Hi! I’m a new videographer doing their first solo job. Usually I work on a crew of 3-4 other shooters covering various types of live performances. I just got hired by an organization to shoot a series of performances, but they didn’t want to hire a second shooter and I, being super eager and new, didn’t push them to up their budget.

I just shot the first performance and had a somewhat rough time—many people stood directly in front of the static camera and ruined the shot. While I was moving through the room shooting with a monopod, I couldn’t be present because I was thinking about the ruined wide shot and sometimes actually moving audience people from in front of it. My monopod footage is often out of focus and all over the place. I’m nervous about how I’ll manage to edit this.

I have another shoot that will be a similar set up in a few days. How can better plan/prepare so that I’m not running about like a crazy person? Is it possible/advisable to cover an event properly with only one camera operator or am I spoiled because I always work in teams?

Thanks for any gentle help! I’m feeling kind of terrible right now and scared about losing the client after this.