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Creativity is the fuel behind innovation, leadership, and problem-solving in the workplace. Think you’re not creative? Think again. Creativity isn’t just for artists—it's a prized attribute in corporate leaders. It's the vision behind the company and the drive to take it forward into new areas ahead of the competition. It's anticipating what your customers want next, even if they don't realize it themselves. That's why, contrary to popular opinion, the office is NOT the place where creativity goes to die. Apply creativity to business and you get visionaries and wildly new products, like the iPod and iPhone when they were first introduced. Creativity may lay dormant, but it's within each of us and CAN be stoked and encouraged to burn brightly. I had the pleasure recently to be a panelist with artists, musicians, film producers, and business consultants on this very topic. The original question was: How do we bring creativity to the workplace? Wake it up. Recognize it when you see it. Stoke it. Apply it! My position is that the workplace is never without creativity. It's not a matter of finding a way to bring creativity IN, it's a way of letting it out. While the other panelists primarily talked about bringing outside interests into their offices to liven things up, I suggested a few ways to lure employee creativity out of hiding. The reception during and after the event was positive enough that I thought to share them with you in this blog. Creativity is a skill, and like any skill, it can be developed. And it's a muscle. The more it's worked, the stronger it becomes. Why Most People Think They’re Not Creative — and Why They’re Wrong The first barrier to creativity is mindset. Too many people believe that creativity is something you’re born with—or not. That’s simply not true. Creativity is a skill, and like any skill, it can be developed. We’ve been taught to equate creativity with the arts. But creativity shows up in how you solve problems, structure a spreadsheet, write an email, or lead a meeting. It’s in your questions, your curiosity, and your ability to connect unrelated dots. What if still seems to be asleep? Here's how to nudge it out of bed: Nature - take a walk! Get out of your head and enjoy the outdoors. Rest - some of our best ideas come when we're asleep.   Distraction - walk away from your problem and do something else. Sometimes the solution just sneaks into your brain when you least expect it. How to Wake Up Your Creativity: 3 Simple Habits If your creativity feels a little sleepy, don’t worry. Here are three small but mighty habits to coax it out of bed: Ask “What if…?” regularly.  This simple prompt breaks you out of habitual thinking. “What if we pitched this upside-down?” “What if we launched with no budget?” “What if we solved this like a puzzle instead of a problem?” Change your environment.  Even slight shifts—working in a different room, taking a walk during lunch, or adding a plant to your workspace—can jumpstart new ideas. Embrace imperfection.  Creativity dies under pressure to be perfect. Give yourself permission to brainstorm badly, doodle poorly, or write a messy first draft. How to Recognize Hidden Creativity in Everyday Life The most overlooked aspect of creativity? It’s already happening around you—you just need to notice it. A colleague who finds a faster way to handle client onboarding. A manager who adapts a meeting format to energize the team. A team member who turns data into a compelling story. Recognizing and affirming these creative moves builds momentum and morale. You validate that creativity is real, valued, and alive in your culture. Tools to Fuel Your Creativity at Work and Beyond Once you begin to spot and awaken creativity, you can actively stoke it. Here are a few tools and techniques to keep the fire going: Creative software:  Explore tools like Canva, Miro, MindMeister, or Notion to visualize your thinking. Improv techniques:  Try “Yes, and…” during brainstorming sessions to build on ideas without judgment. Daily journaling or voice memos:  Jot down one weird or interesting idea per day. You’ll build a personal idea bank. Cross-training:  Encourage learning outside your primary discipline—techies attending a writing workshop, marketers shadowing developers, etc. Creativity Is Good for Business: Here’s How to Harness It When employees feel free to be creative, engagement goes up. So does innovation, productivity, and even retention. Companies that prioritize creativity outperform their competitors in revenue growth, customer satisfaction, and employee morale. Creativity is not a "nice to have"—it's a business advantage. Ready to Let Creativity Loose? Want help bringing more creative confidence into your team or client sessions? I coach professionals to connect with their inner creative and show up more dynamically—on camera and off. Let’s talk! Creativity is a skill, and like any skill, it can be developed. And it's a muscle. The more it's worked, the stronger it becomes. Top 5 Quick Wins to Spark Creativity Today Take a 10-minute walk in a new environment Doodle your to-do list Play a word association game with a colleague Switch your routine for a day Ask “What would [insert admired person] do in this situation?” Creativity isn’t a mystery—it’s a muscle. Start flexing it, and you’ll be surprised how fast it grows. UPCOMING High Performance Founder Summit Beginning May 19 I'm delighted to be one of 20+ speakers for driven entrepreneurs, business owners, and founders who are ready to build the skills and mindset of high performance. This summit provides tools and processes for optimizing your leadership, systems for scaling, strategies to create brand authority, and ideas for performing your best without burning out. And yes! There will be bonuses and free gifts from each speaker, so you’ll leave with tangible next steps you can put into use immediately. Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Why Entrepreneurs Should Steal Public Speaking Tips from Voice Actors (Seriously, It Works) If the idea of public speaking makes you want to crawl under your desk and email your presentation instead—you're not alone. But what if I told you the secrets to commanding a boardroom aren’t so different from what I use to voice a sassy robot, a heartfelt narrator, or that commercial you swear you’ve heard before but can’t quite place? As a working voice actor, my voice is literally my business. But over the years, I’ve realized the same techniques I use behind the mic can dramatically improve how anyone presents themselves in front of an audience—whether you're pitching to investors, leading a team meeting, or delivering a TED Talk (or, you know, just trying to not sound like a sentient voicemail system). So grab a warm beverage, take a comfy seat, and let me walk you through some tried-and-true public speaking tips straight from the voiceover booth . Your voice is a business tool—use it like a pro, not like you're ordering drive-thru. Money's in your pocket when you steal a few public speaking tips from a voice actor! “Your voice isn’t just how you sound—it’s how you connect, lead, and leave a lasting impression.” 