As an event producer, I often work with speakers at my events, both in-person and virtually. On my YouTube channel, I talked about four things I wish event speakers. You can watch and listen here or continue reading for my four tips for speakers ahead of their next event:

Different microphones have different capabilities

For one of my non-profit clients, we had a panel discussion on stage and all three speakers were using handheld microphones. One of our speakers kept turning their head but leaving their mic in the center position. We found out later they have a regular podcast and most likely use a microphone that is omni-directional and can pick up their voice evenly from any direction. Handhelp microphones don’t operate the same way so make sure you keep it underneath your mouth and move the mic as you move your head.

As a speaker, you might prefer a lavalier mic or a headset mic and those also have different functions than a handheld or a podcast/streaming mic.

Rehearse with the same energy you’ll present with

I will always ask for a tech check with speakers, whether it’s a 20-person webinar, a 300-person gala, or a 5,000-person conference. At that tech check, as a speaker, you want to perform or present as close to the same energy as you do when you’re live. Your tech check is an opportunity for the production team to learn where you’ll move/walk which is helpful for cameras, your vocal level which is helpful for audio and microphones, and your content is correct which helps graphics and video operators.

At one corporate conference, we had a speaker who spoke at a normal conversational level during his tech check but as soon as he was on stage, he was almost yelling. This made our audio-balance off and our audio tech had to make real-time adjustments but not before he first blew out a few of the attendees with how loud his audio was.

As a speaker, you want to practice as close as you can to what you’re doing during your real session, for you and the people behind the scenes.

Know your marks and camera angles

These marks are super important if you’re recording your session or show or using IMAG (wonder what IMAG is, what this video here). Some speakers like to pace the stage. It’s important to have marks or pieces of tape on the stage to help you know where to walk or to indicate boundaries of where the cameras can follow.

Discuss how you’ll enter and exit the stage

Speakers love to talk about how they’ll enter but sometimes forget to talk about how they start their slides or content. The more you can talk with your producer and production team about transitions the better. And I’m personally passionate about talking about how we end so that everyone is on the same page and avoids any awkward transition time.

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