If you have a video recording coming up, preparation doesn’t mean memorizing two pages of copy the night before. In fact, unless you’re recording something that requires exact wording, memorizing a script can sometimes make the recording harder.
A better place to start is with the subject itself. Know what you’re there to talk about, have the important details with you, and spend a little time saying it out loud before you get in front of the camera.
Here’s How We Recommend Preparing
1. Be Clear About What You’re Recording
Before you start writing anything, decide what this particular video is supposed to cover.
Let’s say you own a roofing company and want to record a video about replacing a roof. That’s still a pretty big subject.
You could talk about signs that a roof needs replacing, how long the job normally takes, what homeowners should do before work begins, or what happens during an estimate… Pick one!
You can always record the other topics while you’re in the studio. Giving each one its own video makes it much easier to stay on track.
2. Make Yourself a Cheat Sheet
For most videos, a few notes may be all you need. Suppose customers regularly ask what they should bring to their first appointment. Write down the four or five things you want to mention.
That’s your cheat sheet.
You don’t need to write:
“Hello, my name is John Smith, and today I’m going to discuss five important items you should bring to your appointment…”
If that’s not how you normally talk to customers, there’s no reason to start talking that way because a camera is in front of you.
Look at your first note and explain it. Then move to the next one.
3. Say It Out Loud Before Recording Day
This is probably the easiest preparation you can do. Take your notes and talk through them.
You can do it at your desk, in your car, or while getting ready in the morning. You’re not trying to memorize anything. You’re checking whether you can explain the subject comfortably.
You may discover that something you thought would take 30 seconds actually takes three minutes to explain. That’s useful to know.
You may also hear yourself using words you’d never use with a customer. Take them out.
If you stumble over the same sentence every time, don’t practice it 20 more times. Find an easier way to say it.
4. Know the Details You Can’t Get Wrong
There’s a big difference between forgetting a word and getting an important fact wrong. If you’re mentioning a date, price, phone number, website, statistic, product name, or anything else that needs to be exact, have it written down.
Don’t rely on remembering it once the recording starts.
The same goes for names. If you’re mentioning a person or company you’re not used to saying on camera, double-check the pronunciation beforehand.
These are small things, but they’re also the kind of mistakes that can require another take.
5. Bring Anything You’re Planning to Show
If you’re going to hold up a product, bring the actual product.
If you’re explaining a brochure, bring a clean copy. If you’re demonstrating something, make sure you have all the pieces needed for the demonstration.
It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to concentrate so much on what you’re going to say that you forget about what you’re supposed to show.
This is also worth thinking about when planning your wardrobe. Bring a second shirt, jacket, or blouse if you’re unsure about your first choice. And if you’re recording with a green screen, leave the green outfit at home.
6. When You Really Do Need a Script
Some recordings need exact wording. A 30-second commercial doesn’t leave much room to improvise. Neither does an announcement that has approved language or a video containing information that needs to be presented very carefully.
That’s when a script is useful… But even then, read it out loud before recording.
Something can look perfectly fine on paper and sound awkward the moment you say it. Long sentences are usually the first problem. Break them up. Replace words you wouldn’t normally use. Write the script for your voice, not for a brochure.
If you’re using a teleprompter at OASIS, you can follow the script during the recording instead of trying to memorize it.
7. Don’t Worry About Getting Everything Right on Take One
You’re allowed to stop and say a sentence again. If you don’t like an answer, we can record another one… That’s part of recording video.
Trying desperately not to make a mistake usually makes people more nervous than the mistake itself. If you lose your place, stop for a second, look at your notes, and start that section again.
That’s what editing is for.
Before You Come to OASIS Studios
If you’re recording at OASIS Studios in Orlando, spend a little time preparing your subject, but don’t feel like you need to rehearse a performance.
Know what you’re talking about. Write down the points you don’t want to forget. Check any details that need to be exact. Bring whatever you’re planning to use on camera.
Then come in and talk about your business the way you already do every day. We’ll handle the recording.