1. Breathe Like a Pro (or at Least Like You’re Not Being Chased) Breath control is the unsung hero of both voice acting and public speaking. Think of it like fuel for your vocal engine. Without good breath support, you end up speaking too fast, trailing off at the end of sentences, or sounding like you’ve just sprinted up a flight of stairs mid-pitch (been there). Professional voice training helps you breathe intentionally , support your voice, and control your pace. It’s what allows you to sound clear, calm, and confident—even if you're internally panicking about that slide that loaded funny. Breathe, for heaven's sake! It'll allow you use your voice in interesting ways - and keep your audience awake. 2. Dynamic Delivery Beats Death-by-Monotone In voice acting, we live and die by our dynamic range. Volume, pitch, rhythm, tone—it’s how we keep a listener engaged when they can’t see us. The same rules apply to public speaking. Want your audience to stay awake and actually remember what you said? Vary your vocal delivery. Emphasize key points. Pause for effect. Whisper when it's dramatic. Speak up when you're excited. (And please—avoid monotone unless you’re being ironic.) Pro tip: Record yourself practicing a presentation. If you sound like the “bueller... bueller...” teacher, don’t worry—it’s fixable. 3. Get Physical—Even If You're on a Zoom Call Here’s a voice acting secret: we’re rarely still in the booth. I’ve waved my arms like a windmill, crouched like a frog, and gestured like I was winning an Oscar—all to get the right read. Why? Because physicality influences vocal performance . How you sit, stand, move, and gesture impacts the tone and energy of your voice. Try slouching and then saying “I’m thrilled to be here.” It just doesn’t land, right? So the next time you’re practicing a pitch, get your body involved . Stand tall, use your hands, and let your physical presence support your vocal delivery. Even if no one can see you, they will hear the difference. Speak and be heard! Public speaking IS a whole body sport. 4. Microphone Mastery = Message Clarity Okay, so this one’s more for those of you doing webinars, podcasts, or remote presentations (hello, digital entrepreneurs!). Microphone technique is everything. Get too close, and you’re suddenly Darth Vader. Too far, and your message fades into the void. Test your mic, be mindful of your proximity, and match your vocal delivery to the setting. If you're trying to sound warm and personal, lower your volume slightly and lean in—yes, like a fireside chat without the campfire. 5. Shake the Tension Out (No, Really) Vocal tension is a sneaky little gremlin. It can make you sound tight, strained, and oddly robotic—even when your message is heartfelt. Voice training teaches you how to release that tension and speak with a relaxed, natural tone. Before speaking, try a quick warm-up: shake out your limbs, hum a little, do some tongue twisters (my personal fave: “unique New York”). The more relaxed your instrument (a.k.a. you), the better you’ll connect with your audience. The Bottom Line: Your Voice is a Muscle—Train It Voice actors spend years honing their craft, not just to sound “good,” but to connect, persuade, and entertain—often all in 30 seconds or less. Entrepreneurs, leaders, and speakers can tap into the same toolkit. So whether you're stepping up to the mic or the podium, treat your voice like the powerful tool it is . Practice breath support. Play with pacing. Move your body. Vary your tone. And above all—be yourself. Just, you know… with better mic technique. Laura's Quick Tips Breathe with purpose Vary your vocal tone and rhythm Engage your body Master your mic setup Warm up to shake off tension Want to take your speaking skills to the next level? Book a consultation and let’s chat (literally) about how voice training can improve your public speaking, pitch meetings, and even your everyday conversations. Laura's Quick Tips to Other Resources Top Public Speaking Tips for Effective Communication The Art of Voice Acting: What Every Actor Should Know 5 Voice Acting Tips for Beginners Upcoming Events Live on LinkedIn! Tuesday, May 27 at 1pm EST Join   Gillian Whitney   &   Laura Doman   as we explore the collaborative publishing model behind "The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever" - and what it's like to be mentored by world-renowned marketer & author Mark Schaefer. If you've ever wondered what it's like to work alongside established thought leaders or contribute to publishing projects, Gillian and I will show you the power of community-driven creativity. Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Want to beat AI? Be totally, authentically human. Be a storyteller. Here’s the truth: AI can process data. It can mimic tone. It can even write a passable email. But there’s one thing it can’t replicate—you. Your quirks, flaws, and “brand of crazy” are what make you interesting, relatable, and memorable to other people. That’s your unfair advantage. And nothing showcases that advantage better than storytelling. We humans aren’t wired to just pass information along—we’re wired to connect, to move each other, to make each other feel something . Stories aren’t just entertainment; they’re how we share meaning, spark emotions, and create understanding. If you want to stand out, stop parroting scripts or reading bullet points. Start telling stories. Because while AI can summarize facts, only you can make someone care. Storytelling is as old as humanity. How to be a storyteller The most effective communicators are storytellers. They know how to get to the essence of a message and find a way to connect themselves and their audience to it. And everything ultimately IS a story, whether it’s to explain year-to-year revenue growth or how to assemble a piece of IKEA furniture. A good storyteller attributes meaning and purpose to the message and has an emotional investment in telling it. The message may seem dry or run-of-the-mill, but there’s a reason that it’s being shared and why there’s an audience for it. The effective communicator understands that reason and puts it into emotional terms, whether it’s to reassure, educate, inspire, alarm, or entertain the listener or viewer.  When you’re speaking or presenting, ask yourself: Why am I talking about this product or service?  Who is it going to serve? And how? Why is it important that I share it at this time? How do I feel about it? That last point is very important. Yes, we need to intellectually understand what we’re talking about and why we’re talking about it. But if we’re going to connect with our audience, it’s critical that we have an emotion attached to it, too. An emotion that we feel in relation to our message and that we want our audience to resonate with, as well. As human beings, we innately first connect to ideas, things, other people, etc. through emotion, through how they make us feel. Intellectual arguments, for better or worse, usually take second place. Our brains are hardwired to learn better if someone’s words hold meaning and purpose, with an emotional driver behind them.  