Back in March, at the start of this virtual event
renaissance, we gave you the pro Tips to Be an
Effective Virtual Speaker and followed up in June with the inside
scoop on How to Lead an
Engaging Session on the Virtual Stage.
Well, with seven months and hundreds of virtual events
under our belt, we’ve compiled our lessons learned and best practices and are
back with our most thorough guide yet: the Virtual Speaking Checklist.
Ready to take your next virtual opportunity to the next
level?
Nothing spells the
age of virtual events quite like technical difficulties. While some of these
are entirely unavoidable, as a speaker, be sure to do your best to avoid
contributing to the many issues that could arise. Ask yourself some of the
questions below:
· Does my laptop or the event
platform app need to be updated? Do this well before the time of your session!
· Do I have a good internet
connection? You can use a number of free online resources to check your
internet speed.
· Are all my devices fully charged?
Charge up anything you’ll need to use during your session the night before.
· Are all my notifications off?
Pause your notifications and double check any devices around you that might
give off audio that could be picked up by your computer or headphones.
Look in the mirror
Actually, you should
look at your webcam. While many events may have loosened their dress code for
virtual speakers, keep in mind that most webcams are only seeing you from the
waist or shoulders up so that’s where your focus should be when you’re putting
together your outfit.
Light up the room . . .
. . . whatever room you’re delivering
your virtual session from. Virtual lighting is notoriously difficult to get
right with the limited resources we have at home. Make the most of it with
these guidelines:
· Avoid backlight. Any major source
of light coming from behind you (natural or otherwise) will make your face look
like a shadow from the perspective of your webcam.
· Avoid overexposure. To avoid
backlight, our instinct says we should put a light source right in front of us.
But be careful... placing something too bright too close can lead to
overexposure and make it just as difficult to see on camera.
· It’s all about balance. Find the
right balance between light in front of your and light behind you. This will
give you and your speaking space the best virtual appearance without losing any
detail or creating an artificial look.
Mic check 1, 2, 3
Is this thing on? Do
an audio test before your session to find out! If you have a prep call or a
practice session, ensure that you use the exact devices that you plan to
use at the time of your session to confirm that everything is synced correctly
and working properly. If you didn’t have a prep call, host one yourself! Ask
your event organizer which video platform you’ll be using, grab a colleague,
and hop on a quick call to confirm that they can hear you well without echos or
delays.
Tell us about your
background
Just kidding! In the
virtual event world, we can see your background.
Once again, take a look at your webcam. What can you see
behind you? Is it cluttered? Could people or pets walkthrough? Are there
mirrors or other distracting surfaces? Pick a background that reflects the
appearance you want to give off in your session. Some things to consider
are:
· A bookcase or credenza
· Some greenery
· A wall with some character
· A virtual background!
Virtual backgrounds are a great option to consider if your
work-from-home office spaces are limited. If you choose to go with a virtual
background, ensure it’s uploaded before the event, is oriented in the correct
direction, and isn’t too distracting as some animated backgrounds can be.
Stay with us
Stay engaged with us
that is. Virtual speak is a challenge because you don’t have an audience in
front of you to feed off of. That said, your webcam is picking up everything,
and the minute your energy starts to wane, the audience will pick up on that
and may start to disengage.
It may feel awkward but the most engaging virtual sessions
come from speakers that are just as excited to deliver their message from
behind a screen as they are on stage.
So what does this come down to? Practice, practice,
practice, and prep, prep, prep. Do your best to be present for any prep calls
or rehearsals that your event organizer may host for your session and make
the most of them. This means being an active participant in the prep call,
taking notes, and setting up as closely as you can to the situation you’ll be
in on the day of your session to get a preview of what your lighting,
background, and internet connection will be like. If the event doesn’t host a
prep call, host one yourself. Being comfortable with the video platform and
familiar with your environment will always pay off and help you feel more
relaxed as your big event draws near.
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