In this episode, the speaker shares tips on how to be a good online or virtual host. They have gained experience from doing over 120 live streams online and offline events. Being an online host is different because you are presenting to a large audience from your studio or home. The benefit of being online is that you can reach a larger audience compared to physical events.
Always Look at the Camera "Always IN THE CAMERA is number one and this is my first big tip you're looking at a camera right when you have a large audience you can look around the audience and some of the advice I give to that is you know doing a north-south II you know east-west kind of looking around an audience interacting with an audience but when you're online only, you're just staring at a camera so my first advice is always look at the camera."
"and as you have a co-host like I've had earlier and lot of streams i've done i will feed off your energy from both sides. That's because it makes feel involved, part of crew right? Some recommendation I always use: 'look here', very helpful to do this because if youre just'
Engaging with the Camera To engage your audience, always look at the camera and avoid excessive movement. Looking away from the camera can make viewers feel disconnected. Moving around too much can confuse both the audience and autofocus cameras. Centering your body and sitting back in a comfortable position helps convey calmness.
Using Body Language 'From the shoulders out' is an area where you can be animated with hand gestures to enhance engagement on camera. Additionally, using facial expressions such as emphasizing points with eyebrows or other movements of eyes, nose, and mouth can strongly capture attention.
- Use tonality and pauses to engage the audience. - Utilize cheat sheets or visual cues as reminders. - Adjust your pace based on the setting (e.g., slow down when speaking at a desk).
To avoid audio distortion, minimize commotion and noise around you. Typing during a video call can be annoying, so limit distractions by using cue cards instead of typing.
To create a visual schedule, use pieces of A4 paper and write in colorful letters. Make sure the paper is out of shot to avoid giving away any information. Writing on paper allows for easy reference without constantly looking down at a laptop screen.
The set design in virtual meetings is important as it reveals a glimpse into people's lives. It can be fun to see how others have decorated their living rooms or bookshelves. However, it is crucial to consider the background carefully and avoid showing an unmade bed or messy surroundings.
To achieve the best lighting for your videos, make sure to face a well-lit area. Avoid having a light source behind you as it will cast shadows on your face and overexpose the camera. Instead, position a light in front of you or use natural window lighting. If you wear glasses, be mindful of how they reflect light. Side lighting can create strange shadows, so consider using overhead front lighting or investing in circular lights designed for video recording.
To keep your audience engaged during a live stream, encourage them to interact by tagging their location or sharing an emoji. This increases engagement and improves the ranking of your stream. Before going live, promote your show like a TV channel does with scheduled programs. By notifying people in advance, you can attract more viewers.
Before going live, it is important to promote your stream and build anticipation. Encourage people to watch the video even if they missed the live show. During the live session, engage with your audience by asking them to like and share while you are streaming.
When faced with technical issues during a call, it is important to reassure the participants that everything will be resolved. Encourage them to continue what they were doing or direct their attention to someone else on the call while the problem is being fixed. Additionally, you can acknowledge that unexpected things can happen in live sessions and assure everyone that you will overcome any challenges together.