Stories are the oldest and most basic drivers to our hearts and minds. Who doesn’t love a story? Our vast entertainment industry complex is based on multi-media storytelling. Even K12 and corporate education have embraced using videos, interactive instructional design, and virtual reality to make learning experiences more memorable. So, yes, tell a story! But how you tell it is just as important. It’s the nuances of storytelling – what I call dynamic delivery – that draws us in. Will people believe that you believe in what you're saying? Develop a dynamic delivery How do you tell a story? I’m going to guess that you dramatize it a bit, especially when you get to the punchline, joke, or pivotal moment right before “the big reveal.” We naturally do this when we’re emotionally invested in telling a story or waiting to see what another person’s reaction will be to it. This is especially true when we’re reading or telling a story to a young child. Half the fun is bringing that child along on the story’s journey and seeing the responses! Let’s get into some tried and true, practical techniques that you can use to elevate your delivery:  Changing our pace in speaking Adjusting our volume Emphasizing certain words or phrases Using pauses Together, these techniques can take your listeners or viewers on a ride through your story, so that they stay with you from start to finish. Done well, they’ll remember what they learned and come away thinking they were entertained, as well as informed or persuaded. Give your audience something to remember! Change your pace I talked about the advantages of fast and slow pacing in a previous newsletter edition (“Pick Your Pace”), but it goes without saying that mixing it up adds interest, context, and meaning to your delivery. Making an important point? Slow down and people will notice that you’re taking extra time to get a special idea across. Hopefully, they’ll get the hint to pay closer attention! A slower pace is appropriate when sharing technical information or explaining step-by-step how to do something. Speaking casually or throwing out a joke? You’ll naturally speed up a bit. Your audience will pick up on the extra energy that a quicker pace holds, too. It’s especially useful to draw their attention back to you after presenting more technical or dry material. Draw your audience in with variations in volume. They'll heighten awareness, add excitement and intrigue, and make your presentation seem more like a shared story. Vary your volume No one likes a “shouty man,” an overly enthusiastic used-car salesman, infomercial host, announcer … you know the type.  Still, a higher volume can be used effectively, if judiciously. A slight increase in volume, especially when coupled with a slower pace, tell us that you have something rather important or urgent to say. When coupled with a faster pace, we know that you’re excited or trying to get us excited … as long as you don’t wander into “shouty man” territory. Slightly lowering your volume can be even more effective. Saying something quietly and slowly tells us that it’s important and perhaps not for everyone to know. We lean in a little and pay more careful attention. It’s an intimate approach. Lowering your volume and speaking more quickly gives the impression that you and the audience are in together on a secret that must be acted upon quickly. It can be delivered with humor as an inside joke or straight as a serious matter, though the latter is more often found in TV shows and movies than in business videos. Use emphasis strategically Want another way to draw your audience’s attention to what you’re saying? Emphasize the important word or phrase. It’s a combination of a pace and volume with a focus on a particular concept.  Just imagine that the key words, phrases, or concepts are in a bold font. They’re meant to stand out. Take your time saying them so that the viewer gets that they’re especially important.  Pause for impact Sometimes your audience’s biggest reaction is to what you’re NOT saying. People wonder if you’re deliberately leaving something out. Or forgetting your next point. It can be a dramatic effect to draw people in to your message. A well-placed pause can also give you time to think about what you’re going to say next. It’s so much better than using filler words like “uh” or “you know” as a crutch (see the previous newsletter, “Eliminate Filler Words”). You’ll appear more confident and composed to your audience, too, as a thinker who takes their time to clearly communicate their ideas. A pause is also a wonderful means to build suspense. A pause mid-sentence will cause your audience to perk up and wonder what’s coming next. After all, you didn’t finish your sentence! It can be almost maddening. Just be sure to deliver on that suspense.   Please don't stress yourself out by worrying if you're delivery is dynamic enough. Focus on telling the story and the rest will often take care of itself.   How to connect with your audience So how do you know when to speed up, slow down, emphasize some points and not others, or add pauses?  Good question. First, don’t overdo any of these techniques or it’ll look like a performance. The best-received speeches, presentations, and appearances are those that look and feel genuine and given “in the moment.” Focus on telling your story and the main idea(s) you want to share: What’s especially important? What do you want your audience to know and remember? What do you want them to do These are the points to make memorable with your delivery. You don’t need to plan out how you’ll say anything – in fact, you’re more effective if you just say what you have to say. Keep these elements in the back of your mind and they’ll be there naturally when you need them. Need a little help staying on track? Tack your main points and the call to action you you’re your audience to follow on a paper mounted right next to the camera lens. Then imagine that the camera is a real person you know who is sincerely interested in your message. Talk as you would to that real, live person who’s just sitting there listening, and your voice will have the natural inflections. If your intent is clear and you believe you’re actively communicating, not just reciting a corporate story, your delivery will be compelling. Laura's Quick Tips Tell a story, not just facts. Ask yourself why it matters. Feel the emotion behind your story, so your audience feels it, too. Use dynamic delivery to keep your viewers and listeners hooked. Focus on what's most important. Imagine you're talking to a real person who CARES. Want to know how to apply this in a real-world setting to bring in more clients? I'm one of more than 20 founders, advisors, and industry experts taking part in the High Performance Founder Summit this month. In an interview with Geek Haus founder Leonard Scheiner, I spilled more than a secret or two about using dynamic delivery to make a major impact online. See what this virtual summit is all about! Starting May 19, 2025 I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

