# Read Better From A Teleprompter Immediately!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcyzhBHewPc

[00:00] You know that moment when you check your footage and you can see feel that you're reading from a teleprompter.
[00:06] You know you need to improve your presence when reading from the teleprompter and solve this problem, but you don't know how.
[00:11] I will share all my experience and secret with you and after applying my secrets your videos will transform immediately.
[00:18] We need to improve three main areas.
[00:21] Number one, setting up the prompter correctly, no matter what brand or type of prompter you use.
[00:26] This will solve 50% of the problem.
[00:29] Number two, how do you prepare correctly to read the script from the teleprompter?
[00:34] If you prepare in the right way, you almost can't tell if you're reading.
[00:38] And number three, how do you control the prompter correctly?
[00:43] This will make a huge difference in keeping or losing the connection with the audience.
[00:49] I'll be honest, the improvement can be visible immediately, but you need to put in a little work and practice.
[00:54] Let's jump into the first area.
[00:57] How to set up your prompter correctly.
[00:59] We have two crucial aspects
[01:01] we need to pay attention to.
[01:03] Number one, the distance between you and the prompter.
[01:05] Right now I have the prompter close to me around 2 ft.
[01:07] When the prompter is closer like I have it right now, it will be easier to tell if I'm reading or not.
[01:14] If you apply the next secret, you can be better and better at it as I am now, but it will always be harder to look natural if you have the prompter closer.
[01:23] When the prompter is farther away from you, you will not move your eyes on the line as much and it will be harder to tell if you're reading or not.
[01:34] In searching for a good spot to show you the difference, I found this new place to put my camera and this new frame.
[01:37] I really like it and I think I will use it more from now.
[01:40] I still use my Sony ZV-1 Mark I and the Sigma 16 mm F1.4 and zoom in by cropping a little when editing.
[01:49] Now the distance between me and the prompter is around 3 ft.
[01:51] And because I have a bigger distance, it will look better.
[01:55] It is harder to detect if I'm reading or not.
[01:57] You will see how you can
[02:02] solve it even if you can't put the camera farther away, but if you can find a way to have a longer distance, it will look better instantly.
[02:12] And now, the second biggest instant change comes from making the line of text the same size as the lens.
[02:18] We are reading the text, but to keep the connection with the audience, we can't move our eyes from the beginning of the line to the end like this.
[02:28] So, to solve this huge problem, all we have to do is make the line of text no wider than the lens.
[02:36] And like this, we will have all the text inside the lens.
[02:39] You can do it with Elgato Prompter.
[02:41] I did it in the past with a smartphone by searching for a teleprompter app that has the line adjustable.
[02:47] You can do it with any prompter.
[02:49] Of course, you need to test and find the right font size according to your eyes and preferences, but if you keep the line no wider than the lens, you will automatically look much better when reading.
[03:01] Only by doing these two tricks, increasing the
[03:03] distance between you and the prompter, and making the text no wider than the lens, you will see a huge improvement.
[03:10] Just try it and let me know.
[03:12] But, you can do more and make the reading more natural and better looking with the right preparation.
[03:17] Since we learned how to read, we are used to reading from normal paper or books, and the line of text it's wider.
[03:24] Now, if you want to improve your reading from a teleprompter, prepare by reading the script before you shoot, three, four times out loud, but read it from the teleprompter having the line of text no wider than the lens.
[03:41] This will make a huge difference.
[03:44] You can read the script 20 times from a normal paper for nothing because you are used to reading from a wide line.
[03:49] Our eyes and minds anticipate a few words on the paper, but here having a tight line of text, it will be different.
[03:57] But if you read out loud the text from the prompter, even if it is your text, your words, and your topic,
[04:04] it will totally change the final result.
[04:07] You will get used with the end of the sentences, which are hard to anticipate in a short line of text.
[04:13] You will get used to the flow of the script in this kind of pagination.
