While we always want to deliver our best presentation, if it will be videotaped and put on the web, that heightens its importance.
Why it matters if your talk is videotaped
If a talk is videotaped and put on the web it matters because the audience is going to be larger than the one sitting in front of you. My TEDx talk, for example, was delivered to an audience just over 100, but the video of the speech is for a global audience.
These are the things I take into consideration if my talk is going to be videotaped.
1) Who is taping?
It is a family member, friend, volunteer, professional or semi-professional doing the taping? My first biggest mistake and painful lesson in not asking the right questions when it comes to videotaping was my own wedding. We were not rich and on a tight budget. Consequently, we cut corners in the wrong area. A good friend did professional videotaping for beauty contests. I asked if he’d tape our wedding. He said yes, but for a fee. We felt slightly offended that he would charge us, so we asked around for a volunteer. A nice guy stepped up and said, “Oh, I’ll be glad to tape your wedding. I’ve done it many times.”
OMG
I don’t know how anyone could do a worse job. His panning was rapid-fire. Before you have a chance to identify who is in view, you are looking at someone else. He stood in the BACK of the room while we exchanged vows. You couldn’t see us very well, and you sure in the heck could not hear us. The recording was a disaster.
So, ask who is taping. If it is a volunteer, you might ask to see videos they’ve done, so you have some idea what you are in for.
2) Audio
Does the videotaping include good audio? Good audio means the camera used for videotaping has the sound feeding directly into it There is absolutely any comparison between what I call room audio and direct feed. The latter is intimate. In your face. The former is distant. The difference is astounding. You may not have any say in how the audio is captured, but you are lucky if it is a direct feed. Because even if the video is no good, you can extract the audio and use it for other purposes. Like, for example,
3) Clothes considerations if your talk is being videotaped
I am fortunate that a good friend of mine, Karen Hudson, is a retired Hollywood costumer. I learned a lot about dressing for the camera, thanks to her and her book titled Dressed to Speak .
I’ll wear camera-friendly colors, designs, and fabrics. Simple patterns, or no patterns, are best. No shiny fabrics. I’d even be leary of shiny patent leather black shoes
I’ll wear flesh-colored undergarments
Am I speaking from an elevated stage? If so, I surely will not wear a skirt or dress. The camera may not look up my skirt, but the audience might!
What color is the background of the stage? I want to wear colors that are different from the background so I stand out, not disappear when the talk is videotaped.
In conclusion, when it comes to the camera, clothes really count.
4) Accessories
Be mindful of anything that may sparkle or dangle and avoid wearing it. Headbands. Necklaces. Earrings. A watch. Bracelet. They can distract the audience. I wear minimal accessories, especially if my talk is videotaped.
Another distraction is eyeglasses. Glasses can reflect the lights and block the audience from seeing my eyes. Therefore, I usually do not wear them
5) Make-up
Cameras and lights are unforgiving when it comes to make-up. I usually wear a light powder to offset a shiny nose. I never wear glittery eye-shadow. I wear lipstick because it is easier for the audience and camera to see my lips.
There is special makeup for high-definition cameras. It is makeup that blocks lights from creating unsightly shadows on the face. If this is a serious, professional videotaping session going on, you might want to consider hiring a professional make-up artist. I have a friend who is one, Sally Van Swearingen. She spent nearly TWO hours on me before I appeared on the stage of a huge marketing event. to deliver a 45-minute keynote. I hardly recognized myself. But boy I did look good on camera! You can see for yourself below.
On the left is Sally for make-up and hair , and on the right is Karen for wardrobe
6) How many cameras?
One? Two? Three? In general, the more cameras, the more professional the crew likely is. A three-camera shoot captures the speaker while another captures the audience from behind the speaker, and the third captures the speaker’s profile. The number of cameras may impact how I move about the stage.
7) Where are the cameras located?
Are the cameras close or in the back of the room? I was disappointed when I opted not to have a friend videotape a talk I delivered about cochlear-implants because the organizers were taping it. When I got a video of my speech, the audio was great (direct feed into the camera) but there was no zooming in on me. The camera was at the back of the room, and I appeared about the size of a bug on that giant stage. It never occurred to me to inquire how or why the speakers are videotaped. Is it just for the company’s historical record? Or, is it something they plan to use for promotion?
8) Where is the video going to be posted? Who owns it?
Can I use the videotape for self-promotion? One of the benefits I derived from participating in the Craig Duswalt Rockstar Marketing events is the high-quality recordings of my talks and pitches that I am free to use for self-promotion. On the other hand, the video of my TEDx talk is owned by the TED organization. Therefore I cannot download it and use it for commercial self-promotion. You want to know what is what because you certainly want to avoid violating any copyrights.
9) Stage Movement
How much room do I have to move when I speak? Am I going to be stationed behind a lectern? Or can I walk around? During TED and TEDx talks, speakers are confined to a red circle for ease in videotaping. This will impact how I rehearse my delivery.
How adept are the videographers at capturing movement? Those who tape the Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking contests are skilled at smoothly following the contestants as they make their way from one side to the other of the gigantic stage. TEDx videographers do not have that concern because of the confines of the “red dot.” If I plan to deliver a talk where I move around a lot, I’ll give the videographers a heads up so they can be prepared.
10) Lights?
Are there going to be bright lights shining on me? If so, I want to be prepared for the fact I am not going to be able to see my audience. That challenges the ability to feel connected. I have to remember to look around as if I can see everyone. I have to make meaningful eye contact with people I cannot see. It is quite an experience – one I like to know about beforehand. Especially if on videotape!
In conclusion…
A good video of a presentation is a treasure to have and to own. With these insights and precautions in mind, you are more likely to get a video that you can be proud of and share.