What’s the hardest part about being on camera? I asked that question in a Facebook group a few months ago, and the answers came pouring in. The most common responses? “I hate how I look.” “I’m afraid of being judged or what others will say.” “It’s too much work to get camera-ready when I work from home.” And it wasn’t just the women—appearance concerns were the  number one  reason people said they avoid turning on their cameras during virtual meetings or showing up in videos. It's a waste of aggravation to worry about how you look, sound, and appear on camera. Focus on your message instead. "Thanks, Laura! I was able to break through my hangups about being seen on camera, and it's really helped me move my career to the next level." - Virginia, a client Meet Virginia: From Camera-Shy to Camera-Confident Take my client Virginia, for example. She worked remotely and, like many, preferred being the proverbial fly on the wall. She kept her camera off during team meetings, training sessions, even 1:1 Zoom calls—whenever she could get away with it. Virginia didn't like the way she looked on camera. She felt self-conscious and hyper-aware of every perceived flaw. But as her role evolved, so did the expectations. Her manager and team wanted to see her face. She was even being considered for a promotion that required leading virtual presentations. That promotion would pass her by if she couldn’t demonstrate leadership and communication skills on screen. So, she decided to take action. We worked together to help her shift her mindset—from one focused on appearance and insecurity to one centered on  value  and  impact . When she stopped obsessing over how she looked and started focusing on what she  brought to the table , everything changed. Virginia not only got the promotion—she also found new confidence spilling into other areas of her life. Want That Same Mindset Shift? If you’ve ever struggled with showing up confidently on camera, I want to personally invite you to a free, one-hour live event: 🎥 The Shameless Hussy’s Guide to On-Camera Confidence 📅 Thursday, May 1 🕓 4pm EST / 1pm PST 💻 Free Registration – Register here I’ll be sharing five of my top strategies to help you master your screen presence, even if you currently dread hitting that “Start Video” button. Why Do We Avoid the Camera? (It's Not Just About Looks) While appearance is a big factor, it's far from the only reason people avoid being on camera. Here are a few other common ones—do any sound familiar? Privacy and Comfort Some people just prefer the comfort of being off-camera. It can feel freeing to remain unseen, especially in a home office environment. Tech Troubles Low-quality webcams, poor lighting, bad sound, or slow internet can make video calls more frustrating than helpful. And sometimes, you don't even know what you need! Or how to use it properly. Self-Consciousness Many people feel hyper-aware of their awkward habits, a busy (and seemingly unprofessional) home environment, and comparisons to others on the call. Content Over Camera Some prefer focusing on the discussion or taking notes, finding video to be a distraction rather than a benefit. Not to mention, they'd rather be multitasking than sitting still, appearing to be engaged in the subject at hand. Social Anxiety For others, being seen by a group—even virtually—can trigger deep discomfort. This goes beyond camera jitters and may need support from a licensed therapist. I Can Help You Show Up with Confidence If any of these points resonated, you’re not alone—and you’re not without options. In my work, I help clients with: Identifying budget-friendly gear that makes a big impact Reducing self-consciousness and improving on-screen body language Organizing and delivering content clearly and confidently Eliminating verbal crutches (“like,” “um,” “you know”) and managing fidgeting 💡   If social anxiety is a primary issue, please know that the best support comes from a licensed mental health professional. Your mental wellness matters. Ready to Feel Good on Camera? Join me at  The Shameless Hussy’s Guide to On-Camera Confidence  and get: ✅ Five powerful strategies to boost your camera presence ✅ A complimentary gift just for attending ✅ A free 45-minute 1:1 assessment call to talk about your unique challenges 👉 No cost. No pressure. Just real support for real people who want to show up fully. Just register below. The Shameless Hussy's Guide to On Camera Confidence Thursday, May 1 4pm EST/1pm PST Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

They hurt our credibility! What are filler words and why do we use them? Um, yeah, well, like, you know … uh … cat got your tongue? Yes, sometimes it does. These are “filler words” and they detract from could otherwise be an engaging, eloquent presentation. Overusing them makes us look less credible, knowledgeable, and confident – and cost us viewers as they click away from our video. We all use fillers, though, from time to time, especially when … we don’t what to say or how to say it we’re trying to remember a specific word that’s  just  on the tip of our tongue we’re surprised, embarrassed, or simply unprepared. We also use filler words as temporary placeholders to let others know we’re not quite done with our thoughts, even if we need a bit longer to express them. Peppering your speech with "um" and "you know" makes you seem less professional ... or prepared. Too many filler words can have you looking - and sounding - like an amateur. How filler words affect your professional image No one really likes a vaccuum Silence can be rather awkward. Unless, of course, you have a teenager at home, in which case it may be par for the course. So we learn to fill the silence with  something. Most people would rather hem and haw a bit than leave a conversation – or speech or presentation – hanging mid-sentence. It’s downright embarrassing to have an unexpected, awkward silence between you and an audience when all eyes are on you, just waiting for you to speak, wondering if you’ve forgotten what you wanted to say. It’s not much easier when you’re speaking to the camera for a video. You  can  stop and start the recording, of course, and later edit out the stumbles and unintended pauses, but your momentum will have been interrupted and your confidence and/or train of thought thrown off track. Regardless of the size of your audience, stumbling over your words and using too many fillers does not give the best impression of you as a speaker or conversationalist. Filler words in everyday speech But wait! We use fillers all the time in normal, everyday conversation and we’re not called out for them. Who doesn’t insert an “uh” or “you know” once in a while? We’re naturally disfluent; very few people speak so eloquently that they could double for Alistair Cooke from “Masterpiece Theater.” Using a filler once in a while is OK, even while speaking in public or in a video. Just be aware of them and minimize their use. Too many fillers and these verbal crutches will just detract from your credibility, steal attention away from what you’re trying to say, and give people the distinct impression that you’re nervous or – worse – unprepared. Fluency is a sign of a confident, competent leader. So let’s figure out a solution or three. 