Not quiet on the set

Millions worldwide are utilizing smartphones to capture concert footage these days, but few are producing anything worth watching. These clips often capture truncated versions of songs, and the video quality is shaky at best with blown-out audio.

Enter Jeff Brenneman, a senior buyer for a Carlsbad biotech company by day and concert videographer by night. Residing in Temecula, Brenneman is in perfect geographic pole-position to hit either San Diego, Orange County, or Los Angeles shows. As a result, not only has he perfected the art of shooting entire shows, as opposed to quick clips of songs, but he also seems to have discovered the tool for the trade.

“The reason I purchased a smartphone was for [taping concerts],” Brenneman tells the Reader. “Before that I was using the old-style flip phones. We had an upgrade and I asked if they had a phone that would have good video quality and decent sound. The person sold me on a Motorola Droid RAZR M. That particular phone actually has a concert setting. I don’t know if it has an internal equalizer or what, but when I watch other videos that my friends post on their phones, they usually sound blown out. The music is too loud for the microphone. This phone doesn’t seem to do that.”

Since acquiring the RAZR M, Brenneman has been documenting live concerts between San Diego and L.A. His YouTube channel currently features full sets by artists such as the Meat Puppets, Counting Crows, Pere Ubu, and Camper Van Beethoven. A recording of Kiss’ set from the Sleep Train Amphitheatre this summer has attracted 28,000 views.

But Brenneman feels that the club shows are where his recordings shine. He likes to show up early so he can plant himself next to the stage for prime, unobstructed footage and the best sound. Not only does this spot benefit his future YouTube audience, it also benefits the fans at the club that night as well.

“I’ve been going to concerts for decades. I’m really sensitive to people holding up phones when you’re trying to enjoy a live concert. That’s another reason why I try to get right up against the stage, usually to the far right or left, because I want to be in a situation where I can hold up the phone and not block somebody else’s view,” Brenneman says.

Brenneman claims that he has shot twice as many shows as he has posted because only half have passed his quality standards.

Not only do bands support his documentation of their concerts, says Brenneman, some have actively campaigned to have him attend their shows to capture them on video.

“One band did that at the Whiskey up in Hollywood [where] they require that anyone that’s filming pays for that, so the band paid for me to film the show. I think it was $50, and they gave me a cell phone pass or whatever.”