by Graham McLachlan, Central Scotland Speakers Zoom Meeting
- Watch television news readers and try to remain motionless/static, yet interesting.
- Gestures using your hands are troublesome – keep hands still.
- If using notes try to position them directly below your and shoulders so that reading them does not distract from your face and voice.
- For the ladies, avoid glitter jewellery – sparkling might be the aim but again they distract the audience.
- Try to wear smart/casual clothes. Bright contrasts again distract from your performance.
- Remember facial and vocal gestures and variety will enhance your words.
- Ensure the camera can see your head and shoulders and look straight at the camera lens.
- Matting agents will remove a shiny appearance of skin.
- Think of the background behind your face to minimise distractions. Avoid being placed in front of a window. (Any body movement will allow light to overcome your face).
- Speak sufficiently loudly so that your words can be heard clearly.
- Remember that it is your voice which will command attention; your handsome beautiful visage will only add to your performance.
There is a vast difference between a performance on television and appearing using Zoom. In a studio there is space in which to demonstrate action in support of your words; in Zoom a static pose is required.
Using Zoom there are two major reasons why a static position is best:
- Movement can be smeared if your camera is an older model. In other words, each movement results in a trail of the image from spot to spot, very distracting and negating the advantages of Zoom.
- Movements distracts from the principal image of your face and upper body. Using Zoom we are reliant on facial variations and expression to enhance our words. It is our words and voice which convey the message not the image. Zoom is just an add-on to an expressive and varied voice.
For me the range of additional facilities to enhance our message or story would be:
- A generally static stance – not diving about!
- Gestures added to reinforce our words: but gestures which are visible and relevant
Using Zoom to enhance our words with a picture
- PowerPoint which adds changing visual images with supporting information.
- A video recorded (or live) presentation which requires an appropriate background or additional moving images.
So, it is important that, despite the advantages of Zoom images, we should remember the limitations and avoid the distractions.
If you would like to try recording a speech this can be planned for a future session.
Central Scotland Speakers Club 