Opportunities to compete online are all over the place, but how prepared are you? Online competition is a great way to participate in speech and debate without leaving the comforts of your home. But how do you prepare to communicate in this environment? Is it as simple as setting up your computer in your bedroom and showing up to deliver a speech? Our coaching team has been booked the last couple weeks… people realize you have to ADAPT if you are speaking to a camera or computer. It’s just different! If you don’t have time to schedule a coaching call before the next time you compete online, read on for the best tips and tricks from online competition experts who helped many in 2021 succeed…
There are so many more elements to think through than just doing your speech in your bedroom on a computer screen. Have you ever been in a zoom meeting where you could barely see the other person because of the bright sunny window glaring at your eyes? Or as a judge were distracted by the pictures on the walls or the books in the corner? What about the toilet in the background? Surely you have all heard that some students really do compete in the bathroom?!
Let’s address simple things like this as well as the complex use of the camera to enhance your performance in various categories.
- While it was true I witnessed a competitor in the bathroom one year, if it IS yours peace of choice, be sure to hang a drape, take down the towels and try to neutralize the environment as much as possible. As a matter of fact, this can apply to ALL spaces, not just the bathroom. Consider what comes through and what does NOT come through online. Competing in front of closed blinds in the evening is one thing, but what about in daylight when the light is streaming through the stripes of the blinds? Consider a wall where the light is opposite you, this can be as simple as pulling your desk into the middle of the room to use the blank wall where your desk normally resides. Consider at least 5×7 feet for a platform and a solid 8 or 9 foot square for interps. MArk the ‘edges’ with painter tape so you know where center is, where your sides are. More on that in number 5. Consider a king size sheet or paint drop cloth that can hang as a neutral background and cover those pictures stuck on the wall. And if it is impossible to work around, MAKE YOUR BED! No judge wants to see your bedsheets. Color of choice for a backdrop? Gray! Even Hollywood actors use a gray background for their online auditions!
- Now that your physical space is ready it is time to consider the lighting. Daylight often brightens a room, but unless it is diffused in front of you, often students need to add. Ring lights that can be warm or cool, bright or low area great purchase. But with only a few days to go, even a lamp from another room is helpful. Keep it soft. Drag out the gift tissue and cover harsh bulbs. Nothing is worse than dark shadows behind you.
- One of the biggest tragedies in online competition is sound. Every has a microphone that is unique. You can purchase wired lapel mics, but they arent ideal if you move. You can use your internal microphone but be careful of the buffer settings. Nothing is worse than a fantastic interp speech with great sound effects or raised voices that get buffered out. Put on a free zoom call and try it out. Consider different sound techniques to get that mic to not buffer it out. Another huge consideration is echo. A big empty room is NOT ideal for online competition. The sound bounces everywhere and is often so hard for judges to hear clearly. Carpeted rooms are ideal. Rooms with furniture on the other side, curtains etc. all good sound absorption. If you have to conquer these challenges, slow down your words and use over the top enunciation.
- Following sound and often in combination with sound issues are technical challenges. NEVER use Safari as your browser! Check the Tech guide for the league for specifics. Bad Wi-Fi is always possible. Storms, time of day and all sorts of things can contribute to faulty connectivity. Consider running a cable directly to your router for both competitor and parent judge. We got a 100 foot cable for approximately $25 which has made a world of difference for clear connectivity.
- Will you sit? Will you stand? Read the rules for what is allowed, how much of your body is required to appear. In debate and Platform speaking, we prefer to see from the waist up, use ood blocking just like in person, and look into the camera to ‘connect’ to your judges. We like a big smiley face next to the black dot that is the camera to remind you to smile, and connect. Sitting for limited prep, debate prep is normal, but please consider standing for delivery as it is always more professional. Beware of sliding chairs though and moving parts. Try to keep your transition seamless and quiet.
- Professionalism is what will set you apart and get you noticed by judges. Dress well for competition but consider colors to add to your wardrobe, patterns, but leave the white jackets for in person. White online can be very bright, but please review lighting tips if it is white jacket day. Be careful of dresses and skirts ladies! Online has one view and interps in skirts can sometimes be risky. Along with professional appearance, professional conduct is key. Entering the room not a minute before your time (unless you are watching others ahead of you) but do not turn your camera on until your time appears. In limited prep this can sometimes mean waiting a few seconds for your topics to appear. ALWAYS introduce yourself online and be sure you have 3 judges by verbal confirmation or at least a thumbs up before proceeding. Show your timer and get verbal confirmation BEFORE leaving a room. Thank your judges for their time. It is also not wrong to ask if all judges can see and hear you clearly. In my opinion, a student in center state means that your head appears at the top of the screen and your hands can be seen. In Interp world, learn how to use the camera to your blocking advantage with clever use of the screen edges and fun opportunities to come up on the camera. Remember what the rules say that a part of your body must be on camera at all times. In biblical, this literally means you could be using a sock puppet in a clever way. There are super fun advantages to BT online