3 simple steps to overcome filler words How to identify your most common filler words The first step is to be aware of your  favorite filler . Maybe it’s “um” or the Valley Girl favorite, “like.” Or the ubiquitous “well…” or “you know.” That last one drives me nuts. No … I  don’t  know. Do you know what you sound like? Hit the "voice recorder" or "voice memo" app on your phone and just start talking about the weather, your favorite subject, or even what your plans are for the upcoming weekend. Don't think about it - just talk! Play it back and see if you hear any fillers coming up repeatedly in your one-sided conversation. Another option is to record a casual conversation with another person, either via phone or in-person. Just check with them first, explain the reason for you wanting to record, and make sure you have their permission. You can also ask a friend or relative who knows you well. Have they noticed you stumbling over your words or relying on fillers when you're trying to think of an appropriate phrase? Good, honest feedback is invaluable. What Triggers Your Filler Habit? The second step is to discover  when  and  why  it comes up most. What’s the trigger? Maybe nervousness? Or uncertainty? Perhaps it’s the size of the audience? You’re OK with small groups, but uncomfortable with large audiences?   When you’re feeling stressed, your speech patterns will be more stressed, too. Practice will help, whether you're in person or recording to the camera. You WILL improve over time. If you're introverted, you may actually find that it's easier to speak more naturally and fluently to the camera than to another person who's in the room with you. Track Your Filler Frequency Finally, figure out  how often  you use your favorite filler word. Remember in the first step how you can record yourself or ask a friend to give some feedback? Ouch. Painful, but eye-opening. Record yourself giving a presentation, even if it's only for ten minutes or so. That'll be long enough to see if you use filler words in every breath (something to work on!) or just every so often, which is normal and often not distracting. Infrequent usage may not even need correction! Don't trip over verbal crutches. Learn to hurdle them like a pro. Effective strategies for reducing filler words in your speech 3 Suggestions for eliminating fillers Now let’s talk about several ideas for getting rid of those fillers:  Slow down ! People speed up when they’re nervous or excited and the mind can outrun the tongue, leaving you struggling to keep up. Stick to short sentences . This reduces the mental processing load and helps you become more fluent. Use pauses . They don’t have to be long! And they won’t seem nearly as long to your audience or viewers as they seem to you. Why pausing Is more powerful than you think Do you realize that we use pauses all the time in conversational speech? Unless someone’s a motor-mouth, we all pause from time to time to emphasize a point, think about we want to say, or deliberately use for dramatic effect. It’s a great way to build suspense and have your audience lean in to catch what’s next. How long should a pause be? Studies have clocked three different rates, all of which work depending on the context: Short pauses - less than half a second long Medium pauses - about 2/3 of a second Long pauses - a second or two They’re all quick and give just enough time to collect our thoughts and make our point  without  making us sound nervous, unsure, or unprepared. Pauses are natural, so don’t be afraid of using them when you need to. How long or short? The bigger the lead-in or suspense you want to build, the longer the pause. A very short one pause can jolt your listener’s attention. A long two second pause can work wonders in a story told around the campfire. Bonus : Using a pause here and there also helps calm our nerves. Why? Because it gives us a chance to (literally) catch our breath, pace ourselves, and relax a bit. Maybe even enjoy the moment and the whole point of why we’re talking to a group or to the camera in the first place.  Laura's Quick Tips Slow your rate of speech! No rush to get your words out. Use short, simple sentences to get your ideas across. Use pauses to gather your thoughts BEFORE you speak. A Little Daily Practice If you want to get better at eliminating filler words, remember that practice over time is the key to improvement. Yes, pull out that cell phone again and press record to either a video or a voice memo app. See what happens when you slow down a little. Break up your sentences and throw in a pause now and then before completing a thought. Make it a daily habit, just talking about something mundane like what you had for breakfast. After practicing privately, take it out into everyday casual conversations. Are people more interested in what you have to say? Are you coming across as more confident or thoughtful? OK, occasionally you may be interrupted by someone thinking you’d finished talking when you’re just pausing, but just let it roll off your back. Especially if it’s a family member. (That’s just what they do.) Remember, you’re training yourself to be a better public speaker – on or off camera. And you’ll find people listening to you much more often when you come across as a thoughtful, fluent speaker. Someone who clearly know what they’re talking about. Get my 5 top tips to go from tongue-tied to terrific in videos, Zoom calls, and online appearances! The Shameless Hussy's Guide to On Camera Confidence Free Webinar via Zoom May 1, 4 pm EST I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Discover how on-set improvisation, adaptability under pressure, and strategic humor offer powerful takeaways for professionals in any industry. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be an actor for a film or TV show? Believe it or not, there are a number of useful mindset and professional skills that the business world could borrow from this creative industry . I've lived in the business world and now thrive in the entertainment space, and there's quite a bit of useful crossover. The Reality of an Actor's Life: Creativity meets Unpredictability On the surface, business professionals and actors seem a world apart. They require and award different skill sets. On average, one certainly pays far better than the other and is considered far more stable, measurable, and less risky in comparison. In truth, for good and perhaps not-so-great, the entertainment industry is... Fun and quite creative. You’re hired to bring your unique self to a role, give it life, and enthrall the audience through your performance to live the story right alongside you. Often unpredictable. You have to be flexible, because you never know when an audition comes in (sometimes only 24-36 hours notice before it’s due), when you’ll be booked (commercials especially can have quick turnarounds of a few days) or called to set (the “call sheet” for the next day’s schedule is often emailed the night before). It helps to enjoy spontaneity – and be OK that your time is subject to the director or producer’s schedule. Not as glamorous as you may believe. It’s work…  Finding the auditions, either through agents or on your own. Studying your character and scenes and memorizing lines. Taping them, too, because auditioning in