Audio & VideoPerformance

Chapters 5 & 6

Let your heart soar as highas it will go. Refuse to be average.

Anonymous

Audio & VideoPerformance

Chapters 5 & 6

I. Audience Rapport

II. Overcoming Microphone And Camera Fright A. Reasons for Mic Fright 1. Lack of experience 2. Lack of preparation

3. Fear of Failure 4. Lack of Self-Esteem 5. Lack of Mental Preparation 6. Dislike of One’s Voice or Appearance

B. Microphone Consciousness 1. Failure to clip on lapel mic 2. Walking away without unclipping lapel mic

3. Making unwanted noises near an open microphone 4. Turning away from a mounted mic 5. Failure to move handheld microphone between talents

6. Improperly positioning yourself to use desk mic 7. Making sudden volume changes with one’s voice 8. Moving in and out of a mounted microphone’s range

9. Failure to understand a microphone’s pickup pattern 10. Attaching a lapel microphone improperly 11. Clapping hands near lavaliere microphone

C. Camera Consciousness 1. Hitting marks a. focus and depth of field problems b. picture composition c. lighting considerations

2. Standing on camera 3. Sitting on camera 4. Telegraphing movement 5. Cheating to the camera 6. Addressing the camera

7. Holding props 8. Holding scripts 9. Using peripheral vision 10. Clothing and make-up a. clothing b. jewelry c. make-up

III. Instructions And Cues A. How to Handle Instructions Given 1. Before a production offer suggestions if needed

2. During productions do your best to fulfill cues 3. Avoid making excuses why you did something 4. Treat each member of the team with respect

B. Taking a Level 1. Level needed to determine volume level of inputs 2. Level needed to determine “popping” and “sibilance”

3. Procedures to follow when a level is taken a. remain quiet until cued b. await a cue to begin speaking

c. when cue, speak exactly as you will later on d. if using a script, read it as if being recorded e. as adjustments as made continue speaking

C. Hand Signals 1. Radio and Television a. attention/stand-by b. cue c. cut d. slow down or stretch

e. speed-up f. wrap-it-up h. time signals i. five minutes* ii. four minutes* iii. three minutes iv. two minutes

v. one minute vi. 30 seconds vii. 15 seconds viii. ten to zero seconds

2. Television a. stand by to switch cameras b. switch cameras

IV. Preparing For A Performance A. Preparation

1. Study and mark your script a. International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

b. wire service phonetics c. diacritical marks 2. Separate yourself from distractions 3. Go over objectives and ideas to be covered

4. Note placement of microphones and cameras 5. Check with floor manager for instructions 6. If using props decide where you will hold them

7. Remind yourself to avoid past miscues

B. Achieving a Conversational Style 1. Do not hesitate to smile or laugh 2. Use “UH” more often than “AY” for the word “A”

3. Use “THEE” before words beginning with vowels and “THUH” before words beginning with consonants for “THE” 4. Do not do parodies in performances

C. Develop a Sense of Timing

V. Improving Performance Skills A. Practice, Practice, Practice B. Invest in a Good-Quality Audio Recorder C. Be Honestly Self-Critical

D. Save Your Recordings to Measure Progress

VI. Radio And Television Performance Checklists A. Radio and Television Performance Checklist 1. Pitch and pitch variety 2. Volume

3. Tempo and tempo variety 4. Vitality 5. Articulation 6. Voice quality 7. Sibilance and plosives 8. Pronunciations

B. Television Performance Checklist 1. Eye contact 2. Use of peripheral vision 3. posture

4. Standing and moving on camera 5. Switch cameras 6. Property holding 7. Pointing and use of cue cards

8. Cues 9. Dress and facial animation