By Ed Primeau

People often ask with the ever changing speaking industry, what do meeting planners and bureaus want to see when it comes to a demo video?  Here are some tried and true characteristics for your review and consideration. 

Keep in mind, in today’s market, videos on line need to be short, entertaining and deliver knowledge.  Create your video with these characteristics and you will have a winner!

A great example of a successful video is the “Evolution of the Dance” video by Judson Laippy on You Tube.  His video is still one of the most entertaining, viewed and successful. Video’s ever on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

In 2006, Pam Berks and I hosted Voices of Experience for the National Speakers Association. Our segment producer Jean Palmer Heck interviewed Justin.  Today, with over 119, 109, 077 views, it is safe to say that video helped build Judson’s professional speaking business.

We are not all like Justin however; this video has high entertainment value. It is almost a given that you have great content or you would not have a professional speaking demo in the first place.  It is the entertainment value that your prospects and customers find most valuable when it comes to assessing talent.

Stay away from cookie cutter style videos.  Why on earth would anybody in any business, professional speaker or corporation want to produce a marketing video that looks the same as another competitor? 

Sure any video is better than no video-but do you want to be perceived like everyone else in your market segment competing for business with a blah blah video or do you want to show value and be unique?

Of course, you have to begin with professional recorded video that consists of high quality digital recorded footage including audio using direct microphone sound sources.  In other words, the announcer, presenter or performer is wearing a headset or lavaliere microphone and the audience is also being picked up with audience microphones.  Audio is an important ingredient in a professionally produced video. 

Lighting is another very important ingredient.  Use incandescent lighting instead of fluorescent and avoid shadows.

We have a database of pre-qualified video companies throughout the United States and Canada that have worked with us and understand what is necessary technically and politically when video taping a professional speaker.  This list is available for you when you have the opportunity to record footage of your presentation.  We can also email you a list of questions to ask so you can pre-qualify your potential video company. 

The next component in a successful professional speaker video is creativity.  Look at any great video and list all the creative elements you admire about that video?  Creativity can be expressed in the clips, sound bites, voice over, music and graphics.  Always write a script when you begin any video production so your vision is easily communicated when necessary.

We nailed Steve Rizzo’s demo video several times.  Each time we produce a new demo for Steve Rizzo, his business increases.  With Rizzo’s talent, it was a matter of brainstorming until we had an idea and position for the creative angel of the video.

In one of the video’s we had little comedy breaks that took the viewers attention away from the stage presentation segments and allowed them to escape to another dimension of video that also included his message and branding. This technique adds production value.

Another component of a successful professional speaker video is branding.  What will your viewer remember about the video?  How will they ask for you and remember you?  Primeau Productions, Inc. has produced five videos for Steve Rizzo CPAE (Counsel of Piers Award of Excellence) Hall of Fame Speaker and are gearing up for his sixth video(www.SteveRizzo.com)..

Christine Holton Cashen (www.ADynamicSpeaker.com) is another client we helped develop a brand and created a video around the Christine Cashen Show.  We used original music, television show opening and close as well as television style segments.

Last year we completed a preview video for Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE (www.EileenMcDargh.com) and developed her brand “Connecting in a Disconnected World”.  The brand will help your prospect remember you.

Another client Barbara Glanz, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) www.BarbaraGlanz.com  has a brand of “Spreading Contagious Enthusiasm”.  Your brand helps prospects remember you.
Remember to show your Expertise.  Floyd Wickman CSP, CPAE Hall of Fame speaker (www.FloydWickman.com) as been on the professional speaking circuit for over 30 years, his brand is his name and his experience speaking to thousands of audiences.  He is a well known salesperson.  “When the going gets tough, the tough get back to the basics” is how meeting professionals know Floyd.
 
With Floyd’s video, the success is in the script.  Our expert staff of writers created a different perspective on the previous marketing campaigns.  With a new creative marketing direction, the video fell right into place.

View Floyd Wickman and other successful videos at:
http://www.videoproductionprimeau.com/content/video-samples
Broadcast professional motion graphics and editing help carry the message and expertise throughout your video! 
Reprinted with permission.  Copyright 2010 Ed Primeau.  All rights reserved.
EdPrimeau is a former president of the National Speakers Association of Michigan as well as a chapter member of the year. Primeau Productions frequently volunteers its services for the National Speakers Association. In fact, Ed received the 1998/99 and 2006/07 Presidents Award for Distinguished Service from the National Speakers Association, an honor given only once a year.  In 1984, Ed founded Primeau Productions Inc., a full-service multimedia production company that provides consultation and services for businesses, professional speakers and entertainers, helping them to effectively promote their talents by developing marketing tools and strategies using the power of multimedia formats on the internet.

More information available at: www.PrimeauProductions.com.  Email: Ed@PrimeauProductions.com