So, You Want to Be in Pictures?

“When you’re rehearsing, just focus on giving the speech, and then look at the video. You really cannot give a speech and be critiquing it at the same time.” – TJ Walker

Many years ago, the starlets that flocked to Hollywood used to be asked, “So, you want to be in pictures?” motion pictures that is. Of course, the starlets’ answers were YES! Some succeeded, some didn’t, but you can!

Do you want to be in pictures, videos that is? How does being the subject of videos help you to become a better speaker? Read on to find out why and how easy is it to produce your own videos.

In Videos of You, You Truly See What Your Audience Sees

How many times do you see yourself in a day? Maybe in the morning when you wash your face and before bed when you brush your teeth. The rest of the day, you are not really sure how you look. When you are before your audience, they see all of you for the duration of your speech. They are looking at how well you are dressed, how well you speak, and how well you move about the stage.

Up until a few years ago, recording yourself was quite an expensive proposition. There was the camera, tripod, lighting, microphone, etc. In the last few years, the prices of all of these have been drastically reduced. In fact, I would venture to say that the vast majority of everyone reading this article already have the camera in their smart phone. Yes, the camera in your smart phone is capable of recording full motion video whether you are recording your one-year-old taking her first steps or recording you giving the presentation that will decide if you make junior partner in your firm.

With the “magic” of digital recording, you can instantly access any part of your video. Now, why is this important? It is important because you can access anywhere in your presentation video to see exactly how you looked, sounded, and moved. Then you can plan in the next rehearsal what to add or subtract from your speech. Recording yourself presenting actually accelerates your progress on the road to the best speech you can deliver.

So, videos allow us to see what the audience sees. Can’t you just give the speech and evaluate it at the same time?

Why You Cannot Give a Presentation and Evaluate It at the Same Time

Why do football players have coaches? Why do entrepreneurs have mentors? Why do students have teachers? Football players have coaches, entrepreneurs have mentors, and students have teachers because these coaches, mentors, and teachers are able to do something the football players, entrepreneurs, and students cannot do when they are performing – evaluate their progress.

When you are behind the camera, you are the football player, entrepreneur, and student. When you are not behind the camera and you are evaluating your video, you are doing what the coach, mentor, and teacher can do – you are evaluating your performance.

When you evaluate your presentation video, you can stand back, distance yourself from your presentation, and provide as close to an unbiased evaluation about your presentation as you can. Believe me, it will greatly accelerate your progress toward becoming the best speaker you can be.

The added benefit of having a video file is you can send it to trusted friends for their evaluation of your presentation.

You Can Send Your Video to Trusted Friends for Their Evaluation of Your Presentation

Through the miracle of electronics and the Internet, you can have your friends evaluate your speaking performance whether your friends are across town or across the nation. Here’s how:

First, To send your video to friends you can download your videos to your computer and then send the video to your friends in an e-mail or post them in an on line repository like Dropbox for them to review.

All modern digital still/motion cameras record still photographs and videos on a removable SD card. All modern computers accept an SD card reader. Connect the SD card reader to your computer. Remove the SD card from your camera and insert it into the SD card reader. Then download your video(s) to your computer through its photograph app and send the actual video or a link to the on line repository to your friends for them to evaluate. It is as simple as that.

So, being the subject of videos helps you to become a better speaker by (1) truly seeing yourself as the audience does, (2) precluding you having to give your presentation and evaluate it at the same time, and (3) sending your video to trusted friends for their evaluation of your presentation.

You may believe taking your own videos is beyond your ability. With the reduction in prices of video equipment, the tools you already have now on your computer, and a willingness to reach a little bit outside your comfort zone, you too can take videos of yourself and greatly accelerate your speaking ability by evaluating your presentations like a person in the audience may.

So, you do want to be in pictures, your presentation videos that is!

“Speak like you talk, not like you write.” – Craig Valentine