How to Plan Your First Music Video as an Indie Artist Using Milanote

Intro

Opting for simplicity doesn’t mean your music video has to look cheap. Low-budget music videos may lack expensive elements like special effects, elaborate sets, and professional camera work, but a solid pre-production process can elevate your video from raw and random to creative and captivating. In this post, we’ll explore how to do pre-production for your first music video as a solo indie artist using Milanote.

As the saying goes, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail,” and music video production is no exception. For the release of my single, “Simple Things,” I put together a one-person shoot with little to no crew. I’ll share my best pre-production tips to help you create a professional-looking music video on a budget.

Why Use Milanote?

Milanote is a visual tool that streamlines the pre-production process. While this isn’t a sponsored post, I’m a huge fan of systems that save time and reduce friction. Milanote allows you to:

• Write notes and to-do lists.
• Upload images, files, and save inspiration from the web using their web clipper.
• Add notes and photos directly from your phone.

Its cross-platform functionality ensures you can organize your ideas anywhere—whether you’re on your computer or phone.

Step 1: Research the Song 🎧

The first step in music video pre-production is researching and listening to your song. If you didn’t write the song, take the time to understand it deeply.

Start with a vibe check:

• What is the overall feel and message of the song?
• Write a concise statement about what your song is about.
• Identify a general theme you want to shine through in the video.

For “Simple Things,” I focused on creating a minimalistic yet heartfelt story that reflected the song's message.

Step 2: Write a Treatment ✏️

A music video treatment is a written description of your video’s concept. It includes:

• Visual ideas.
• Storylines and themes.
• A general story arc.

You can create your treatment using tools like Google Sheets, Keynote, or Milanote to share and organize your ideas. A clear treatment will act as a blueprint for your video shoot.

Step 3: Storyboarding 🎨

Once you’ve written your treatment, the next step is creating a storyboard. This will map out the visuals and flow of your music video. Storyboarding helps you:

• Visualize key scenes.
• Plan transitions and sequences.
• Ensure your story aligns with your vision.

Step 4: Choose Locations and Make a Schedule 🗺️📅

Decide on locations that fit your vision. Ask yourself:

• Will you shoot indoors or outdoors?
• Do you need a permit for certain locations?

For my video, I chose outdoor locations to take advantage of natural light, especially during golden hour (soft, warm light just after sunrise or before sunset) and blue hour (the cool-toned light shortly before sunrise or after sunset).

Your location will also dictate your shooting schedule, so plan accordingly.

Step 5: Create a Shot List 🎥

A shot list is an essential tool for staying organized during the shoot. It includes:

• Shot sizes: Wide, Medium, Close-up.
• Equipment: Tripod, gimbal, dolly, etc.
• Notes on movement: Tracking shots, stationary shots, etc.

A shot list ensures you don’t miss any critical shots while leaving room for spontaneous creativity during the shoot.

Step 6: Generate a Pre-Production Checklist ✅

With your planning complete, create a checklist for:

• Bookings (locations, gear rentals, etc.).
• Props and wardrobe.
• Equipment preparation (camera, lighting, etc.).
• Capturing behind-the-scenes content.

Having a pre-production checklist ensures that you’re fully prepared for shoot day and can focus on creativity.

Final Thoughts

Pre-production is a critical step in creating a successful music video. Tools like Milanote make it easy to organize your ideas, plan your shoot, and manage every step from start to finish. With a clear vision and detailed planning, you can create a professional-looking video, even on a tight budget.

If you’re ready to distribute your music video after the shoot, check out my guide on digital distribution platforms. Until next time, continue using your talents for good!

—Geryah Dingle

Listen to "Simple Things" on all platforms.