Why does trade show footage produce the most “meh” edits?
If your trade show recap keeps coming back “fine but generic,” it’s not because your footage is bad. It’s because your Edit Request is basically: “Good luck, human!"
Editors can’t edit “vibes.” If you don’t define the goal, you’ll get a montage of nothing.
Trade shows are chaotic: b-roll, booth demos, selfies, interviews, customer moments. If your request doesn’t tell the editor what job the video is doing, they have to guess—and guessing is how you end up on Version 6.
What are the 3 decisions I should make before I type a single word?
What job is this video doing? (Pick ONE.)
Sales / Product / Customer / Authority / HypeWhat deliverables do I want from this event folder?
One event should produce a content kit, not one “everything recap.”How specific do I need to be? (The Proportionality Rule.)
Your satisfaction depends on your specificity. The danger zone is vague notes + specific expectations.
What are the most common mistakes that cause weak V1s?
“Make it pop / exciting / professional” → editor guesses what that means
Asking for “a recap” instead of giving the video a job → montage of randomness
Trying to cram everything into one cut → clutter + no narrative
No “must-avoids” defined (unreleased product, wrong people, sensitive shots) → painful rework
No hero selects → editor can’t read your mind to find the “best moments”
Missing assets (logos/titles/disclaimers/brand rules) → project blocks or churn
How do I turn one trade show upload into an editor-ready request (step-by-step)?
1) Sort your footage into 4 buckets (fast)
You can use Studio's Folder tags to help you sort your content.
Energy (movement, crowd, booth buzz)
Proof (product, demos, hands-on credibility)
Human (relationships, community, team moments)
Voice (selfie POV + interview soundbites)
2) Pick ONE purpose (give the video a job)
Use this menu as a starting point (don’t freestyle it):
Sales: proof + CTA
Product: demos + closeups
Customer: testimonials + relationships
Authority: SME insights + context
Hype: energy + buzz
Tie-breaker question: “Who is this for, and what do I want them to do next?”
3) Choose 5–10 “Hero Selects”
Never submit a request without must-haves. Quick test:
“If we only used these 5 clips, would the story still work?”
Also list must-avoids (even more important than must-haves, sometimes).
4) Give the editor a structure (steal this default)
If you're not sure how to build your edit, start with this 60-second arc as your baseline:
0–2s: Hook
2–10s: Context
10–40s: Proof
40–55s: Social proof
55–60s: CTA
(And yes: stop leading with a 5-second logo stinger.)
5) Include at least ONE style reference (and tell us what you like about it)
A link to an example video from a competitor, a YouTube creator, an Instagram influencer, or even from something your team made previously, is helpful.
Also make sure to add 1–2 bullets on what exactly you like about the example: pacing, captions, music vibe, framing, CTA style.
6) Pass the Asset Readiness Gate
Ask: Can the editor finish 80–90% without more info?
If no, pause and supply what’s missing (titles/logos/disclaimers/brand rules).
If yes, proceed and use placeholders for the rest.
What deliverables should I request from one event (without confusing the editor)?
The simplest “Event Content Kit” that works:
Hype Montage (60–90s)
Sales Cut (30–45s)
Product Proof (30–60s)
Optional adds: Customer Spotlight, Authority Clip
Rule: each cut must change at least 2 of these: purpose, runtime, structure, CTA. Otherwise you just ordered “the same edit… five times.”
How do I stop revision spirals before they start?
Use these three rules:
One owner consolidates feedback (no committee edits)
Time-based notes beat vibes (“0:12 swap clip” > “make it better”)
If V1 is off-base: stop typing and align live with your UGC Coach (5 minutes saves 5 versions)
Copy/paste: the Editor-Ready Brief Template
This is the “never get a bad V1 again” version. Fill it out and drop it into your Edit Request.
Purpose: (Sales / Product / Customer / Authority / Hype)
Deliverables: (Cut 1 + runtime, Cut 2 + runtime…)
Goal (1 sentence): “This is for ___ so they ___ and do ___.”
Where it will live: (LinkedIn, website, sales follow-up, internal, etc.)
Hero Selects (5–10): (timestamps OR file names + 5-word description)
Must-Avoid: (products, people, shots, topics)
Structure: (paste arc / beat sheet)
Pacing + vibe: (3–5 specific words: “tight, punchy, confident, minimal text”)
Audio plan: (music vibe, nat sound moments, key quote priority)
Graphics plan: (captions, callouts, lower thirds, CTA card)
Style reference: (1 link + what you like + what to avoid)
Assets ready?: (logos / titles / disclaimers / brand rules) Yes/No
Deadline + priority: (speed vs polish vs precision vs volume)
What should I remember next time?
Your edit request isn’t a ticket. It’s a creative brief to a human who wasn’t there.
Purpose first. Deliverables second. Structure third. And your V1 suddenly gets a lot better.