Do This, Not That: Location scouting for a music video
Plan, visit, and lock down spaces that serve your song’s mood, budget, and crew comfort—without letting permits or logistics derail your creative flow.
Rain-slick bricks and a flickering streetlamp set the tempo; a guitarist tunes, a PA hums, and the crew moves like a quiet chorus awaiting the first frame.
It begins in a narrow alley where a borrowed amp sighs to life and a crew member taps a watch, counting down to the golden hour that could either crown your shot or strand you in the cold. Your job is to translate that mood into space: a place with enough room to choreograph performers, light, and camera moves, without the space fighting you back with noise, glare, or gate codes. This is location scouting as storytelling before the first light hits the lens.
Why location scouting matters for your music video
Location scouting is not a checkbox item; it is the craft that sets the pulse of your video. A well-scouted site becomes a collaborator with your song, shaping tempo, camera rhythm, and performer connection. The wrong space can flatten emotion, while a thoughtfully chosen location unlocks the story you want to tell—whether you are a touring performer, a bedroom producer, or a small indie duo in a high-rise city apartment.
Three zones to visit before you commit
- Permit-friendly public spaces: parks, plazas, sidewalks where you can plan crowd density and noise buffers.
- Private spaces with control: studios, galleries, or warehouses you can book, where power, acoustics, and lighting rigs are predictable.
- Challenging but rich environments: tight interiors, stairwells, alleyways—places that demand creative framing and a solid plan for access and safety.
| Location Type | Pros | Cons | Typical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public park | Natural light, iconic vibe | Day-of crowd control, weather risks | Special Event Permit |
| Private studio | Control of light and sound | Limitations on size | Location Release + Insurance |
| Public street | Dynamic urban energy | Traffic management needed | Street Closure Permit |
Three mini stories that illuminate the craft
The warehouse chorus
A touring indie band rehearses a new arrangement in a sun-bleached warehouse. The space is rough, but the acoustics bloom as the sun slides through dusty windows. We map the camera moves to the way light travels across corrugated walls, and we plan a quick 15-minute setup to capture the chorus intro before the space fills with curious neighbors.
Kitchen light, city night
A bedroom producer shoots a lyric video in a compact apartment. We shoot through a window with a 2x4 footprint of grip, using a practical lamp as a key and a ceiling bounce to soften the mood. The challenge is framing a large performance in a small stage; the solution is a tight, modular lighting plan plus a macro detail shot of fingers on a fretboard.
Park tempo at sundown
A duo uses a park pavilion as their stage. A friend holds a reflector to catch the last warm light while the other guitarist keeps tempo. We stage a sequence of two choreography beats, then cut to a silhouette moment against a skyline, using a portable battery light to extend the shot as dusk deepens.
From scouting to shoot day: a practical playbook
- Create a 3-location kit with portable lighting, power options, and a quick permit plan; know where you will shoot at each site and how you will move between them.
- Call ahead to property owners or managers; confirm hours, access codes, and any restrictions on sound or crowd flow.
- Prepare a compact shot list for each location; map the line of sight, backdrops, and sound windows; leave extra time for contingencies.
- Record location notes in a single document; include photos, GPS pins, and contact details for the on-site point person.
- Plan for contingencies: weather backups, alternate entrances, and a secondary interior space if exterior light vanishes.
"The best shot is the one that sneaks in through the back door of your plan while you hold space for your performers."
Permits, access, and budget: a quick comparison
- Public park or plaza Moderate cost
- Private studio or gallery Low risk
- On-street shoot Variable
Costs vary by city; always check for required insurance and a permit window. Build a 2-week buffer for approvals in larger municipalities and consider a small contingency for overtime on shoot day.
A true-to-life location scouting checklist
- Verify power: amperage, accessible outlets, generator needs
- Check acoustics: ambient noise, traffic, HVAC hum
- Assess safety: fire exits, load-in paths, crowd control
- Capture visuals: wide establishing shot, mid, and tight frames
- Confirm accessibility: stairs, elevator, parking, load-in hours
When facing a venue like a warehouse or a rooftop, your job is to translate the space into a shot plan that honors the performer’s energy while preserving safety and flexibility. For Moozix projects, we map out a "shot corridor" that runs the length of the space, a moving window of time where a single performance could be captured in multiple angles without moving equipment too aggressively.
On the day: fast on-site workflow
- Set a 60-minute prep window before the first take; run through lighting, sound, and camera positions with the crew
- Establish a "one page shoot board" with call times, locations, and a few essential lines for performers to warm up
- Use a small, portable lighting kit; keep two lights per scene; avoid over lighting with fixtures that are difficult to control
- Prioritize early takes with natural light or your most favorable interior angles; save the tricky sequences for later
- Review dailies quickly; label takes by location and angle so editing can align with your original concept
"The day you lose light is the day you lose momentum. Plan to capture your best performance within the first two hours."
Post-shoot: organizing assets for edit and release
As soon as you return to the edit space, create a mirror map that pairs locations with takes; label by scene and keep a master folder for color, audio, and effect elements. A robust naming convention makes cross-team work easy—especially if you’re collaborating with a rotating crew or sharing a project with a manager in a different city.
Notes on AI-assisted planning without losing the human touch
In the era of generative tools, you can use AI to scout publicly available spaces or simulate lighting scenarios, but the artistry remains in your eye for space, rhythm, and performer connection. Use planning assistance to free cognitive headroom for creative decisions on set, not to replace them. The best music video moments come from the synergy of your human direction and smart technology that respects space and people.
“Inspiration travels through people, not pixels alone; let the space feel alive and your crew will follow.”
Closing scene: return the space to itself
You wrap the shoot with gratitude and a clean space; the last frame lingers on the performer’s breath as the city hum fades. A location scouted well is a canvas that lets your song breathe. When this space is returned in pristine condition, you know you did your job not just by capturing a great shot, but by preserving opportunity for the next artist to tell their story there.