What is the most important thing at an online conference or other similar event where you invite speakers? Of course, their speeches and how they will present themselves to the audience. To ensure the highest possible quality of speeches from speakers connecting from your office or home, be sure to draw their attention to the background on which they will speak, the clothes they will wear on the day of the speech and the equipment they will use.

Background

As for the background, the rule is simple - the more "calm" and solid the background is, the better. A background in the form of a monochromatic wall in a toned down color (such as white, gray or beige) will work great. It is important that the color is not too intense and does not distract the viewer.

If the speaker does not have a blank wall nearby to serve as a background, or if setting up with a laptop or camera is impossible, ask the speaker to situate himself in as neutral an environment as possible. Let's draw the speaker's attention to ensuring that there are not too many plants or household knick knacks in the frame, for instance. It is also worth noting the perspective of the camera's view, through which some furniture or objects may appear unnaturally large.

Speakers may notify us if they want to use a virtual background. In such a case, first of all, let's check whether the use of such a solution will be possible in the tool or platform we are using. Let's draw speakers' attention to the fact that virtual backgrounds are not always predictable and, for example, if the lighting is too low or the background is not smooth, some parts of our body may be "absorbed" by the virtual background. So it is a good idea to locate yourself in a monochromatic setting (e.g. white) and only then run the virtual background.

Dress code

The issue of the neatness of clothing and its suitability to the occasion is probably obvious to every organizer and speaker. If you plan to invite your speakers to the studio and record them there or broadcast their speeches from there, be sure to pay attention to the following.

First, determine with the speaker what kind of frame he will be performing in. If it is a full or American set (the speaker can be seen from the knees up), the speaker should take care of the whole outfit and its fit - from head to toe. If the speaker will be performing in a smaller set - medium or semi-close-up, then you can let him know to really take care of only the upper part of the outfit - shirt, jacket, blouse or T-shirt. It is also important whether the speaker will be performing standing or sitting. With a seated position, it is wise to take care of an outfit that looks good while sitting and is not too tight.

Second, match with the speaker his or her attire to the background. If the background in the studio will be dark in color, advise the speaker to rely on light-colored clothing items to contrast with the background. In the case of a light-colored background, it will be best to do a trial and test different combinations, and then choose the one that looks best. Be sure to also oversee that if a green screen is used, the speaker should wear absolutely nothing green!

Third, if you are going to be using a microport in the studio, please teach the speaker to dress in such a way that you can easily install the microport for him. Pants or a skirt will work well in this situation, as they are the ones on which the microport is most often clipped. If the speaker expresses a desire to wear a dress, draw her attention to the need for a belt to which the device will be clipped.

Equipment

When it comes to equipment, there are really two things that most determine the quality of a speaker's speech - the camera and the microphone. A much better option than a camera built into a laptop would be an external camera. In most cases, it provides better image quality and allows you to set it at the right angle, thus avoiding the so-called frog perspective, i.e. being seen from below. External cameras also cope much better with low light, so we do not have to worry about appearances, for instance, on a cloudy day. And when it comes to the microphone, there is really a huge difference when the speaker uses a professional or even semi-professional external microphone. Such equipment picks up the voice very well and, unlike a microphone built into a laptop, it also does a great job of reducing background noise, providing clarity of sound.

Checklist:

✅ Check if the speaker looks good with the background on which they will perform on the day of the event

✅ Test the performance of the virtual background if the speaker wishes to perform on one

✅ Inform the speaker about the type and color of the background in the studio and the frame in which they will perform

✅ Remind the speaker not to wear green if you will be using green screen

✅ Select with the speaker an outfit suitable for clipping a microport

✅ Encourage the speaker to use an external camera and microphone rather than those built into the laptop