Lip dub for companies: what it is and how to film a music video with your team

Some team building activities end when the afternoon does, and others leave something you can watch again. The lip dub is one of the latter: a music video starring your own colleagues, filmed from start to finish without a single cut, which the company keeps for good. People who have been through one usually tell the same story: the nerves at the first rehearsal, the laughter when something goes wrong and the feeling, when it finally goes right, of having done something together that is nothing like a meeting.

In this article we explain what a lip dub actually is, how a recording is prepared in a company, what it works on in a team and what to bear in mind before showing the result outside the organisation. If you were after a quick definition, it is in the first section; if you are thinking of organising one, the rest will save you a few headaches.

What a lip dub is

A lip dub is a music video in which a group of people lip-sync and move to a song, so that it looks as though they are the ones singing. It is filmed in a single take, what is known as a continuous shot: the camera moves through the space without cutting, and the participants appear one after another, dancing or performing their part as it passes.

That single-take condition is what gives it its charm and its difficulty. There is no editing to fix a mistake: if someone comes in late, bumps into another person or laughs at the wrong moment, you have to start again from the beginning. That is why you rehearse, and why it works so well as a team activity: the result depends on everyone being coordinated and on each person doing their bit at exactly the right moment.

The name comes from lip sync (synchronising your lips) and dubbing. In a company it is usually set up as a joint project with a lot of people taking part, sometimes the entire workforce, moving through the office, the factory, the corridors or any space you want to show off.

What Kaizen's Lipdub looks like

In Kaizen's activity, the choreographers help to organise and film the music video. The stars (your colleagues) choose the song they want to lip-sync and move to, and the professional team makes sure it all comes together. The activity sheet details what is included: a professional choreographer, a camera operator, props and costumes. The location is an extra, because it can be the company's own office or anywhere else, such as a hotel or a country estate.

There is no limit on participants, and in fact the more there are, the stronger the sense of a collective project. That is why the activity works just as well with one department as with an entire workforce, as long as the space allows people to move around.

If you would like to see the full sheet, with photos and details, you will find it on the Lipdub page.

How a recording is prepared

Although every company adapts it, the process usually follows these steps.

1. Choose the song. This is the most important decision and the one that is debated the most. Pick a well-known song with a good rhythm, one that appeals to people of different ages and lasts as long as you want the recording to last. If the group is very diverse, it is better to choose one that everyone recognises than one that only part of the group likes.
2. Design the route. The camera has to follow a continuous path. You decide where it goes, which parts of the company are shown and where the groups are placed. It is a sort of map in which each person knows when it is their turn to appear.
3. Assign roles. Not everyone does the same thing. Some dance, some sing straight to camera, some appear in the background, some carry props, some play a character. Assigning roles well prevents anyone from being left out or others from feeling exposed.
4. Rehearse. You rehearse in sections and then the whole thing. The choreographers help to keep the movements simple and eye-catching, and to make sure the pace of the route matches the music.
5. Film. It is filmed in a single take, usually several times until the good one comes out. It is the most intense and the most fun moment, and the one that tends to be remembered afterwards.

As with any team activity, the better you prepare the participants, the better it works. In how to prepare your team before a team building you will find ideas that apply here too.

What it works on in a team

The activity sheet mentions creativity, teamwork, motivation, communication, better interpersonal relationships, fun and coordination. Beyond the list, this is what you see in a real recording.

• Coordination. A single take requires everyone to be in the right place at the right moment. It is a very visual training in how one person's tasks fit together with another's.
• Stepping out of the comfort zone. Singing or dancing in front of your colleagues is not what you normally do at work. Doing it together, and with a goal, lowers barriers and builds a trust that shows afterwards.
• Sense of belonging. Appearing in a video that represents the company, alongside people from other areas, creates a shared memory and a team pride that is hard to achieve with a meeting.
• Creativity. Choosing the song, inventing the route, preparing the costumes and props. It is a project in which every contribution counts, and that shows in the result.
• Mixing between departments. If you form groups of people from different areas, the lip dub is an excellent excuse for people who barely cross paths to get to know each other. You will find more ideas in icebreaker activities for company events.

