7 Tips To Create Videos for Your Venue When You Hate Being On Camera
You know you should be using video to promote your restaurant or unique venue. The stats don’t lie. Video is clearly the top way to engage with your audience.
- 90% of video users claim that video plays a big role in purchase decisions
- Videos are shared 1,200% more times on social media than links and text combined
- 74% of all Internet traffic is video
But what if the thought of pressing the record button makes your index finger cramp up? What if you’re afraid to be on video?
You’re not alone. Science confirms that tons of people have the same fear of the camera.
And here’s more good news: You can create marketing videos without appearing on screen. In fact, many Tripleseat customers are making great videos every day that promote their venues and don’t require their event managers or marketing staff to be the face of the business.
Check out these seven ways to create videos when you hate being on camera:
1. Use your voice, not your face
If you’d rather talk behind the camera than in front of it, create a video that includes narration.
Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden in Austin is undergoing a huge expansion. They want to let their customers know every detail about the construction project, so they’ve been creating weekly video updates and Instagram stories on their Instagram account to give fans a visual look at their progress. Most of their videos have featured their staff on camera, but the restaurant recently posted an Instagram Story that gave viewers a tour of work on their new smokehouse, without anyone talking in front of the camera.
2. Just show what you do
CoolMess in New York City is a different kind of ice cream parlor. Their customers invent their own ice cream flavors by starting with a base flavor of chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry sorbet, adding anything from a list of 24 toppings (like pound cake, chocolate coffee beans, or brownie bites), and blending them in their ice cream machines.
This video from the CoolMess Instagram account shows just how it works. No faces necessary, just a look at how it’s done.
3. Slow things down
Rustic Root in San Diego is big on brunch. Their Instagram account is full of pictures of French toast, eggs, bacon, veggie skillets, avocado toast, and champagne.
But it’s the videos that catch attention, especially if they’re in slow motion. Check out this post from The Verge for instructions on shooting slow motion with an iPhone or Android phone. I dare you to watch Rustic Root’s slow mo video of maple syrup poured on pumpkin pancakes and not feel hungry. This video is much more compelling than a person talking about brunch on camera.
4. Speed things up
A time-lapse video is another great alternative to being on camera, and it’s just as visually engaging as slow motion! These instructions from iMore will help you shoot a time-lapse on your iPhone, and this article from CNET has tips for Android phones.
Scampi in New York City introduced their new olive oil cake with strawberries and basil with by posting a time lapse of their chef creating the dessert on their Instagram account. It’s a great way to show followers how a new menu item is plated and presented.
5. Boomerang it
You may have seen short videos that loop over and over again and show movement or action. The easiest way to make one of these videos is by using Instagram’s Boomerang app for iPhone or Android. Boomerang takes 10 photos in a series, stitches them together in a video, and then loops it back and forth.
A Boomerang video is a great way to make everyday tasks at your venue – that don’t require seeing a person on-screen – look captivating. This Boomerang video of pouring wine from the Instagram account of Whiskey Cake in Oklahoma City is more active than a still image and is more likely to catch customers’ eyes while they’re scrolling through their social media news feeds.
6. Show something cool
Is there something your restaurant creates in the kitchen or at the bar that others don’t? Get it on video! Show your creativity up close; you don’t need any people on camera to get the point across.
PS Kitchen in New York City serves a cocktail with a flamed orange. Their Instagram video of one of their bartenders lighting the orange on fire and placing it in the glass makes you feel like you’re at their bar watching the experience in person.
7. Put the camera on someone else
If you’re in charge of creating video for your venue and getting on camera is not your thing, ask someone else. There are probably plenty of people on your team or other teams who are comfortable with video, so give them a chance to share your message.
Pinstripes Bistro, Bowling & Bocce regularly posts Instagram videos featuring a number of their staff members sharing information about menu items, events, and restaurant news and information. This video from their Chicago location includes their chef explaining what happens behind the scenes before a beer dinner.
Just click record!
Try one of these tips to get your venue started with video marketing. After you master a video technique, try another one to see what works. In time, you’ll have a full library of video content that you can share on social media, on your website, and in your email marketing to spread the word about your venue.
Need more marketing tips?
Check out our past blog posts on social media, email marketing, content creation, and other digital marketing tools.