What is a meeting monitor? One of my colleagues and I jokingly refer to that role as “the meeting monster.” When presenting virtually, the speaker all too often ends up arriving early, welcoming guests into the session, explaining the guidelines … More ☛
True story: Joe was hired to keynote at a huge conference—you know—a fancy stage with multiple iMag screens and colorful lights. He planned to make a splash, light up the audience, and please the meeting organizer who was in a … More ☛
I love to use knocked-out images in my slide presentations. I don’t need the box or the background—just the subject matter. Graphic designers employ an array of sophisticated tools that allow them to isolate a subject and mask it from … More ☛
Have you ever recorded a testimonial video in a crowded space with lots of people chattering in the background? Or maybe you’re just not happy with an audio track—the voice just has no presence or punch. Adobe has introduced a … More ☛
A power saw is a wonderful tool, but if you don’t have any training or skills, it’s easy to sacrifice a finger on the altar of ignorance. Sadly, the same thing could be said about PowerPoint. How can you use … More ☛
My client wanted to broadcast my presentation to a satellite office and to some of their team members who were working at home. In the room were about a hundred employees from a marketing and PR firm who were attending … More ☛
In the “old days,” computer monitors and televisions all had a 4:3 aspect ratio. What does that mean in English? It means that the ratio of width to height is 4 to 3. So an old monitor might have been … More ☛
Why do I keep a cardboard cutout of King Charles in my green screen studio? Well, no offense to Chuck, but I shopped around and he was the cheapest life-sized cardboard cutout I could find. And why do I want … More ☛
Webcams are light and compact, and quality has gotten better as videoconferencing has become more popular. Most laptops and many new monitors have webcams built in. But have you ever seen serious photographers with massive lenses that cost thousands of … More ☛
You’ve probably been advised to look at the camera when you speak on screen, and in general, that’s good advice. But consider another approach. If you were sitting in a live audience, would the speaker look you in the eyes … More ☛
Virtual backgrounds for on-screen meetings are very popular. Why not hide that messy bedroom and look like you’re in a conference room, sitting under the aurora borealis, or sunning yourself on a beach in Tahiti? Here are a few reasons: … More ☛
If you’re viewing this content in video format instead of reading it, you’re watching the magic of the green screen. The concept is simple: Film yourself speaking in front of a green screen. Some are fabric. Some are painted on … More ☛
Microphones come in many varieties. Choose the right one based on your needs. Cost and Quality: Microphones can cast tens or tens of thousands. Avoid the cheap-o ones because you’re a speaker. The quality of your audio is even more … More ☛
All these speaking tips—hundreds of videos. Every one of them is scripted and displayed on a teleprompter app. I don’t do that on stage, but I can load the scripts for dozens of videos into my teleprompter, record them in … More ☛
Microphones are designed to be placed a certain distance from your mouth. If you eat the microphone—if you put it on your kips like an ice cream cone—it’s likely to pick up breathing sounds and sibilance—the percussive pops, clicks, and … More ☛
I watched a wedding guest who’d been asked to deliver a toast. As he spoke, the microphone drifted slowly down toward his stomach. If you’re uncomfortable speaking, and especially if amplifying your voice also amplifies your nerves, watch out for … More ☛
