It is crucial to portray a professional image of ourselves by arriving on time, all the time for a Videography project. Driving for hours on end makes being punctual a challenge. Here are some tips to help you Arrive On Time.
1) Know the Formula.
Speed (Km/H) = Distance (Km) ÷ Time (Hour)
The formula tells you the speed you must be traveling to reach your destination within a certain time. Use this formula to help you plan your journey. Take into consideration traffic jams when you hit town.
2) Keep vehicle in good condition.
If you are driving a seasoned car (above 5 years old), make sure:
a) Your engine oil and engine filter are fairly new.
b) Ensure your tyres are not getting bald.
c) Fill up your radiator tank with water.
d) Keep a bottle of water handy in case your car overheats.
e) Check that your spare tyre is still in good condition.
f) If it's rainy season in your area, make sure your windshield wipers can still keep the rain away.
g) Check that your car drives straight. If it doesn't, send it for wheel re-alignment/balancing.
h) Your brakes grab the tyres when you need them to.
2) Plan your route.
If you have not been to your desired destination, never assume you are familiar with the roads. Look up GoogleMaps for help or check out a map. Don't just depend on friends for directions.
3) Drive at a cruising speed.
Don't race with other vehicles. It will raise your blood pressure and your fuel consumption too.
4) Equip a GPS Navigation System
These are very handy tools that save you time and anxiety. Garmin produces affordable yet reliable navigation devices for use in car, motorcycles, on the sea and in the air. I personally own the Nuvi 205W purchased for about $229 USD. It even warns me of potential speed traps and road block areas.
Another neat feature of having a navigation device is being able to adopt a more relaxed driving attitude. My Nuvi 205W helps me recalculate a new route to my destination on the fly when I've made a wrong turn.
Allocate time for parking.
Finding the place and actually rolling the cameras are two different tasks, especially within city limits. I suggest debarking the team at the venue's entrance before going off to find a parking space.
Professional videographers don't arrive on time for a videography session. We arrive early so we can work out contingencies which so often put a crimp into our plans. No event's programme goes according to plan, there will be unforseen incidents or overlooked issues to contend with.
Hopefully, my entries, taken from the field and based on first-hand experience, will help you. So drive safe and plan ahead.
Your comments and suggestions on this topic are most welcomed. Happy driving!
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