Scripting Your Video Introduction for Tour Directors and Guides
Creating a compelling Introduction video can be daunting. Talking about ourselves is difficult and even though we are storytellers, when the subject is “us”, we tend to freeze. Below are some steps to consider to create a great video that will get the attention of Tour Operators.
Time
Your introduction video should be around 2 minutes. Tour Operators have all agreed that 2 minutes is the sweet spot when it comes to time. However, longer videos may be viewed, but only if they are REALLY interesting. Shorter videos? Why do a shorter video? You have 2 minutes to capture the attention of a Tour Operator – don’t waste it!
Choose a style
- Personal – talk about something personal about yourself
- Destination – talk about a destination, attraction or area you love
- Action – Make a video highlighting lots of action shots of you doing adventurous activities!
Deciding “which” style is tricky. But you can also combine different styles. For example; tell a story about a destination and make it personal – “why” you connect with it.
Creating the script
Start with an introduction. Remember, it’s about what’s “not” on your resume. You want to use the time to express traits that aren’t readily visible or available on your resume. Think of past jobs/careers you may have had that are not listed. Also, hobbies and hidden talents. If you play an instrument, maybe start your video with a little music! Speak another language? How about start your video with a greeting in a foreign language! Be creative when you are scripting, you want to capture the viewers attention right from the start.
Use bullet points
It’s ok to write out your script in paragraphs, but after, put it in bullet points to help you remember the flow and important points. If you try to remember paragraphs word for word, you may find that you mess up while filming yourself. This will cause you a lot of frustration as you watch the footage back and realize that you have to keep making edits. Also, if the edits don’t match (you move your position from one frame to the next and create a “jump” action) then it will look unprofessional. By using bullet points, you can keep your “notes” just out of range of the camera and if you mess up, just pause, try not to move and glance at your bullet points. Then continue shooting. By creating little movement and leaving a pause, the edit will look cleaner.
Jazz up the script
Once you create a script, it’s a good idea to look at words and phrases that can be changed to more powerful verbs. Think about ways you can replace verbs with more powerful ones. For instance, instead of saying, “I am a lover of American history”, say “I treasure American history”. By using stronger verbs, you can bring your script up a notch!
Have fun with it!
This doesn’t have to be a scary project! You have to be ready to have fun, this will show in your final video. If you approach the video with fear, then fear is what will show in the finished project. Keep it fun and show your personality. We speak in front of groups for a living, so just pretend you are speaking to a group and give compelling commentary just like you would on tour. It’s all about being at ease and coming across as someone in control, personable and energetic. Tour Operators just want a chance to get to know you and by building a narrative that tells them something about you that they can’t get from just looking at your resume, you will have a stronger chance of getting that call back!
