worse than going to a show and having the person in front of you block the view while they record it for their own personal use. Before lifting your recording device in the air to take that snapshot or grab that quick clip, make sure you’re self aware so as to not interrupt or distract those around you.
Do
Hit record for at least 10 seconds and less than 1 minute per clip. This is evidently exclusive to those who take video recordings of live events. The rule of thumb is to always make sure you capture at least 10 seconds since anything below that would be too short and anything exceeding 1 minute will hinder your ability to immerse yourself fully in to the live experience.
Don’t
Make too much noise while you’re recording. The overall goal is to capture what you’re hearing and seeing and nothing is worse than playing back your reel and realising that all you can hear is your own rendition of your favourite song while the artist you love is heard in muffled undertones.
Do
Remember to enjoy yourself!