How to Use a Teleprompter | Public Speaking

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So how do you use a teleprompter effectively when you're giving a speech? Well, before I even give you tips, I want you to ask yourself a few questions. Why are you using a teleprompter? A lot of people use it for the wrong reasons. They think, 'Hey, this will be easy. I don't have to rehearse. I don't have to remember what I'm going to say. I won't have to worry about forgetting stuff.'

That's not the reason to use a teleprompter. If you use a teleprompter effectively, it'll actually take you more time to prepare than simply working from notes. So don't let anyone talk you into using a teleprompter because it's more controllable or it will save you time. That's not the case.

Here's the big problem with the way most people use a teleprompter. Their following the teleprompter. They act like the teleprompter is in charge and that they aren't in charge. So what happens? All of a sudden people start to sound the same. They talk at the same speed, the same volume, the same tone, and they don't put pauses in. Can you see how you are about to fall asleep? Now I wasn't reading from a teleprompter there but that's how people sound.

If you're going to use a teleprompter, here are the big tips you have to keep in mind. Occasionally you speak louder. Occasionally softer. Sometimes you go a little faster, sometimes you go a little slower. And sometimes you need to pause. Doing those steps will make you sound conversational. You've got to do that and then you will be following, not the teleprompter, but the teleprompter will be following you. That's what you want. That's what you want.

Finally, it's not going to be easy to do unless you're a newscaster and you do it for six hours a day. So if you want to use a teleprompter you need to rehearse on video again, and again, and again, to get used to it and build that comfort level with the script. Because it is kind of a strange alien thing, seeing this text through glass and a camera behind it.

Now we all read from left to right. So if you're going to use a teleprompter you are going to have to have eye movement. They key is you've got to keep moving your head. You've got to keep moving your face, moving your hands. The problem a lot of people have is all of a sudden, 'Oh, I don't want to miss a word.' So they freeze their bodies so that the only thing moving are their eyeballs. If the rest of your body is moving, then your eye movements will not be as noticeable.

It's also why you need to be really familiar with the words in the script. That way, occasionally, you can look down and your eyes are not just riveted in the one spot.

Make sure there's a real reason for it. If you're president of a country, a prime minister, a major finance minister, any words you say wrong could cause an international incident or destroy markets. But for most of us, if you're a CEO, almost anyone else, our real challenge in life is not that one wrong word in a speech is going to cause a crisis. The biggest challenge for us is making sure that people can remember anything we say. So keep that in mind before you use the teleprompter.

[DavidDouglasJr]

Definitely spent a lot of time watching this video wondering whether or not he's using a teleprompter

[christopherTolevsky]

thats the best advice on teleprompter I've ever seen! thank-you.

[NewYorkActingCoach]

Brilliant. You shame me as I realize I should have been doing all you say, and its so great to hear somebody who not only knows things but knows how to put their points over! A delight!

[Artchick]

Great video. I never saw an actual teleprompter and wondered how it worked. He was reading a teleprompter while talking about a teleprompter LOL

[sandrazimmer]

Excellent TJ! Masterful understanding that body movement makes your eye movements unnoticable!

[EowynG]

Thank you! Great advice, clearly said and simply explained :)

[MKBontwikkeling]

Finally some true professional advise and tips about teleprompters.

[Alfred]

Thanks for the great advice! now I know how to use this correctly!

[KamilKiedrowski]

Excellent tips, TJ. I have noticed that newscasters have the whole head movement thing down. Thanks!

[mattledding]

I think a good real reason is to look directly at the camera... to give the impression that you are talking directly to the viewer, to make it more like a one to one chat.

You, for example, give the impression you are on TV. Which probably  gives more of an "expert appeal", but that doesn't mean a teleprompter is often a good choice for breaking the fourth wall.  

Yes, you do have to practice, but that goes for any kind of speaking in public.   
Tip:  If you go a little bit further back,  the eye movement disappears. 

[Telmaxteleprompters]

Fair, informative, factual, honest, and objective.  I like it!  God job

[tracyvidal]

Hello! I simply wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the nice info youve right here on this post. I can be coming again to your video for extra soon.

[BeatsPlanetMusic]

TJ is the man.  love this guy as he knows his stuff

[hayprofilms]

I use my full size studio teleprompter by moving the script with my finger on the ipad so I can stop and ad lib easily!.

[GregMallory]

Trying to look "casual" by not wearing a tie, while wearing a "one size too big" wide-lapel pinstripe suit coat and a cufflink dress shirt... is the key to distract the audience from the fact that you are reading from a teleprompter.

[delftsurgery]

Hi,
Thank you for the review, I want to use powerpoint slides in a teleprompter to lead me while speaking, do you think its a good option?

[haydenharris]

I like the video I just think the long side shot would be better replaced by a shot of what he is saying, on the teleprompter.