person for the casting director ended with Covid and it’s become the new norm. Very efficient for casting; a new way of auditioning (100% self-direction) for the actor. Sitting around on set, waiting to be called to set. Hello, repetition! Most scenes or cutaway actions are shot multiple times to capture different camera angles that will be edited in post-production to tell the final story. Learning to go with the flow. Like it or not, delays are brought on by weather or technical problems, or unexpected issues with cast or crew. The business and entertainment worlds aren't as far apart as you might think. They have much to offer each other. When you're on set, bring your own amusements. There's a lot of downtime! Just think how you might expand the envelope in your own business. A little fun can spark big ideas. Bridging Worlds: The Benefits of a Business Background You know what’s also unexpected? Seeing how old business skills come into play again, especially for commercials and industrials (like training videos). Clients who hire me to tout software or explain the ins and outs of using a particular product often appreciate that I have a tech background. It’s the intangible that comes through: familiarity with the industry and customer pain points, real world experience, and the credibility of someone who truly understands the meaning behind the scripted words.    Coming from the business world brings something else, too: organizational skills and a logical mindset. Before the pandemic, I helped run a charitable Meals for Monologues event, a food drive in which actors brought non-perishable items for local shelters in exchange for performing a one-minute monologue in front of an audience of casting directors and talent agents. Running it efficiently was a no-brainer for me, so I was very much surprised when so many people mentioned how impressed they were that it ran so smoothly.   Experience as an Actor Brings Much to the Business World There’s a flip side, too! The mindset and values that actors cultivate can contribute so much to the business world. Namely, the ability to quickly and easily accommodate change, to improvise solutions, and to apply humor to diffuse tense situations or showcase a problem (or solution!) in a non-threatening manner. Here are a few examples. Adaptability on the set of "Fatal Attraction" I’m glad that I can finally talk about this booking! You see, just like with many product launches, it’s inappropriate and potentially damaging to a show’s success to talk about or share photos of an unreleased project. You have to wait until a show airs, so that you don’t inadvertently ruin plot points or give hints that the producers aren’t ready to share. More than one actor’s career has been damaged by an overzealous desire to self-promote before it’s safe to do so.   " Fatal Attraction " is a long-running series on the TV One channel with true stories of relationships that end up in murder. As the lead character (the murder victim) in Season 15, episode 46, I worked with a stunt coordinator and makeup artist in multiple scenes as the violence in the story escalated. I especially got a kick (no pun intended) that my martial arts training, from back in my 20s, was useful in knowing how to roll and fall safely. There was a lot of learning on the spot, because so much action was unscripted. The shoot took place in early January, and the original two-day schedule was condensed last minute to one longer day when a winter storm bringing snow and ice threatened to shut down the city (Knoxville, TN) and endanger highway traffic. Since I live farther south in Atlanta, where we’re rarely prepared for the rare snowstorm, this meant that those of us from out of town had to be on the road the night before or settle in for a longer haul. As it turned out, I wrapped too late to get on the road, so I ended up enjoying my hotel room for an extra day. Better to stay off the highways until the capsized tractor-trailers were moved out of the way and the overnight ice had thawed sufficiently.   The lessons for business?   Lesson 1: Prepare Diligently, Adapt Instantly Stuff happens, clients come up with new demands, so adjust plans as necessary. Just be sure that you walk in to exceed expectations, with all prior materials studied and ready to be applied to however the situation may shift.   Lesson 2: Focus on the Final Frame (The End Result) On set, it’s what the camera – and the viewer – sees that matters. Getting punched in the face? Depending on the camera angle, receiving the blow can have the actor reacting by throwing back the head six inches away from the oncoming fist. (And a good thing, too, to avoiding a broken nose!) Timing is everything, so that the reaction fits the action. The final product has to be believable or the spell the story casts is broken.   Lesson 3: Prioritize Safety Amidst Production Chaos This extends beyond having a stunt coordinator on set or a competent firearms specialist to ensure that no weapons are “live” (think Alec Baldwin). With actors and some crew members driving in from all over the South, production worked hard to get ahead of the storm and provided for those of us unable to return home in time.   Improv! Get ready for ANYTHING.   The Power of Improv: Thinking on Your Feet from Film Sets to Commercial Shoots The magic of improv comes to mind when I think about the sets of a couple projects I did within the last few weeks. Since they’re both in post-production and not yet released, I can’t talk about them, but I will say one was a short film (the kind that ends up in film festivals) and the other was a big-brand commercial that will run on the internet.   Embracing Collaboration and On-the-Spot Creativity The short film was especially fun to do because the director welcomed input from the actors. We had a chance to elaborate on how we saw our characters and how they would react in various situations. The script invited both humor and improvisation, especially in a fight scene in which my character was the aggressor with a couple of weapons at her disposal. A nice change for little ol’ me! Playing the villian in a physical fight scene is rare for a petite 5’1” woman, so I relished every moment of it.   We played with different movements and different angles, to see what worked best on camera. One scene called for special effects, so we had to imagine what the final image would look like and react as one would in a serious emergency. We were even called back for some revision shots, when the director/producer decided to approach the scene in a different way.   The commercial itself was very much tongue-in-cheek to show that the big brand has a very human side. Yes, everything runs efficiently as far as its clients can see, but … well … people are people and sometimes the behind-the-scenes antics are really what makes it special.      