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Tips for Television,
Videotape, and Videoconferencing
When a video camera is trained on you while
being taped for a TV show there are some tips
you should remember that is taught in my
public speaking book.
TELEVISION & VIDEOTAPE TIPS
- Do not wear any clothing with tight
patterns or pin stripes. This causes an
optical illusion called a moiré pattern
which makes you look bad.
- Avoid clothing with large patterns or
geometric shapes. The audience will watch
your clothes instead of you.
- Wear makeup. It has the practical
purpose of reducing the glare of TV lights.
- Wear your eyeglasses if you want, but
avoid wearing shiny frames.
- Tip the bows of your eyeglasses up
slightly off your ears. This angles the
lenses down to reduce glare from lights.
- Find out the background color of the set
if possible. You don't want your clothing to
blend in and make you invisible.
- Ask the producer for wardrobe color
suggestions.
- Apply makeup to all exposed body parts,
like backs of hands, arms, and especially
the neck with head and neck shots.
- Apply cover-up below eyes to mask bags
and/or wrinkles.
- Good studios are kept cool to negate the
effect of the hot TV lights. You may freeze
for a while until the lights are turned on,
then you may burn up. Dress for the heat,
but bring a jacket or extra cover-up to be
used while you are waiting to go on.
- Bring a handkerchief or tissues to dab
your perspiration during breaks.
- Gestures should be a lot smaller than
you would normally use.
- Make sure your clothing is "broken in"
and comfortable when you are sitting and
standing.
- Before to your performance, have instant
photos or video taken of you while sitting
and standing. Make sure your clothes look
good in both positions.
- Avoid wearing black, white, or red on
camera. Even the best of cameras have
trouble with these colors.
- Avoid flashy jewelry. It can reflect
light.
- Avoid jangly jewelry. It reflects light
and also makes noise that will be picked up
by your microphone (this applies whether you
are on TV or not).
- Don't second guess the camera. Act as if
you are always on screen.
- Make sure your makeup, wardrobe, and
hair are consistent with your message.
MEN
- Wear knee-length socks.
- Always keep double breasted jackets
buttoned.
- Single breasted jackets can be opened,
but not too wide.
I WILL SAY THIS AGAIN, Men also need to
wear makeup. TV lights can penetrate several
layers of skin. You can't possibly shave close
enough to prevent whiskers from showing
without makeup.
Don't forget makeup on receding hairlines
or bald heads.
Don't forget the Tie
Trick of the Trade.
WOMEN
- Don't wear bright red lipstick or lip
gloss. Stick to softer tones and dab lips
with a little powder.
- Consider dress shields if you perspire
easily.
- Make sure your hair will stay where you
want it. You don't want to be fooling with
it while on the air.
- Make sure a lavaliere or lapel
microphone and transmitter can be attached
to your clothing.
Lillian Brown has written the best resource
I know of on the topic of appearing on
television. It's called 'Your Public Best: The
Complete Guide to Making Successful Public
Appearances in the Meeting Room, on the
Platform and on TV' (Newmarket Press: New York
1989).
VIDEOCONFERENCING
- If possible before the videoconference,
send remote location participants handouts,
copies of agenda, and copies of visuals.
- Try to get someone else to operate the
camera and other equipment. Have them shoot
close up if possible. With more than one
presenter, if you leave the camera on wide
angle, the viewers will have trouble picking
out who is talking.
- Periodically ask for feedback from the
remote sites. Your chances for
misunderstanding increase when communicating
electronically.
- Remember assume you are always on
camera. Use the mute button for your
microphone if you must converse off the main
program.
Both on stage and on television or video,
there are many issues you must consider and
control to do the best presentation possible.
You will practice all of these and more in my
public speaking book.
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