Today I was editing a presentation I shot for someone last week. Speaking to a live audience is an efficient way to market your business; you get to present yourself as an expert to a large group at once. You're center stage! Get even more mileage out of your presentation by videotaping it and posting it to your website and YouTube.
Taping a live presentation is tough. There's no do-overs and you're often at the mercy of the venue in terms of camera position and lighting. However, with just a little planning you can make it run smoothly. Below, some technical advice from a pro-- me!
Scout it Out
Get there ahead of time and find out where you'll be able to set up the camera. If it's a long presentation and you won't be able to work off of battery power the whole time, make sure you'll have access to an outlet.
Determine the Lighting Situation
Often during PowerPoint presentations, the lights are dimmed or shut off completely to better see the screen. This can be very problematic if you're trying to shoot the speaker-- they'll appear in silhouette. See if you can keep the lights on (if you're highlighting the actual speaker more than the presentation itself-- check back next week for more information about making this determination) or bring your own light and strategically place it to light the speaker without interfering with screen project.
Get the Audio Right
In a presentation, the audio is of utmost importance! After all, people are watching to hear what you have to say. You'll want to wear a microphone that's hooked up to the camera. Even if the venue has it's own speaker system and you are talking into their microphone, you need a separate one connected to the camera. Believe me.
Remind the Audience to Power Down Their Phones
There's two reasons for this. One, it's disruptive to both the live presentation and the video. Two, if you're using a wireless microphone, a room full of cell phones will cause interference resulting in static throughout the presentation. They can't just be silent-- they truly need to be off.
Next week, advice for establishing a concept for your presentation video. Yes, you need a concept! Stay tuned.
.jpg)
