Today’s episode is for anyone who would like to build confidence on camera.
Hello, I’m Marcus J. Freed. Welcome to Marcus Recommends, where we share great ideas and celebrate life. This is unbiased, unscripted, unrehearsed and it’s coming to you live from the studio here in Los Angeles.
How to Build Confidence on Camera
Today, Marcus recommends building confidence on camera. Now today, many of you are going to be filming things on camera, whether it’s to be on YouTube presenting about your businesses, doing corporate presentations, and these days we need to get more and more media savvy than ever before. One thing which really makes a difference to how you come across, your energy on camera, the way you’re going to communicate and the way people are going to watch you is all down to your confidence level.
So one thing I’d really recommend before even going on camera is the preparation. My father always told me when doing decorating, D.I.Y. work, preparation is everything, getting the tools in place and it’s exactly the same with going on camera. Actors would call it rehearsing. No one would step onstage without thoroughly rehearsing beforehand.
So one thing you could do is really be clear about your message. What is it you want to convey? If you’re going to keep it sharp, be economical with your words. Spend some time, either script out long hand, make some notes, put it out in front of the camera, use an auto cue, do whatever you need to do but really be clear and get this clarity, where do you want to aim the arrow and then aim it.
Get grounded and improve your camera presentation skills
My number two is to get grounded, really get into your body. I recommend this with many things, especially with presenting, especially when speaking on camera. Breathe. Relax. So one thing I do overhear in my studio is I film people for their YouTube channels and I always try to make sure people are physically grounded beforehand. We do some dry runs. We do some breathing. Shake out the body. Do some yoga. If you want some yoga sequences, check it out elsewhere on Marcus Recommends. And really make sure you can get into your body.
And then part three, tip number three for confidence on camera is speak to the camera like it’s a friend of yours. So a lot of people clam up, they get very nervous, they’re voice gets hoarse, they get a little bit sweaty in the palms because there’s a sense of pressure with the camera. But really imagine the camera is a close friend of yours, an intimate companion, someone you want to share something with. When you give that energy to the camera, it’s going to translate into the other side.
Now I’m trying to do this right now. I’m speaking to a camera. There’s no one behind it but I’m imagining you and I’m trying to really treat the camera as my friend, my dear friend, the camera. You know what I mean. I was taught this back at drama school by our radio teacher, a lovely man called David Angus, and he taught us that when you’re recording a radio drama, speak to the microphone like it’s a close friend of yours and I found this really helped back when I was recording for BBC Radio over the years.
Get clarity for excellent on-camera presentations and confidence
So these are the three stages: Number one, get the clarity, know what it is you want to convey; number two, get physically grounded, get into your body; and number three, treat the camera like it’s a close friend.
Today, Marcus recommends building confidence on camera. Now if you’ve enjoyed today’s show, please do share this with your friends and if you would like to sponsor one of these episodes, then you can just get in touch: marcusrecommends@gmail.com and we can talk about it.
Thank you for reading! I look forward to hearing from you and get in touch if you would like to schedule your free coaching session.
Have a wonderful day!
blessings,
Marcus J Freed