The crew was very laid-back and the director was great about allowing the actors to try different approaches to the lines and movements. What made it fun for me was the open attitude (“Why not? Let’s try it!”) and the appreciation when something I did unexpectedly fit exactly what he had in mind. Navigating Client Changes with Flexibility There’s another commercial running right now on the internet that I shot last summer. It’s been well-received, because although it’s political (bi-partisan), it uses unexpected humor and sarcasm to get its point across. I play a flower shop owner sarcastically supporting the Durbin-Marshall bill that would end up harming small business owners like myself.   Originally, the audition asked for “wink of the eye” sarcasm, but on set, I was asked to play it straight per client change requests. After it was shot, the client decided to go back to the original concept, but the facial expressions and the tonality of the words didn’t match this redirection. Rather than reshoot, production swapped out different shots and asked me re-record the dialogue in what’s known as an ADR session, or automated dialogue replacement. Usually that’s done to improve the sound quality of an actor’s dialogue after filming wraps, but in this case, I just used a different tone. Best of all, as a voice actor, I was able to record and deliver it to production directly from my own studio, saving them the time and expense of finding a studio and engineer to create the new audio files. And the lessons for business? Lesson 4: Master the Art of On-the-Spot Adjustment  The client is always right. Even when they frustrate the heck out of you.   Lesson 5: Embrace Creative Problem-Solving (Even When Clients Change Their Minds ) There are usually ways to fix things without having to start over. A little creativity, a bit of an adjustment, and the client can be satisfied. Usually.   Lesson 6: Find Solutions Without Starting from Scratch Need a creative solution? Clear your head. Don’t get so stressed from not getting it right the first time. Take a little walk. Often enough, a workable solution will stroll into the room if you just leave the door open to some imagination and inspiration.   Finding the Funny: Injecting Humor Like a Pro You think you know funny? A lot of writers do, but sometimes it doesn’t translate as well onto screen. What seems hilarious on paper doesn’t always have the same punch on film. And sometimes the actors themselves naturally react in a way that works best. Collaborating with Writers for Comedic Gold  I’m cast in a lot of funny or light-hearted commercials. Humor sells well, especially when a brand doesn’t take itself so seriously or when it highlights the small absurdities in everyday life.     That’s what happened in that commercial for the big-brand that I mentioned earlier. But sometimes, it works when it goes totally out to sea, such as in the above 15 second commercial for Bobo’s gluten-free oat bars.   The shoot was totally wild, too. I don’t think I genuinely laughed as much on set as I did the two days I was in Chattanooga shooting it.   The day before filming, the other actors in my scene and I had a table read with the writers. Very unusual for a commercial; usually table reads are only held for TV, film, and theater. With commercials, you just show up on set, ready to go. These writers, however, were comedians or at least comedic writers, and they wanted to hear variations on dozens of possible one-liners that my zany mom character would deliver to my set daughter and her boyfriend.   It was physically taxing, too. Once we were shooting, the writers would feed me two different lines to shout out while I was simultaneously popping up from behind the couch. (I was supposed to be a hallucination, not really there, except in my daughter’s imagination.) A hundred times, I think I did so – it was quite the workout! – calling out different lines as the writers fed them to me, all while balancing my tray of Bobo’s oat bars. They wanted my version of mom to be big and bold and totally over-the-top. Which is what they got!   Here’s the full 30 second spot with the two other types of moms, too: Embracing the Absurd: When Over-the-Top Works  And then there’s the Doritos spec commercial I shot in the fall that included me jumping into the lake wearing a complete business suit and heels and carrying a laptop: Ridiculous, but Doritos pushes into the absurd, the unexpected, the total package of funny. Never a dull moment for the actors, either!   Yes, there are lessons for business here, too!   Lesson 7: Leverage Humor to Connect and Humanize Your Brand Don’t take yourself – or your business – so seriously all the time. People relate to humor. They crave it. And it will get them talking (usually in a very positive way!) about your product.   Lesson 8: Embrace Imperfection – The Power of Relatability In this age of AI, perfection seems robotic. Be human – mess it up a bit, show personality and quirkiness, and push the boundaries once in a while. People see themselves in the imperfect and will be more emotionally invested in someone or something that appears relatable and human.   Lesson 9: Cultivate Fun for Employee Engagement and Creativity Employees who have fun once in a while on the job are more likely to be employees you’ll retain in the long run. People want to be appreciated. Gen Z and younger Millennials value self-expression. Give them opportunities and you’ll likely be rewarded with loyalty and creative ideas.   Bring Performance Skills to Your Business Strategy Mark Schaefer is a globally-acclaimed author, keynote speaker, and marketing consultant. In his recently published book “Audacious,” he posits that successful marketing is all about surprising your audience with the unexpected, the experiential, and the little bit “did they really do that?!” crazy. As a marketing futurist, he has a pretty good batting average, so yes! Put a little entertainment for your customers into how you present your business. You may find that it pays off in huge dividends. Does this mean that you have to start training you and/or your staff in the latest and greatest marketing strategies? Or take an acting class, especially if that's not something you ever wanted to do? Of course not! Just think how you might expand the envelope in your own business. Maybe try something a little different, reveal a more personal or quirky side in your next promotion, or even bring in someone to run an improv workshop, just to give your staff a little fun, freedom to play, and ideas for playing outside the familiar box.   