Chicago Trade Shows: Get A Videographer On Site
Covered in this post—
The Significance of Trade Shows in Chicago
The Power of Video at Trade Shows
Types of Videos to Capture at Trade Shows
Finding the Right Videographer for Your Chicago Trade Show
If you are making your list and checking it twice, there is a good chance that you are an event planner working hard to prepare for Chicago’s trade show season which is only a few short months away. While your wish list and must-haves might be a mile long, here’s an item that should be at the top of your list – having a professional videographer onsite and on your team.
Each year the Windy City plays host to trade shows and attendees from around the world giving event marketers the opportunity to showcase vendors, industry leaders, and emerging trends. Although the focus of the event, for those attending, might be the festivities on-site, the opportunity to create buzz leading up to, during, and after the event is critical to the event's success.
Very few tools have the potential impact and high ROI of video content. Its ability to be cut and cropped to fit every marketing channel and campaign imaginable provides endless opportunities for engagement and promotion.
Mark Campbell Productions is a full-service video production company with decades of experience capturing event footage from Chicago’s must-attend trade shows. From start to finish, our team is dedicated to helping shine a spotlight on your event through amazing video content and footage.
The Significance of Trade Shows in Chicago
In 2021, trade shows generated over $64.5 billion in revenue for vendors and B2B sales. For many, it is a make-or-break component of their marketing and sales strategy. That isn’t to put added weight on your shoulders as you plan a trade show, but rather to highlight the importance of these amazing events to the business world.
The beauty of trade shows is that they come in all shapes and sizes. From regional gatherings to events that have a global attendee list, they provide vendors, customers, and strategic partners an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow their businesses.
From an event management perspective, this means that event planners have the ability to impact businesses well beyond the scope of the event itself, especially when you consider that nearly 50% of all attendees at trade shows are in senior management-level positions.
You might be asking yourself – where does video come into play?
Trades shows impact local businesses, vendors, relationships, and more, and having tools and content in place from day one will help you maximize registration, and ROI for all of those that have a horse in the race. And when it comes to content, nothing has staying power like video.
The Power of Video at Trade Shows
Whether you realize it or not, your trade show has a story to tell. Greetings between old friends and colleagues, newly formed partnerships, the announcement of a game-changing product, and insights from industry experts are all components that can be captured and distilled through video footage.
Can these be captured through photography? Absolutely.
But the power of video lies in its ability to evoke emotion and generate energy. Both are needed to promote trade shows leading up to the event. Both are needed to highlight the buzz in the atmosphere during the event. Both are needed to keep attendees engaged in the weeks following the event.
As we mentioned earlier, video is an incredibly versatile tool that can be leveraged in a variety of ways. Promo videos are a great way to highlight featured speakers or subject matter experts, live streaming the day of the event can boost exposure and engagement, and recap highlights can help with promoting next year’s event.
Types of Videos to Capture at Trade Shows
At this point, you may be working through your desired shot list. One of the best things about video is that there are a million different directions you can go, but here are a few must-haves that should be the focal point for any trade show.
Promotional videos
Customer testimonials
Booth walkthroughs
Event highlights
Product demonstrations
SME interviews
Panel discussions
Attendee interactions
Product announcements
It doesn’t matter if the video clip is long, or short, it can be edited in post-production to fit your event marketing strategy and the platform(s) where it will be distributed.
Finding the Right Videographer for Your Chicago Trade Show
Understanding the benefits and applications of professional video content is great, but the rubber meets the road when it comes to finding the right videographer to work with your team. A quick search will yield hundreds of videographers in the Chicago area, but fret not, here are some helpful tips to help you narrow down your search.
Tip #1 – Focus On Experience
You might be inclined to look at pricing immediately out the gate – we would urge you to reconsider. The first thing that you should examine is experience. Finding a videographer who has worked events similar in size and scope to yours, across multiple industries, will make your job much easier in the long run.
Tip #2 – Style Matters
If you have never sourced a videographer before, they can all start looking the same on the surface, especially as you sift through dozens of portfolios. As you watch videos created by potential candidates, ask yourself this simple question – What story is the videographer trying to tell?
The story – and style – will vary from one videographer to another, but it should be clear what they are trying to convey. Find one that matches your vision, or shows a range that can meet your needs.
Tip #3 – It’s An Investment
Your budget matters, we aren’t going to try to discount that fact. However, hiring a videographer shouldn’t be viewed as an expense. It is an investment that will provide you with ROI. Spending more on a candidate that is head and shoulders above the rest will pay off exponentially throughout the process.
Tip #4 – Start Early
The earlier you can integrate a videographer into your process, the better. They will be able to provide valuable insights and a unique perspective that can amplify your message and boost engagement with your audience.
Chicago Trade Shows With MCP
The truth is that this article only scratches the surface because every event is unique and requires a different strategy for proper execution. But one thing is clear – video can be a major catalyst to help boost event registration, audience engagement, and lasting ROI.
When it comes to video production for trade shows, the devil is in the details, and having the right partner is essential. The Mark Campbell Productions team has worked hard over the last three decades to become one of the most trusted names in the Chicago video production industry. We’ve worked across the Windy City, helping event managers at every stage of the process, and we are ready to help make your event amazing.
Connect with our team for a custom quote and get started with MCP, today!