January 10, 2018
Filler Words as Mental Placeholders: The Equivalent of Verbal Drool
One of the ways . . . uh . . . we try to fill the . . . uh . . . silence when we speak on-camera is through…
December 20, 2017
Silence Over Stupidity
One of the best pieces of advice I have ever received came during the early years of my broadcast career, from my co-anchor on a morning show. He was about…
December 6, 2017
Don’t Be a Drone: Use Vocal Variety
In the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, actor Ben Stein memorably played an economics teacher who famously uttered the words that have become a catchphrase: “Bueller? Bueller?” Stein spoke in…
November 21, 2017
The Power of the Pause
If you are looking for immediate impact on your on-camera performance, learning how to employ proper pausing when communicating through the camera can add instant professional polish. As a classically…
November 8, 2017
Keep Your Head in the Game
One of my favorite clips that I use in my workshops features the host of a popular show pitching to a commercial break. Her cohost says his bit and then…
October 25, 2017
Set Your Pace with the Viewer in Mind
Being nervous is not inherently bad when performing on camera, but it can manifest itself in ways that are problematic. One of the more damaging by-products is rushing. Most people…
October 11, 2017
Deliver the Right Pitch for On Camera Success
In seventh grade, one of my assignments for English class was to write an autobiography that included what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was not able…
September 13, 2017
Don’t be a Robo-Presenter
As much as you focus on your on-camera performance (and rightly so), you are actually not nearly as important as your audience. Consider yourself an educator rather than a performer.…
August 2, 2017
Nervous Energy Can Up Your Game on Camera
Good storytellers know the value of injecting as much energy into their performances as possible. They’re trying to entertain and know they need to emote in order to hold the…