The Poor Man's Teleprompter

I just finished a five hour talk about using digital video on the web. This was to a group of professional speakers who want to use the medium to get their message out there and connect internationally. They're beginning to play with cameras.

One of the biggest challenges for any "newbie" is how to look more professional. Put another way - how to deliver a short two minute speech and be personable, not stumble, and look somewhat organized in your thoughts. More often than not, "teleprompters" come into the conversation. "How can I remember what I'm going to say without notes and how can I look into the lens if I'm trying to read notes?"

There's a very simple technique that I show people that makes delivery in front of the camera so much simpler, less stressful and way more professional-looking than the alternative. It involves notes, but not a teleprompter, which can be very expensive.

So, where do you place the notes? And how do you make it look like you're not reading notes?

Here's the main secret. Write your notes on an index card or (depending how far away from the camera you are), a piece of 8X10 bond folded in half and turned vertically. Tape this or otherwise suspend it so that it is adjacent to the lens - even touching it on the side. Just write down key words that you need to stay on track. And then turn on the camera, look directly at your notes and deliver your message TO your notes - NOT the camera lens.

You'll find that if you look directly at the notes (that are placed right beside the lens) and don't look at the lens at all, it will appear that you're looking directly in the lens. But if you glance across at the lens during your delivery, that will give it away and destroy the perception that you're delivering directly to the lens.

We professionals use this technique all the time when we don't have the budget for a teleprompter. And before teleprompters were invented, well ... that was the way things were done.

Now, there are a several other techniques that will help with the perception that you're delivering to camera without notes.

1. Pretend you are talking to a single person, one-on-one. That piece of paper is a person - a real, live person. Talk to it as you normally would your best friend.

2. Be charming. Think about being on a date with someone you're enthralled with. Use that energy to make your performance that more compelling.

3. Move your head naturally as you would in a real conversation. If you actually read from that sheet of paper and keep your head still, you'll start to look "wooden."

4. Don't read the words word-for-word. Put down key words to give you the ammunition to put together your thoughts in a conversational manner.

5. Be yourself.And finally, don't feel badly about doing take after take. As professionals, we do lots of takes until we're happy. Making mistakes and flubbing lines is perfectly human ... but not great television.

And finally, don't feel badly about doing take after take. As professionals, we do lots of takes until we're happy. Making mistakes and flubbing lines is perfectly human ... but not great television.


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Peter Temple has been a writer/producer/director in commercial and corporate television for over 35 years. He now helps people use this most powerful technology (video) to their own benefit through vlogging and developing clips for the internet. He also speaks to groups about using the video medium to further their careers. You can find more information on his website at
http://www.themediamaestro.com