Feedback on my product demo vid

[Just Drums]

Hey guys -

I was asked by someone to create a demo video for a certain practice pad. So I did and threw it out on YouTube. I didn't spend a whole lot of time editing and being creative.

On my first attempt, I looked at the camera and talked about the pad. After watching it, I didn't like it and it just felt to much like a commercial. "WOW. What a great pad! Call within the next 10 minutes and we'll throw in a free bowl of cereal..."

(lame)

So to keep it simple, on the second take I just played for about 10 seconds and put text captions between scenes. Simple and boring.

So my question is - should I be more "personal" and talk about the pad or should I just shut up and play it like I did?

Thanks for your feedback guys!!

-Shane

http://www.youtube.com/JustDrumsUSA

[Muckster]

Shane,

Captions only still gets the point across. If you're not comfortable talking to the camera, it's no big deal. You are still demonstrating how the pad sounds which is the most important point of the video. The only thing i would recommend is playing the pad with brushes also.

Oh, and it would be ok to send me a pad for "evaluation" LOL.

Mark

[Just Drums]

Thanks Mark. That's what I thought too. Just play the damn pad let it speak for itself. I'm normally not shy or have stage freight but talking to a camera just felt really weird.....

[PreppieNerd]

It's cool. Ditto with the brushes. I'd like some information on construction in the video, or some creative way of articulating to the viewer how it feels to play it.

[fourstringdrums]

I'll take one for free please. :)

It did make me very interested in the pad, and the captions get the point across. I agree with Muckster that if you're not comfortable talking on cam, don't feel you have to. I would personally because that's the kind of person I am, but that means that the video would also be 10 minutes long because of my rambling. But yours is concise and to the point and demonstrates the sound of the pad. Good job :)

[Just Drums]

Hmmm...perhaps I'll do another take and try narrating to the viewer again....

[Muckster]

You could write a quick script and talk off camera about points considering feel and construction as preppie noted.

[fourstringdrums]

Hmmm...perhaps I'll do another take and try narrating to the viewer again....

Just don't sound or look like you're reading from a script

*eyes following words on script*

Hello....I am....here today to....demonstrate to you..........this new pad.

Oh and don't forget the Drummworld and Handidrummed shout outs *lol*

[Drummer Karl]

As Mark said, if you don`t like speaking in front of a camera it is okay.
I liked that the video includes the needed information I wanted to have about the pad.

For a product demo try to take care of the "AIDA" formula....at least for parts of it.

A - Attention: Welcome the people, say what you wanna do...like: "Hi, I am Shane, today I wanna...blabla..."
I - Interest: Talk about the product and say how you find it
D - Desire: Talk about the adventages of this product, the features, play it...recommend it (just if you really like it of course)
A - Action: Not that important...I would rather keep it neutral just like you did it.

Overall the video was okay...but I`d like to hear someone speak about it. In this case that would be you. And in the beginning avoid filming how you unpack it...I personally liked the second camera position when you play the two snare drums...but your face should be visible, it makes everything more personal, warmer.

You don`t have to and you shouldn`t exaggerate...keep it low and true. ;-)

Karl

[Just Drums]

As Mark said, if you don`t like speaking in front of a camera it is okay.
I liked that the video includes the needed information I wanted to have about the pad.

For a product demo try to take care of the "AIDA" formula....at least for parts of it.

A - Attention: Welcome the people, say what you wanna do...like: "Hi, I am Shane, today I wanna...blabla..."
I - Interest: Talk about the product and say how you find it
D - Desire: Talk about the adventages of this product, the features, play it...recommend it (just if you really like it of course)
A - Action: Not that important...I would rather keep it neutral just like you did it.

Overall the video was okay...but I`d like to hear someone speak about it. In this case that would be you. And in the beginning avoid filming how you unpack it...I personally liked the second camera position when you play the two snare drums...but your face should be visible, it makes everything more personal, warmer.

You don`t have to and you shouldn`t exaggerate...keep it low and true. ;-)

Karl

How about "Endorsed by Karl!"? Can I use that??

=)

[DogBreath]

Very nice as it is. A couple of minor suggestions. First, don't just compare the pad to a snare drum. That shows that it's much quieter than a snare but doesn't show that it's better than any other pad. Using brushes on this pad, as suggested, will show how great it works, but also using brushes on a typical pad will show how worthless most pads are for brush practice (maybe use a nylon brush instead of wire, unless you want to ruin a pair of brushes to make your point). Also, some practice pads have a screw on the underside that will only fit into a practice pad stand meaning that you have to purchase two pieces of equipment to use them. Maybe show that this pad can be used on its own, on your lap, on top of a snare, or in a conventional snare stand.

Or not. really, sometimes less is more. Unless you want to do a full on infomercial what you have now is just fine.

Although... you may want a professional voice over actor. I do believe that my "Richard Burton" video is still floating around out there somewhere.

[Drummer Karl]

How about "Endorsed by Karl!"? Can I use that??

=)

What do you wanna use? The information...or the "Endorsed by Karl"?
Any of these you can use...of course.

Hope I could help a bit...

Karl

[drumminjohn]

I thought it was very good, I say along with everyone else use the brushes...

And I think it was Karl that said it, but show your face and have a HUGE smile while playing that pad, then go to another pad and be frowning, or maybe even crying.

All silliness aside, do show your face, and I think the text is fine, but maybe you should do a voice over of you reading it... or would that make it more infomercially??

All in all it did look nice though, very professional..

[Just Drums]

Yeah - to be honest, when I did a "voice over" or talked, I just felt like big dork. I'll do both and let you guys decide.

Thanks everyone.