Captivating Your Audience: Tips for Ad-libbing and Teleprompter Use (Episode 145)

How do you strike a balance between reading from a prompter and ad-libbing? It's trying to do the dance of the tango, like with two left feet. But let me tell you, finding that sweet spot can make all the difference in captivating your audience. So let's dive in and figure out how to avoid losing your place in the script. How to sound less like a robot. And ultimately how to make ad-libbing feel like second nature. I'm your host, Chris Schwager.

[00:00:28] So why do you need to mix teleprompter with reading, uh, ad-libs? Sorry, te teleprompter reading with ad-libs. Well, presenting by reading from a teleprompter. You get the advantage of covering all the necessary points staying on topic.

[00:00:43] But the flip side is that you may come across as you know, robotic insincere if you don't add some personality and warmth to your delivery. On the other hand, presenting by ad-libbing oh, allows you to connect more directly with your audience and inject your own personality. You know, you get this authentic, uh, view of yourself.

[00:01:04] You know, you make mistakes and people accept those mistakes, and that's a really nice thing to be vulnerable Style of presentation that that is often overlooked. However, you may struggle to stay on topic, uh, if you're reading the necessary points, if you don't have a solid plan or a script or in place or a message in place.

[00:01:23] These are things that can very much slow you down. Ideally, a good presentation will strike a balance between the two approaches and you use a script and as an outline, as a guide, which will allow room for spontaneity, adlibbing to keep the audience engaged and interested. Here are some common problems people make when attempting to do both.

[00:01:43] Well, one losing track of the script. Now I'm doing a bit of both here at the moment. Look, a presenter is reading from a teleprompter and tries to ad lib a joke, but then loses their place in the script and has to pause to find their spot. So here's a tip. Avoid losing track. Uh, presenters should practice switching seamlessly between scripted material and ad-libbing comments unless you are me and you'll do whatever the hell you like. Uh, and beware of where they, they are in the script at all times so that you can come back to your script and pick up from where you left off.

[00:02:19] Two coming across as insincere or natural. A presenter tries to ad lib, a personal, uh, antidote to connect with the audience, but it feels forced and it doesn't fit well with the scripted message.

[00:02:35] Like let's just say the topic is, uh, sensitive and serious matter, and then you ad lib that you like the new shoe. That you like the new shoe. What the hell does that mean? Christine . This immediately creates a disconnect to the topic and feels forced trying to insert personality, right? Don't try and be a dick right bottom line.

[00:03:02] To avoid this, presenters should practice integrating ad-libbing comments into the scripted message in a way that feels natural and authentic. For example, the presenter could say something like, I know this topic can be heavy, but it's important to talk about it. You know, in fact, it remains, uh, reminds me rather of a time when I was dealing with a similar situation and I had to make some tough decisions, right? So there's a bit of empathy projected in that statement. This approach acknowledges the seriousness of the topic, while also connecting with the audience on a personal level, making the ad lib feel more natural and sincere.

[00:03:43] Three over reliance on the teleprompter. A presenter is so focused on reading from the teleprompter and getting all the words perfect that they forget to engage with the audience or make eye contact. Now, if you're watching the YouTube channel right now, you should be aware, I'm actually got glasses on cuz my eyes are terribly bloodshot. So understanding the eye contact, and I always go on about the importance of eye contact in sales and marketing, anything video in this particular example or in this particular show, I'd rather keep my sunglasses on and avoid grossing you out with my terribly bloodshot eyes.

[00:04:24] Look, to avoid this, presenter should practice using the teleprompter as a guide rather than a crutch, and make a conscious effort to connect with the audience and maintain eye contact.

[00:04:34] I believe that's a good tip. I also think that if you have a word-perfect script that you need to get accurate. Then there are ways through our on camera training that you're able to do that and to make sure that you are nailing every single word and delivering it in a way that comes across real.

[00:04:52] Number four, going off on tangents just like I did then, or losing sight of the main message. A presenter ad libs a comment that leads them down a rabbit hole, causing them to lose sight of the main message of the presentation. You know, continually remind Christine, our writer, what is the controlling idea? Okay. And making sure that we stick to that. Okay? The tip here is to avoid this. Presenters should practice staying focused on the main message, while also allowing for some flexibility to incorporate adlibbing and, uh, ad lib comments.

[00:05:24] For nervousness or anxiety. Like who isn't nervous, right? When you're starting out and presenting on camera. Presenter becomes overwhelmed and freezes up when trying to ad lib or read from a teleprompter. Look, I think they have the convenience when they are ad-libbing because possibly they're doing it on their own to stop, start and try and perfect it. And I think that is part of the reason why people fail at this, is cuz they get into a vicious circle and never come out of it because they are not the best judge of their performance and they are not subjective enough to call the shots as to what is, or what is not, um, important to the audience and what, you know, basically unpacking a little bit about the personality through their vulnerability. Um, you know, people typically aren't good at that, you know, they get caught up in making sure that they are, uh, accurate with their message. Um, and that really does become quite contrived when they try to deliver it.

[00:06:23] To manage nerves and anxiety, presenters should practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing visualization exercises, or seeking support from a colleague or coach. They should also rehearse the presentation multiple times to build confidence and familiarity with the material.

[00:06:39] Look, there's no better way to get this done quickly than to hire a video coach to do it for you. I mean, I'm ripping through on camera training in 90 minutes. People are coming out like diamonds on the other side, and it's because they have one-on-one video coaching to be able to do that. So look, I have never seen anyone get particularly better fast by rehearsing in front of a mirror. I don't advise it on people that go through on camera training, you know, because in some respect there's a possibility that they'll unwind or unravel or de uh, sort of, you know, get worse effectively. Um, not necessarily get better. Now, this is true. I'm not gonna be set the rule for this, but it's just what I've experienced, what I've noticed. People go through intensive video coaching to get good at presenting on camera. Then they've got the, the, the right amount of skills to be able to do it.

[00:07:38] They've got the tool belt, they know the methodology behind it. And you know, when you are trying to relax and manage your anxiety and get better and try and rehearse multiple times and all that sort of stuff, you just don't have the tools. Like, you know, you, you're running blind. Rehearsal's fine. It was Anthony Robbins was saying, um, you know, repetition is the mother of skill and I believe that to a certain degree, but if you have an opportunity to get somebody to really accelerate this for you, then you are going to smash it and you're gonna get over all of those hur, uh, those nerve hurdles quickly and get straight into it. Right? There you have it.

[00:08:21] Striking imbalance between teleprompter reading. Ad libbing is an art form. Takes time practice to, to do it perfectly as I just did then, you know, but with these tips, you can avoid common pitfalls and captivate your audience with a natural and engaging presentation. If you are struggling to present on camera, you know you are kind of at a loss to balance reading off a teleprompter and ad-libbing. Look, our team of experts is here to help. We offer personalized video coaching and guidance to help you create a video that will resonate with your audience, and that's what this is all about.

[00:08:53] Contact us today to learn more and don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more valuable video made simple ideas. Thanks for listening. That's all for this episode, and see you next week.