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Business Presentations

A book on public speaking by Tom Antion

Learn how to use humor and other professional techniques to create alarmingly good Business Presentations.

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Personal Appearance

Tie One On
TV, Video and Videoconferencing

Tie One On
After taping one of my first major videos, I noticed that my tie was crooked for pretty much the entire presentation. It looked bad in person, but it looked really, really BAD on video. A speaker friend of mine named Paul Radde, gave me this tie tip many years ago, which I now teach in my book on public speaking.

Here is the "trick of the trade"

1. After your tie is on, run the skinny part of the tie through the loop in the back of the main part of the tie.

2. Take a tie clip, or you could use a large paper clip or safety pin, and clip the skinny part of the tie to your shirt.

3. Put the tie clip or pin on the skinny part of your tie below the loop.

This holds the main part of your tie perfectly in the center for even the most animated presenter and hides the clip.

Thanks to Paul, this tip has made my tie look great for the last seven years . . .

Oh, by the way Paul, can you come up with a tip that will help my face look better? hahahahaha

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TV, Video and Videoconferencing
Here are some tips from my book on public speaking, for when you will be having your presentation on TV or videotaped.

TELEVISION & VIDEOTAPE TIPS

• Avoid clothing with large patterns or geometric shapes. The audience will watch your clothes instead of you.

• Gestures should be smaller than you would normally use.

• Make sure clothing is "broken in" and comfortable when you are sitting and standing.

• Prior to your performance, have instant photos or video taken of you while sitting and standing. Make sure your clothes look good in both positions.

• Avoid wearing black, white, or red on television or video. Even the best of cameras have trouble with these colors.

• Avoid flashy jewelry. It reflects light.

• Avoid jangly jewelry. It reflects light and makes noise that will be picked up by your microphone (this applies whether you are on TV or not).

• Wear makeup. It has the practical purpose of reducing the glare of TV lights.

• Apply makeup to all exposed body parts, like backs of hands, arms, and especially the neck with head and neck shots.

• Apply cover-up below eyes to mask bags and/or wrinkles.

• Good studios are kept cool to negate the effect of the hot TV lights. You may freeze for a while until the lights are turned on, then you may burn up. Dress for the heat, but bring a jacket or extra cover-up to be used while you are waiting to go on.

• Bring a handkerchief or tissues to dab perspiration during breaks.

• Don't second guess the camera. Act as if you are always on screen.

• Make sure your makeup, wardrobe, and hair are consistent with your message.

• Wear your eyeglasses if you want, but avoid shiny frames.

• Tip the bows of your eyeglasses up slightly off your ears. This angles the lenses down to reduce glare from lights.

• Find out the background color of the set if possible. You don't want your clothing to blend in and make you invisible.

• Ask the producer for wardrobe color suggestions.

• Do not wear any clothing with tight patterns or pin stripes. This causes an optical illusion called a moiré pattern which makes you look bad.

  MEN

  • Wear knee-length socks.

  • Wear makeup.

  • Always keep double breasted jackets buttoned.

  • Single breasted jackets can be opened, but not too wide.

  I WILL SAY AGAIN, Wear Makeup. TV lights can penetrate several layers of skin. You can't possibly shave close enough to prevent whiskers from showing without makeup.

  Don't forget to use makeup on receding hairlines or bald heads too.

  Don't forget the tie trick.

WOMEN

• Don't wear vivid red lipstick or lip gloss. Stick to softer tones and dab lips with a little powder.

• Consider dress shields if you perspire easily.

• Make sure your hair will stay where you want it. You don't want to be fooling with it while on the air.

• Make sure a lavaliere or lapel microphone and transmitter can be attached to your clothing.

Lillian Brown has written the best resource I know of on the topic of appearing on television. It's called 'Your Public Best: The Complete Guide to Making Successful Public Appearances in the Meeting Room, on the Platform and on TV' (Newmarket Press: New York 1989).

VIDEOCONFERENCING

• If possible before the videoconference, send participants handouts, copies of agenda, and copies of visuals.

• Try to get someone else to operate the camera and other equipment. Have them shoot close up if possible. With more than one presenter, if you leave the camera on wide angle, the viewers will have trouble picking out who is talking.

• Periodically ask for feedback from the remote sites. Your chances for misunderstanding increase when communicating electronically.

• Remember assume you are always on camera. Use the mute button for your microphone if you must converse off the main program.

In my book on public speaking, both on stage and on television or video, there are many issues you must consider and control to do the best presentation possible.

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