[04:16] This preparation stage will not only help you get used to the pagination, but will also help you prepare for the next big step that can break the connection with the audience, and this is something you totally want to avoid.
[04:30] And this gets us to the third area.
[04:32] How do you control the prompter?
[04:35] I know this will create controversy, and so many of you will disagree, but I tested this, and it works much better after you practice and understand it, and the reason behind it.
[04:46] Never, but never control the prompter with a remote control kept in your hand or a foot pedal.
[04:55] Wait, what?
[04:57] I will explain.
[05:00] It's a subtle, but so important aspect, hard to detect, but this can break the connection between
[05:04] you and the audience.
[05:07] People maybe will not detect or know exactly that you're reading, but they will not know why they don't trust you or get captivated by you.
[05:14] And this is because you only read.
[05:18] And your brain does not think about the meaning of the words.
[05:20] You don't talk to your audience.
[05:23] You're not being captivated by the topic of your video.
[05:27] You just read because your brain is captivated by another thing.
[05:30] Okay, I need to stop it now because I got ahead of the text.
[05:33] Now I need to press play.
[05:37] Your brain is somewhere else controlling the prompter and not paying attention to the meaning of the words to create the connection between you and the audience.
[05:47] You can have a big distance between you and the prompter, have the text inside the lens, be prepared by reading the text many times, and when you review the footage, you will say, "Yes, it's good.
[05:59] You can't see that I'm reading."
[06:01] But, that's you.
[06:03] If your brain is not 100% engaged with the meaning of the
[06:06] text, people will feel it, and the connection will be broken.
[06:10] Do this.
[06:10] I told you that the preparation stage will also help you controlling the prompter.
[06:15] When you read the script two, three, four times, also work to find the best speed for you.
[06:19] Maybe some phrases need to flow faster than others.
[06:22] Other phrases are slower.
[06:24] If you work a little, you will get the right speed, and let the text flow by itself without keeping your brain occupied with stopping and starting the text.
[06:32] I know this can be hard to believe, but it will break the connection between you and the audience.
[06:39] How do I do it?
[06:40] When I read the script before recording, I try to find the best speed.
[06:45] I have my Stream Deck on the desk and adjust the speed until I find a good pace.
[06:49] This is different from one person to another and from one style to another, so you need to try and practice.
[06:55] I find a good speed, I play and shoot.
[06:57] Read and concentrate only on the meaning of the words.
[07:00] That's the most important thing.
[07:02] After one, two, three phrases, if I need to repeat
[07:07] something, I scroll the text and do it again.
[07:11] If everything is okay, I continue.
[07:13] My mind is concentrated on controlling the prompter only when I am not shooting.
[07:18] I know that if you are used to a remote controller or a foot pedal, it will be harder for you to change this habit, and maybe you will not feel a big improvement, but try it, and you will see that if you are all in with the story, your audience will feel it.
[07:33] If you are interested in how I control the prompter with the Stream Deck and how I set it up, I will add a link in the description to a dedicated video, and also affiliate links to all the equipment that I use to shoot my videos.
[07:45] If you click on my links, you're not going to pay anything extra, but I will earn a small commission, and this will help me keep sponsors away from this channel and create more valuable content for you.
[07:53] Thank you.
[07:53] Try to increase the distance between you and the prompter if you can.
[07:57] Make the line of text no wider than the lens.
[08:00] Read the text on the prompter three, four times before shooting, and find the right speed by paying attention 100% to create
[08:07] The connection between you and the audience, and the performance in front of the camera when reading from the teleprompter will transform instantly.
[08:16] But, you can apply all these steps, read well in front of the teleprompter, and still have bad-looking videos in the end if you don't know how to prepare your shooting space correctly.
[08:25] For this, I will give you a dedicated video where I show you exactly how to find the best spot for shooting, how to set up your lights to look better, and how to make the background look more appealing and professional.
[08:38] Watch this video and totally transform your videos starting today.