One of the conditions of approval is agreeing to share your event with the broader WordPress community via videos posted to WordPress.tv, where there is a WordCamp channel. What do you need for this? Video cameras, and people to operate them.
Chances are there are people in your local community who have decent cameras and the skills to operate them. Chances are there is some overlap between these people and the people who will attend your WordCamp. Start publicizing your desire for a person to join the organizing team to be in charge of video as soon as you’ve nailed down your venue.
If you can find people, but not equipment, let WordCamp Central know, and we can loan you a video kit(s) with a tripod, Canon Vixia, and an external microphone.
You will also want to line up a volunteer to process the video afterward, cutting it into sessions adding title cards, and uploading it to WordPress.tv.
Given the media savvy of WordPress community, hiring a firm (and adding to your budget) to capture video should be a last resort. Give people the opportunity to contribute to the community by donating these services instead.
Past WordCamp Organizers: Any tips for your successors on how to get great video, or information on what’s not worked for you in the past? Let us know in the comments.
For WordCamp Melbourne, we used a professional for video recording and production. He offered to provide the two days at a greatly reduced rate, but it was not free.
In the thick of organising, when costs are coming from every which way, it is difficult to justify spending money on what can be considered a “non-core” activity like video. I personally didn’t agree with spending the money. I figured a volunteer could do it.
When all is said and done, video is the best artifact of the event, and a great way to share the knowledge beyond the folks who can attend. I’m very grateful the other organisers went ahead with a professional and I’d encourage other WordCamps to do the same. The price is very low for the value of having a high quality lasting reminder.
You can see some of our videos on the WordPress.tv Melbourne channel. The stage was not very well lit, and we didn’t give the camera man the best location, which will improve for next year, but in terms of the post production, quality of the recording and also taking the load off us, we were really happy.