A teleprompter is a display device that showcases the text of your speech or script. Folks who give major speeches typically use a teleprompter (think politicians here), news anchors and reporters use them and you at home should also use them when filming.
If you were wondering how on earth you were going to remember all of the facts in your speech without gluing a poster with notes on it to the wall, then a teleprompter is a great alternative and the professional choice. To put it simply a teleprompter “prompts” you with the text of your speech or script.
Typically a professional teleprompter is set up to attach itself to a video camera and a tripod. The top portion of a teleprompter is just a sheet of clear glass or beam splitter and it’s directly in front of the camera lens. The bottom half is like a video monitor that displays the words of your speech that is then reflected on the sheet of glass where you as the speaker can see the text.
When you use a teleprompter you no longer have to memorize everything you are going to say and you keep direct eye contact with your audience. But it does take some skill and practice before you look natural using one. For starters, you need to practice reading off one to make sure that your pacing is correct. You don’t want to speak too fast or too slow waiting for the next set of words to appear on screen.
*For more info on how to use a teleprompter to communicate effectively: click here.
There are professional and consumer grade teleprompters. For those of you at home, I’d even suggest using an iPad as a cheap alternative. You can attach your iPad directly next to your camera lens and run a teleprompter app like Prompster Pro.
*For ideas and examples on an at-home teleprompter set up click here.
App prices for iPad apps can range from a few bucks to $10 for more fully featured apps. Professional grade teleprompters range from a couple hundred dollars to $1500. Each setup has differing technology and software that help run the text.
So for the next YouTube video you are going to film, or for that big speech in front of thousands of people a teleprompter can ensure your speech goes off without a hitch.