Copyright by Melissa Hull
Whether standing up in front of a crowd to give a speech or making an appearance on TV, any form of media is embarrassing. Most of the time it’s because we don’t know what to say or do, get stage fright, or look downright awful on the camera. Here are a few ways to help your TV appearance go a bit smoother and help you feel 100% better about yourself. The first step is simple. Just practice in front of a camera. It’s easier said than done though. But it is doable. Practice makes perfect though, and practicing being on camera will help articulation of speech, boost confidence, and gain knowledge. Start by staying at home, or to friends willing to listen, “Hello, my name is John, and I’m glad to be here.” Hearing it out loud helps with mistakes and making sure what you’re saying will be coherent and cohesive. Practice on camera as well and then play it back. Look for nervous ticks and fix them, make sure you look your best and fix errors, listen to your tone and adjust accordingly.
Something else to keep in mind is how you look physically while practicing. Make sure you are well groomed and are taking care of yourself before the actual interview. Sleeping well, drinking lots of water and keeping your face natural is a recipe for looking pleasing on camera. Keep your hair well groomed, and if you’re men, keep cleanly shaven. When it comes to clothes, something subtle and that blends well with the persona you’re trying to create will be greatly beneficial.
Step two in perfecting yourself for the camera is focusing on your message. A tv interview is short and sweet. Remember that not all you say will be used, just pivotal moments. So make sure to deliver the most important message you want to reach your audience. If it’s all important, keep it simple and don’t add any fluff to whats being said. Also, keep your story straight. That is step three. Don’t get lost in trying to personalize the message you want to deliver to your audience. It’s okay to add a few short anecdotes, but remember why you are there, and give the audience the appropriate message. They’ll remember some of what you say, so you want that to be what is important about the interview. Keeping all of this in mind, and your first media interview will go smoothly and successfully. There is always so much to take into consideration, but always reflect on the advice given to you and create your own methods of preparing and you will become an expert at being a guest in important interviews.
All interviews are your ticket to bettering your cause, business, view on a topic, what have you. Take it all seriously and always be prepared for any outcome. Remember as well that you’re doing it for your targeted audience. Make sure they’ll love it, and they’ll love you..
~ Melissa Hull
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