Public Speaking: Tips for Television, Videotape,

Anyone who’s ever been filmed knows that you look and sound different on TV than in person. Often times, you’ll have public speaking events on TV, videotape, or videoconferencing and have to be prepared. Over the years, I’ve spoken with and watched countless public speaking professionals. Here are some tips to maximize your appearance when not conducting an event in person:

TELEVISION & VIDEOTAPE TIPS

**Use smaller gestures.
**Make sure clothing is broken in and comfortable when you are sitting and standing…we don’t want anyone’s pants splitting!
**Have instant photos or video taken of you while sitting and standing prior to your performance and make sure your clothes look good in both positions.
**Find out the background color of the set if possible. You don't want your clothing to blend in and make you invisible.
**Ask the producer for wardrobe color suggestions…unless of course he’s wearing a pink shirt with purple polka dots!
**Do not wear any clothing with tight patterns or pin stripes. This causes an optical illusion called a moiré pattern, which makes you look baaaaaaaaaad. You might want to go and read that sentence again, just to make sure you got it!
**Avoid clothing with large patterns or geometric shapes. The audience will watch your clothes instead of you.
**Avoid wearing black, white, or red on television or video. Even the best of cameras have trouble with these colors.
**Avoid flashy jewelry, as it reflects light.
**Avoid jingly jewelry; it reflects light and makes noise that will be picked up by your microphone (this applies whether you are on TV or not).
**Wear your eyeglasses if you want, but avoid shiny frames. My favorite are those giant ones too big for your face!
**Tip the bows of your eyeglasses up slightly off your ears. This angles the lenses down to reduce glare from lights.
**Wear makeup because it reduces the glare of TV lights, and who couldn’t use a little makeup?
**Apply it to all exposed body parts, like backs of hands, arms, neck, etc. Apply cover-up below eyes to mask bags and/or wrinkles.
**Keep in mind that good studios are kept cool to negate the effect of the hot TV lights. You may freeze for a while until the lights are turned on, then you may burn up. Dress for the heat, but bring a jacket or extra cover-up to be used while you are waiting to go on.
**Bring a handkerchief or tissues to dab perspiration during breaks.
**Don't second guess the camera. Act as if you are always on screen.