SPEAKER GUIDELINES
1. Confirm presentation time with conference director.
2. Submit Speaker Agreement and Information Form here.
Presentation descriptions are limited to 450 characters, including spaces. Remember that your bio will be used in social media, as well as in introducing you. Make sure it answers the question: WHY AM I QUALIFIED TO SPEAK ON THIS SUBJECT and also include SOMETHING FUN ABOUT YOU.
Submit information on your Giveaway in the form as well.
3. Register for the conference at LINK HERE.
4. Double check the HELPFUL HINTS FOR VIRTUALLY SPEAKING guidelines below and practice with your computer, framing and audio ahead of your presentation time to make any necessary adjustments.
HELPFUL HINTS FOr
VIRTUALLY SPEAKING
1. Adjust the Frame
If you’re using your laptop’s integrated camera, it can be difficult to get the angle right. If this is the case, try stacking it on some books and or boxes to achieve the ideal angle.
If the angle still isn’t perfect, that’s acceptable — but make sure to put yourself in the center of the frame.
If you break your frame into thirds with horizontal lines, your eyes should be around the intersection of the top and middle third. If this cuts off your hair or head in the frame, move the camera a bit further away. Your entire head should be visible in the frame.
2. Minimize Surfaces
3. Choose a Simple Background
4. Align Your Screen
Make sure that the horizontal items in your room are aligned with the horizontal border of the recorded screen, and the vertical walls (or things) are in line with the vertical screen recording.
5. Let There Be Light!
If there’s not enough light in the room, the camera has to compensate by lowering the shutter speed (and in return frames per second, or FPS) and increasing ISO. Most videos that you watch are played at 30 frames per second (FPS), while your webcam can fall under 20 FPS when recording in low-lit rooms.
How do you mitigate this problem? Maximize the light in your room! Open your blinds and curtains, let the sun shine in and turn on all lights in the room. You want as much light on you as possible. So, if you have any extra bedside lamps or floor lamps, put them in the room (just beware of shadows), and play around with the lights till you get it right.
But once we let the light in, we have another problem. We can’t have the sun or the light hitting your camera frame directly. There are two things that can go wrong here: First, the camera focuses on you and it can’t make a good contrast with the amount of light coming in from somewhere else. Secondly, the camera focuses on the light coming from the outside, and it automatically darkens you and your room.
What you want to do is sit across the window and move any light sources away from the frame. If you can, try to make light sources point at you.
6. Hide Your Chair
7. Look at the Camera
We know it might feel a tad awkward to look at a camera while you talk, but this will help immensely for your storytelling. Also, it will create a stronger sense of engagement with your audience because they will think you are talking directly to them. Eye contact, even virtually, is what connects you to your audience. Consider ways to engage the audience with participation!
8. Ditch the Headphones
These days, most laptops are equipped with high-quality microphones and software that successfully blocks out most background noise. So, if you want to look professional, ditch the headphones and make sure your space is quiet for your presentation.
9. Dress for Success
Furthermore, we highly recommend wearing unicolor clothing, as it will look better on camera. Stripes and busy patterns can often be distracting. Additionally, you should probably refrain from attire that includes logos and/or images on them, as we believe these also distract the audience from your talk.
10. Adapt Your Presentation
11. Stay in the Frame
12. Pace Yourself
Second, and this is key — slow down the pace of the conversation. Once you say something, give pause, so the other speaker has time to reply.
Also, when someone else is speaking, be sure to show you are listening by making nodding movements every so often. This will show not only that you are listening, but also that the speaker’s cameras did not freeze. Make sure these gestures are natural and not sudden, jerky movements. Remember there is likely to be a delay in comments, too.
13. Eliminate Distractions
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