What it is for beyond a fun time

The lip dub has an advantage that almost no other activity offers: it leaves you with a product. That opens up possibilities, as long as you decide on them carefully.

• Internal communication. A video that shows the good atmosphere in the company is a wonderful keepsake for the team and content you can show at a convention or an annual meeting.
• Brand image and attracting talent. A friendly, fun video conveys what it is like to work at a company. If that angle interests you, we have an article on team building for employer branding and attracting talent.
• Promoting a product or a service. The activity itself mentions this possibility: presenting a launch or a novelty in a different and creative way.
• Celebrating a milestone. Anniversaries, year-end celebrations or mergers. Take a look at the ideas in activities to celebrate your company's anniversary.

What to look after before publishing it

A video with identifiable people that is going to be shown outside the company calls for a couple of precautions, which are better sorted out before filming than after.

• Consent from the people who appear. Anyone who appears in the video has to agree to its use, and to where and how it is used. The usual approach is to collect written authorisation from each participant, and to respect anyone who prefers not to appear or to appear in the background.
• Rights to the song. Filming it to enjoy within the company is one thing and publishing it on social media or a website is another. Before sharing it publicly, check which permissions are needed for the chosen song.
• What is shown. If the route goes through the office, check that no screens with data, documents or areas that should not appear in a video are visible.
• Consistency with the culture. The tone of the video should be the company's own. If there are doubts about how it will look from the outside, it is better to decide with communications or management beforehand.

These are practical details that, when handled well, make the video a source of pride rather than a problem.

Tips to make it go well

• Get management involved. If the leaders take part and enjoy themselves, everyone else joins in. If they watch from the sidelines, the lip dub loses its energy.
• Choose a song people like, not the one that "looks good". The energy of the video depends on people enjoying it.
• Roles for every taste. Not everyone wants to dance. Let each person choose how to take part and make sure every option carries weight in the video.
• Rehearse before filming. Set aside time to rehearse calmly. The best take is almost never the first.
• Look after the space. The clearer and better lit the route is, the more comfortable the filming will be. In how to choose the perfect location for your team building there are criteria that apply here.
• Finish with a screening. Watching the video together, even on the same day, is the best possible ending.

Lip dub compared with other music activities

If you are comparing music-based options, it helps to be clear about the differences. The Flashmob is a collective choreography, with a surprise moment and a more spontaneous feel. Furor is a team competition with karaoke, dance and mime challenges; you will find all the details in our article on Furor for companies. Musical Bingo is simpler to follow and suits very large groups, and the full guide is in musical bingo for companies. The lip dub stands out because it leaves a finished product and demands more preparation and more involvement. If you would like to reflect on why music and dance work so well in a team, take a look at reasons to dance at a team building.

Frequently asked questions

Do we need to know how to dance or sing?

No. It is done to a playback track and the choreography is designed so that anyone can do it. What counts is attitude, not technique.

How many people can take part?

There is no limit. In fact, the more participants there are, the stronger the sense of a shared project, as long as the space allows it.

Can we film it in our office?

Yes. It can be done at the company's premises or anywhere else, such as a hotel or a country estate. The location is an extra of the activity.

What does it include?

A professional choreographer, a camera operator, props and costumes. You bring the enthusiasm and the energy.

In summary

A lip dub is an activity you live through and can also watch again afterwards. It asks for a little more preparation than others, and a bit of care with permissions if it is going to be published, but in return it leaves you with a video showing the friendliest side of the company and a shared memory that is hard to match. If you would like more details and photos, see the Lipdub page. And if you would like to discuss the date, the number of people and the space, get in touch and we will suggest how to approach it.