Here are a few tips from the Pitch Avatar team that may be useful for those who find recording videos or live performances challenging.
Many of us are familiar with the fear of being on camera. Either we have experienced it ourselves or we’ve witnessed someone who, despite being sociable and articulate in person, becomes tongue-tied, confused, and incoherent when the video camera is on. In short, they completely lose their gift of eloquence.
There’s no need to feel ashamed about this issue. To varying degrees, about 75% of people experience some form of anxiety related to public speaking and approximately 35% struggle specifically with camera fear.
The primary cause of these phenomena can be traced back to our evolution and human history. For most of our existence, being in a public space where many eyes are upon us was inherently linked to threats. When we find ourselves in situations that our brains interpret as “I’m in an open space and everyone can see me,” we instinctively become anxious, and some may even panic. Furthermore, we are accustomed to communicating with the expectation of receiving feedback from our conversation partner. In contrast, a camera offers no response, staring at us like the unblinking eye of a monster. So, what can we do about this? We hope that our tips will help you navigate this challenge.
- Recognize that learning to perform on camera is a process. Accept that you are a novice and avoid putting pressure on yourself to meet the standards of a professional announcer or actor during your initial video performances. Taking yourself too seriously will only add unnecessary stress to your nervous system. Becoming a true master of on-camera work may take months or even years.
- Find a supportive audience to practice in front of and ask people you trust for assistance — family and friends can be great options. Position these “friendly viewers” behind the camera and practice recording your performances as if you’re addressing them. It’s no coincidence that many TV shows have live audiences who express their approval by applauding the guests. Over time, you’ll develop a conditioned reflex that equates communicating with the camera to communicating with a friendly audience.
- Analyze your training videos, noting both the positive and negative aspects of your performance. Remember to keep the positive elements in your “arsenal” and work on eliminating the negatives. For example, you can redo your training videos with an awareness of the weaknesses you’ve identified.
- Use the mirror effect when working with a computer or smartphone camera. This feature can help many people feel calmer and more comfortable. Why? Because we’re accustomed to seeing ourselves in the mirror. And let’s be honest — who hasn’t talked to themselves in the mirror? It’s a common experience.
- Don’t hesitate to have fun and joke in front of the camera. During your preparation and training, it’s beneficial to lighten the mood. Make faces, tell jokes, and even comically portray a speaker who has forgotten their lines or is talking nonsense. These activities can help reduce the anxiety that often accompanies video recording, especially for those who view it as a serious and responsible endeavor.
- Ensure your comfort. There are many tips for influencing an audience through techniques like adopting a “strong pose,” choosing the right “speaking clothes/hairstyle/makeup,” or selecting a decor/background that subconsciously influences viewers. However, all of this is meaningless if you are uncomfortable. To feel and speak confidently, you need to be in a state of both physical and psychological comfort. You should feel at ease sitting (or standing), dressed in a way that you like, and surrounded by decor or a virtual background that pleases you or, at the very least, doesn’t irritate you.
- Monitor your breathing. It’s essential to breathe evenly and deeply both before and during a video presentation. This practice not only saturates your blood (and consequently your brain) with oxygen but also helps you maintain a steady rhythm in your speech.
- Don’t rush. One of the main issues faced by video speakers is that the pace of speech is too fast. This often stems from the misconception that pauses and slow speech will “put the audience to sleep.” In reality, it’s not the speed of speech that causes disinterest but rather monotony and a lack of emotion — elements that have nothing to do with pacing. A speaker who mumbles and swallows their words comes across as nervous and insecure, leaving a poor impression on the audience. Therefore, feel free to speak at your usual pace, articulating words calmly and taking pauses when you need to find or recall the right term or expression.
- Work with a friendly professional videographer. If possible, hire a skilled professional operator for your initial training as a video speaker. Even just a few lessons and practice recordings can lead to significant improvements in your skills. The practical experience gained from working with a professional along with their recommendations cannot be matched by any textbook or collection of tips.
We have one more tip to share. Many issues related to creating video recordings can be resolved with the help of our AI assistant presenter, Pitch Avatar. With this tool, you can create a high-quality video presentation in just a few clicks and minutes.
All you need to do is upload photos and voice samples of the speakers to Pitch Avatar, based on which a digital copy will be generated. Additionally, video speakers can be created using images and voices from the relevant Pitch Avatar libraries. After that, simply upload the text for each virtual speaker, select an appropriate speaking style, and, if desired, add a background and other design elements. Click “Generate,” and… that’s it — your video presentations are ready! You can upload them to your website or YouTube, share them on social media, send them via email, use them in presentations, and more — essentially, do whatever you intended for them.
By using Pitch Avatar, you will not only produce professional-quality content but also save a significant amount of time.
Give it a try and see for yourself!
