In short
- Decide first whether every act gets a full recording, or only finalists and winners.
- Cover acts, judges' comments and the awards, since each has a different purpose.
- Use the real running order to plan camera positions and breaks.
- Agree who may see and share each contestant's recording, especially if some contestants are young.
Plan your coverage from the competition rules and the real running order, then decide which parts get full recording and which get highlights. A competition gives the camera three jobs: the acts, the judging and the awards. Each needs a different approach.
What does the competition need recorded?
Start with the rules. They show what must be fair, what may be disputed and what the videos are for.
- Acts: what each contestant did, as the judges and audience saw it.
- Judging: scores, comments and reactions, which help explain the result.
- Awards: the announcement, the winners’ reactions and the prize presentation.
- Atmosphere: audience, backstage and supporters, where allowed.
Which rounds need full coverage?
It is rarely practical to treat every round the same way. This table is an illustration of how an organiser might split coverage across a three-round competition.
| Round | Example coverage | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Auditions | Short clip per contestant, or a single wide camera | Many acts, short slots, mainly for the record |
| Semi-final | Full recording of every act, two cameras | Fair record for each contestant before the cut |
| Final | Full recording of every act, three cameras, plus judges | The main product of the event |
| Awards | Announcement, winners and prize presentation | Needed for the recap and for the winners |
Decide by asking what each output is for. A recap film for sponsors needs strong moments. A record for contestants needs complete acts. Our guide to separate records for a multi-act showcase covers how to label and hand over files by group or act.
How does the running order shape the plan?
Plan camera positions and breaks from the actual running order, not a guess. A run sheet shows which acts follow each other, where stage changes take time, and when judges speak. Our run-sheet filming planner turns that order into camera cues. Keep contestants’ order and names in one list so files can be labelled correctly afterwards.
How do we keep the recording fair?
Contestants notice if some acts look better than others, so keep the camera setup and sound the same through a round. If a camera fails during one act, note it so it is not mistaken for a choice. If recordings might be used in a dispute, ask the organiser which version counts as the record.
How do we film the judges and awards?
Judges’ comments and scores are part of the story. Ask the judges to agree to being filmed, and agree where they will sit so the camera can see them. For the awards, plan one camera on the stage and one on the winners’ reactions, so neither is missed.
Who may see and share the recordings?
Decide who sees each recording and where it may be posted. Contestants, guardians and sponsors may each have a view. If your competition includes children, get written agreement from guardians before filming and before sharing. Our filming and publication responsibilities checklist helps you record who agreed.
What we confirm for your event
- How many cameras each round needs, from your running order.
- How the look and sound stay the same across contestants.
- How files are labelled by contestant and round.
- A backup plan if a camera or microphone fails during an act.
- Whether you review the recap before it goes online.
This is where we help: send the rules or a draft running order with the date, venue and number of acts, and we will suggest where cameras and recording time should go.
See our performing arts event videography service for the full offer.
If you have the competition rules and a draft running order, we can suggest where cameras and recording time should go. Send us the date, venue and number of acts, and we will check what we can cover.
Ask about your event