Digitevent has teamed up with Gilane Barret for a series of 9 videos to help you energize your virtual events, overcome stage fright, learn how to capture attention, and much more.
Gilane has hosted TV sets for more than ten years. A presenter on CNews and BFMTV, he still regularly appears on various shows.
Here are the tips to stay engaging, even behind a screen:
1: Prepare your event
Think of your event like a TV show, prepare a “run sheet” to keep a steady pace, so everyone knows what they need to do, minute by minute.
2. Play with interactivity
Ask your guests how they're feeling right now and display the results as word clouds, to give you material for your virtual event introduction.
Kick off the momentum with one or two prepared questions to encourage participants to ask more.
3: Getting comfortable with the camera
The production should keep your speakers' quality consistent (sound, video, lighting, etc.). Think of the camera as a friend: smile at it, look at it often. Don't stay static in front of a machine, be dynamic, as if you were in front of a friend.
4: Improve your eloquence
There's only one key to good eloquence: a clear, concise message. Use short sentences and vary your pace. Have a strong, steady voice.
5: Start with the end
Just like on TV, in virtual events you should lead with the main piece of information, giving it right from the start. Choose an approach that will hook your participants from the very beginning!
6: Managing stage fright
Mentally visualize the scene to help you handle it better on the day. Practice deep belly breathing to calm your heart rate and come across calmer when you go live. Pay attention to your opening words and your smile.
7: Media training
Prepare your talks and watch your test recordings to notice any verbal or physical tics. The best improvisations are the ones that aren't improvised.
8: Which pitfalls to avoid
Take care of your look and the background of your set. If you use notes, put only simple keywords on them, never full sentences. Remember that a livestream is a conversation, not a reading of information.
9: Hosting the discussion
To host on-set discussions, find an angle and a deep question where there's no real consensus. Build on your speakers' explanations and anecdotes, which can feed your intros and your progress through the event's storyline. Prepare several topics that your speakers will be able to answer and debate.
We hope these few tips have been useful, and we're ready to help you organize your next in-person, virtual, or hybrid event as best we can :)
We'd also like to thank Me And My Ours for the production, as well as WeWork for the filming location.
