Imagine yourself playing video games, showcasing your talents, or giving a TED Talk in front of a huge crowd. Surely, anyone would feel anxious or at least a bit nervous! Ironically, our super-smart brains don't really see the difference between the real audience and the viewer count on a live stream. The thing is, even the most successful streamers used to be nervous on camera at the beginning of their careers.
Naturally, one of the essential ways of growing your stream is to improve your confidence and eliminate the fear factor. And guess what? Restream is here to help you! We’ve put together some of the most effective tips for you to become confident on camera so you can stop wasting your energy and start fully enjoying what you love doing.
How to speak with confidence on camera
Surely, overly self-confident people have an advantage when it comes to cameras. That’s why we think it’s absolutely okay to use help rather than continue struggling with sweaty palms, heavy breaths, and as a result, ridiculously awkward speech. Without further ado, here are the tips on how to be confident in front of a camera.
1. Become your own loyal viewer and critic
Probably the easiest way to gain a huge boost in confidence is to practice in front of a mirror right before going live. Try to perceive yourself as a random viewer would. Remember, you are the only one who is aware of your every little flaw. Most people don’t notice even half. Moreover, the audience is usually far more forgiving than your inner critic. So, don’t be afraid of making mistakes. After all, we all do sometimes.
2. Learn and control your body language
A single gesture or a certain posture can impact your look dramatically. That’s why it is important to take some time to observe the way your body communicates. After analyzing your behavior, you will be able to channel confidence on camera simply with the help of your body. For instance, many people tend to keep their shoulders pulled back and relaxed when they are confident.
According to psychologists, smiling intentionally can make you feel happier. The same mechanism can be applied to the feeling of confidence and power. Just try the following and see the difference for yourself:
- Keep your posture upright.
- Relax your neck muscles.
- Hold your shoulders back.
Keep your body in this position for at least five to ten minutes and you’ll feel more comfortable and strong at the same time. Also, you could try doing yoga right before going live to alleviate unnecessary tension and relax your body.
3. Take care of your health and mood
Yes, your health and mood, in particular, heavily impact the quality of your stream. We cannot stress enough how important this connection is. For instance, you could be tired due to a lack of sleep or dehydration, which in turn will make you less focused and entertaining, thus more self-conscious and nervous.
However, do remember that even if you aren’t feeling okay, just try to smile more often and use a bit of humor. A little joke never hurt anyone, as long as it is not racist or sexist. Otherwise, it can ruin your whole streaming career.
4. Look directly into the camera
Just like in real life, maintaining eye contact through the camera lens indicates you are confident. Therefore, don’t miss a chance to look your viewers right into their souls. Try to perceive the camera lens as the eye of your good friend. And then, try talking to the camera as if it was your buddy. But, please, don’t be creepy! Staring intensely might make your viewers uncomfortable, at the very least, or even leave them wondering if you are all right. It is often recommended to hold eye contact for no more than five seconds.
5. Pay attention to your appearance
What is the first thing you notice when you join any person’s live stream? Surely, it’s their appearance. The importance of looks simply cannot be underestimated. Not only does a great look attract more viewers, but it can also make you feel more confident, thus maintaining those newcomers. That’s why it’s in your best interest to make sure you are dressed well, your make-up is neat, and your hairdo is fresh. No one can resist a confident look!
6. Be fully prepared
What is harder: improvising on stage or reading pre-written jokes aloud? Well, obviously you can become super anxious and lose all your confidence when you don’t really know what to talk about. Hence, it is a good idea to write down the main topics you’d like to cover on your stream. Ideally, you want to have a full script so you don’t ever stumble. But make sure you leave some space for a few improvisations. This way, you will look more natural on camera, making your stream feel more alive.
7. Use a decent streaming setup
If you think a good look and an energetic attitude are everything you need to make the audience fall in love with you, unfortunately, it’s not true. Some technical factors definitely need to be mentioned.
First of all, every popular streamer knows how much the proper lighting matters. To put it shortly, good lighting can do wonders! You can invest in some useful devices like:
- Selfie lights.
- Flash stands.
- Ring lights.
- Green screen.
See for yourself how much more professional your videos can become. Knowing your videos look amazing will surely boost your confidence!
Another common technical issue is bad streaming quality. There are many reasons streams can be interrupted, from improper gear to connectivity issues. Such difficulties can surely lead to panic. And where there’s panic, there’s no space for confidence. Luckily, we’ve got a cool article on how to properly set up your stream and avoid any technical issues.
Another great option would be simply joining Restream and forgetting about bad streaming quality once and for all! By using our services, you will get lots of benefits, including multistreaming, informative analytics, support, and many helpful tools for your stream.
8. Welcome your flaws and mistakes
Do you remember the very first piece of advice we gave you? We all constantly make mistakes, and that’s absolutely okay. However, not all of us learn from our mistakes. Some people are so afraid of failing, they forget it is the most important lesson.
Surprisingly, it is the acceptance of our flaws that allows us to be ourselves and achieve success. Similarly to the impact yoga has on your body, this mindset helps you avoid excessive stress and be natural on camera. Even if you made a mistake in your video, just remember that nobody’s perfect.
Bonus Tip: Record until satisfied!
In modern days, time is a luxury. We get it. However, investing it in something worthy can definitely pay off later. Keep this thought in mind and record test videos of yourself. This way, you can analyze your behavior and get rid of all the flaws you discover. Repeat this process until you are fully satisfied with your performance. Just don’t be overly meticulous!
Also, consider using Events. This amazing tool can schedule and stream your pre-recorded videos on any platform. Just upload the video, choose when and where to stream, and enjoy your free time. Simple as that!
Wrapping things up…
As you can see, it’s not that tough of a job to be confident. The road to becoming a successful streamer has many obstacles on its way. However, Restream is always there to lend a hand. Hopefully, our recommendations will help you learn how to speak with confidence on camera. Let’s quickly recap them:
- Don’t be hard on yourself
- Manage your body language
- Follow a healthy lifestyle
- Maintain eye contact with the audience
- Invest in your looks
- Have a plan
- Consider buying proper gear
- Making mistakes is good
As with most human activities, live streaming demands commitment. It is especially important to be consistent and persistent to become a pro. So even if you might think you lack confidence, give yourself a little bit of time and always try to improve. After all, it is your personality that matters the most in the long run. So don’t give up. Keep your head up high!
