How to Captivate your Online Audience with a Storytelling Video
Probably more than ever in our entire lives- almost everything we do today is online. For businesses that means that meetings are now online, for students that means that classes are online, and we also have access to an endless number of courses, events, workshops, and book talks online. Storytellers love to connect and tell their stories to people, and so just like everyone else, they also have to find a way to get their work online through digital media. More than ever before, storytellers are video-recording, audio-recording, and live-broadcasting across various online platforms!
In this increasingly digital world, storytellers are finding ways to connect through digital and online media.
In a live, physical performance, there are certain skills and techniques storytellers use to engage our audience. While a lot of those skills still apply while recording a video, there are a few steps you have to keep in mind to ensure that your storytelling video really captivates your online audience.
Read on for these top 6 tips on how to make a great online storytelling video…
Tip #1 - Use the power of your gaze
When performing on stage, the audience often sees your whole body. In a video, they will see your face, and some of your upper body. Therefore, the language of your eyes is extremely important and noticeable, and there is an extreme power in your gaze. When making a video you should use a lot of the techniques you use when performing onstage. In a performance you would connect with your audience by looking at them and making eye contact; and in a video you achieve this by looking directly at the screen. In a performance, you might look away to help the audience imagine a certain scene or picture that you are describing in the story; and in a video you would also look away to help the audience imagine that image. Similar to a performance, when recording a video you should make sure to strike a balance between looking into the camera to connect to the audience, and also taking the time to gaze in another direction to imagine an image. The right balance is important- if you are constantly looking at the screen it can come across as very intense, and if you never look at the screen it will make you seem very aloof and disconnected. When looking directly at the camera in a video, do remember to soften your gaze a bit so that audience won’t feel intimated or stared at. Also, in case you feel awkward talking directly to a camera you can imagine that you are speaking directly to a person inside the camera, or even ask a friend to stand on the other side who you can speak directly to.
Tip #2- Find a relaxed and balanced energy
Recording a video is different from performing onstage as the camera is focusing solely on you. Therefore, performing your story exactly the way you would perform it onstage will feel too exaggerated in a video, and could feel off-putting for the audience. Finding the right balance for a storytelling video can be a bit tricky, however a good rule of thumb is to imagine that you are having a conversation with a friend across the kitchen table. As you tell the story for your recording, it should feel still feel that you are trying to bring the audience into the world of the story, however in a more gentle and informal way than when performing onstage. The more relaxed and balanced your energy will be in the video, the more your audience members will be able to connect.
Tip #3- Do a quick sound and visual test
Before starting the recording of your video, do a quick sound and visual test. Record yourself for 20 seconds telling a small part of the story. Then take a look at the video. Does your voice sound warm, inviting, and clear? Or is it fuzzy, echoey, and distant? Sometimes just shifting to a different room with better acoustics can really help the quality of sound in a video. Also, look at the visual of the video. Is your face and upper body clearly and easily seen? Is the camera steady, or is the image coming out wobbly? Is there a weird hair out of place that is distracting, or do those pair of earrings bob up and down a lot when you speak? Also, take a look at lighting- are you standing in the light, or are you in front of the light? For video, it’s best if you are standing in the light, and it’s shining onto you. When possible, avoid standing in front of a light as it will often make it very hard for the audience to see your face. After watching the sound and visual test video take a moment to see if you need to make any adjustments to the setting, the placement of the camera, or want to adjust anything about how you are seen on camera. Paying attention to all of those details can really make the difference between a good video and great video!
Tip #4- Keep the background simple!
The more simple the background for your video- the better! Let the audience focus on the story.
The background of your video is very important, as you want to make sure that the story is front and center. A plain wall is the absolute best, as it will make sure that the attention is on you, and that there is nothing present that distracts the audience from hearing your story. In case you don’t have a plain wall, then try to make a more neutral, simple environment. You can add a few things to beautify the space- a shawl, some flowers, a candle- however you don’t need to go all out. The simpler the better. As much as possible avoid the presence of a lot of household items like pens, books, coffee mugs, hangers, clothes, etc. as that just takes the listener out of the story. Definitely do not record yourself in front of a window or a closet full of clothes- it will only distract your audience from your story!
Tip #5- Record all of your Takes
When recording a video, a lot of people like to do practice rounds. While it’s great to practice, I’ve often found that my practice round might turn out stronger than the “actual” round. It’s probably because I’m more relaxed in that moment as I don’t feel the pressure that this take is “the one”! When recording, plan to take a several takes as it will give you options. A lot of different things like a random ambient noise, your expression, or the way the sunlight is hitting your face, can make one take slightly better than another. It’s better to spoilt for choice as opposed to feeling that your stuck with a take of the story that you don’t feel is your best. So, record all of your takes!
Warm up your body and voice before recording a video- it will help make sure your story is clearly heard, and your body is relaxed. This will help your audience will connect to the story all the more.
Tip #6- Warm you voice and body up!
Even though you are not performing for a live audience, it’s still really important to warm up your voice and body before recording a storytelling video! When I wrote about the Top 5 Secrets Behind Telling a Memorable Story I mentioned some of the warm-ups you can do to prepare. A lot of these warm-ups would be same for preparing a to record a storytelling video. Start out by centering yourself through breathing, then exercising your mouth and tongue, and also activating your voice through humming. Experiment with the range of your voice finding a range of sound from very low to very high. Then you can try some tongue-twisters, and also singing. Dancing is also a great way to warm up your body to be more expressive, and will also give you a sense of positive and creative energy before starting to shoot your video!