Teleprompter Training - Top 10 Tips
for How to Use a Teleprompter
By Steve Hyland
If you've ever had to deliver a statement or script to camera, then you'll know that getting it right each time can become very frustrating.
Many production companies will expect you to repeat your rehersed answers a number of times to camera, so they can use the best bits in the final edit.
I've seen corporate professionals waste valuable hours of their time just not getting it right. That's why I think the teleprompter is such a valuable piece of equipment . . . both in the studio and on location.
By using a teleprompter you can assure that those key messages are professionally delivered, time after time, giving your production a more polished broadcast look.
Don't get me wrong . . . there are some great presenters who can deliver sales presentations, corporate messages and new product demonstrations in a manner that seems 'off-the-cuff' to many people. You may well be one of them.
But with a little preperation, the combination of ad-lib and a teleprompter can turn a so-so presentation into a great presentation.
First, let's look at the teleprompter. Here's the camera:
[image]
It looks through a sheet of beam splitter glass in front of the lens. The monitor at the bottom projects reversed text onto the glass, so that it's the right way around for you to read it.
Special teleprompter software allows the operator to follow you when you're reading you're script . . . so when you slow down, they slow down. When you speed up, they follow you by moving the text faster.
By reading your script from the galss in front of the camera, it allows you to maintain eye contact . . . and because there's normally no more than four words on the lines that you're reading, the viewer won't see your eyes move.
Sometimes on location, we'll also use a small monitor above or below the camera to give us similar results.
So that's the equipment. But what about the performance?
This is all about preperation, preperation and even more preperation.
Even the most experienced presenters will usually have to take a couple of attempts to get their presentation to look and sound right.
So the first thing you have to do is allow yourself time. Time to write your script and time to present it.
It's worth remembering that in some cases, just 5 minutes of script could take a couple of hours to record.
Here's 10 tips on how to improve your performance:
- Writing Your Script
Most importantly, write your script to be spoken, not read.
Keep in mind that your audience will hear your words rather than see them, so it's important to write in a way that when spoken it sounds natural.
Examples:
Use we've . . . not we have
Use haven't . . . not have not
It should be conversational. Also, in my opinion, it's easier to read a script that's written in capitals and lower case . . . rather than all in capitals.
Also, when writing a script, write out numbers in full. Write one thousand four hundred and sixty . . . not 1,460.
- Practice, Practice and More Practice
There's no substitute for practice. The more you practice and personalize the text, the more you'll put meaning to the words.
It's also very important to practice aloud. see just how the words roll off your tongue, and if necessary make changes to the text that will make it easier for you to deliver.
- Passion and Energy
Give your performance passion by upping the energy. Television squashes your energy level . . . what seems like 'over the top' translates wonderfully onto the screen.
So 'turn yourself up' . . . not in volume, but in emotion, and instantly become more interesting and appealing to watch.
- Smile!
Don't forget to smile. smiling is perhaps the simplest way to connect with your audience. The warmth of a smile is a must at the very least at the begining and very end of your performance.
A smile can also be used throughout the delivery, almost regardless of the subject matter, as though you're telling a funny story.
A smile creates an attitude that's captivating to watch . . . although of course there may be some occassions when a smile is not appropriate - you'll have to guage your audience on that score.
- Maintain Eye Contact
The magic of the teleprompter is that it enables you to look directly into the camera lens, creating the illusion of eye contact with your audience.
Take full advantage of this by not looking away. Your continuous gaze really does engage your audience. Eye movements away from the camera can make you look a little bit 'shifty'.
- Use Non Verbal Communication
Appropriate facial expressions and hand gestures are critical to your performance.
And loosen up . . . there's nothing more distracting to an audience than a 'rabbit caught in the headlights' - the person who is frozen except for their moving lips delivering a speech.
Use gestures and expressions to amplify your words, stress important points to show that you are passionate about what you're saying.
Move your head . . . but not too much.
- Don't Shout
This is something that radio teaches you . . . address your presentation to just one person.
Even if the tape will be watched by a massive audience, your intention should be to connect with each person individually, as though you were speaking only to them.
- Don't Follow the Teleprompter
Your teleprompter operator is trained to follow you, so deliver your speech with pacing that's appropriate and comfortable for you.
Be confident that the words will always be there.
When you pause, or even improvise - off script - your next word will be there on the teleprompter, waiting for you to pick it up.
- Don't Panic
For many people, the studio, or being confronted by their camera and having to perform, can act like a full frontal lobotomy . . . resulting in the loss of speech and all reasonable thought.
- Enjoy
Enjoy the experience . . . after all, it's only television!
Steve Hyland