Let's Collaborate: Add Personality to Your Next Project Want a fresh spin on your messaging? Maybe some good-natured humor or a fun, full-blown personality for your next video or commercial? Reach out to say hi! I’d love to learn about your newest project. Upcoming Events The Shameless Hussy's Guide to On Camera Confidence My 5 best strategies to go from Camera-Conscious to Charismatic and Confident! Thursday, May 1 at 4pm EST via Zoom Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Networking is an opportunity to connect ... and learn! Everyone talks about the power of networking, but do you know how to leverage an event to its full potential? I'm not talking about just walking around, shaking hands, clinking glasses, or passing out business cards - paper or virtual variety. I'm talking about CONNECTING with people. Beginning a relationship grounded in mutual interests or goals. At its core, networking is expanding your circle of people whom you know and who know you and what you're all about. Properly used, it allows you to... share resources refer good people to other good people who can help them build a solid reputation as a generous soul who provides value and is worthy of being liked, known, and trusted. Yup, you've got earn that trust. This past week, I attended four events, each one different from the others, and targeted to different areas of my life. They were fun, too, because the organizers made sure to target their potential attendees as a match to what they were offering - and to honor everyone's time by keeping to a publicized schedule. As a result, people received the value they were expecting and were engaged with the programs from start to finish. Network strategically. You only have so much time (and investment) to go around. Networking with new-found friends at an Atlanta business social. Before signing up as a member to anything, take time to check it out. Many organizations welcome guests, just for this very purpose. Different types of networking There are SO many networking groups around. How do you choose which to join? First, do your research as to what they offer and ask yourself: What do I want to achieve? Who do I want to spend time with? Is this an organization I want to invest time and money in or is this a one-time event? Your time and money are limited resources, so don't exhaust yourself with a scattergun approach. Talk to others familiar with the group or organization and see if meets your criteria. Or if something sounds particularly interesting, dip your toe in the water and find out if you like the people involved or if the event will help you make the new connections you're seeking. Broadly speaking, there are three categories of networking: Industry-related Educational Social Fuse president Trey Toler with guests Rachel Ooms and Jonathon McKenzie. Industry-related If you're looking for networking events, the majority of them are business-related. Networking is practically synonymous with business and it takes many forms: Business mixers Conferences Trade shows Workshops Happy hour meetings Speed networking Meal-based presentations Roundtable discussions Career fairs Joint venture partnerships Three events of the past week fell into this category, each quite different from the others. I certainly hadn't intended to schedule so many together within a matter of days, but I had good reason to attend each one. The first was a panel discussion hosted by FUSE , a local marketing association on a topic that I found interesting and relevant to my work: the pros and cons of in-house vs. outside advertising agencies. The evening also gave me a great opportunity to meet people who may be interested in my voiceover and on camera services - and I did make some valuable connections. Most importantly to me and the other attendees was that the evening was very well run. They made sure to include plenty of time for networking both before and after the panel discussion. Overall, it was a great opportunity to meet potential clients and partners, as well as learn from the guest experts. Hamming it up after class with acting coach Shari Shaw and friends. The second industry event applied to my work as a film and TV actor. It was an acting workshop hosted jointly by an LA-based acting coach and a well-known Southeastern-based casting director. While it was primarily educational in its focus, the networking was key. Not necessarily amongst the students, but honestly, the main draw was to perform for the casting director, with hopes of making an impression and being remembered for new casting opportunities. Secondarily, we were all there to learn from the coach. (Sorry, Shari , but you're really not surprised.) Finally, because we were a group of only 35 people, we expanded our industry social circles, which has become rather important since Covid. The seismic shift brought on by the pandemic is that in-person auditions have pretty much become a thing of the past. Once casting directors saw the efficiency and speed of their work accelerated by viewing many more taped auditions vs. seeing actors in person, it was game over for running from one casting location to another. The third business event fit squarely into this category of Industry-related. A conference for business women, focusing on sharing trends and strategies in marketing, branding, scaling, technology, and innovation. I was literally front and center as the MC and panel moderator for the Women in Business Expo and Symposium and the one to introduce our celebrity keynote speaker. I was also given a table to promote my On Camera Confidence coaching services , but honestly, I was too busy running around keeping things going to be at my table much. I even forgot to eat the lunch they'd brought for me! Still, I met tons of people and as MC, encouraged everyone to turn to their neighbor and meet someone new. It was a wonderful whirlwind of energy and excitement. On stage as MC and panel moderator for the Women in Business Expo and Symposium, with panelist Dr. Robin Gethers. Educational As the name implies, the main draw for this type of networking category is the opportunity for learning. Beyond formal education, this includes such things as cooking classes, chess tournaments, and lecture series. My fourth networking even last week was a short lecture series hosted locally by our children's university, which took its program on the road as a means to encourage fundraising from those associated with the school. I love a good lecture series! They featured three short presentations, preceded and followed by a networking social with food and an open bar. It's good business to take care of your potential donors! They didn't lean too heavily into the fundraising either, focusing instead on value that will bring us back to future events. The topics ranged from an overview of AI applications in the medical profession, to how emotion impacts science, to how plants are being genetically modified to better tolerate drought while producing higher yields. Not only did we meet a few new people, we were delighted to run into old friends who we didn't know had ties to the school. All around, it was very educational, a lot of fun, and ultimately conducive to their fundraising efforts. UPenn brought guest lecturers for a lively evening of education and social networking. There are other types of educational events that you just fall into through friends and other members of your family. Case in point: parents with school-age children. I'm talking team sports, school theater departments, or music programs, to name a few. When your kids are young and you're playing mom (or dad) taxi, you get to know their friends pretty well, and often their friends' parents turned into our friends, too - simply because we spent so much time together. When my kids were young, I became their elementary school's chess mom. It's not like I'm some grandmaster. I've never learned to play chess. Really didn't care to learn. I honestly don't have the patience to play a game that could take a few hours to win (or lose). But I sure know had to organize things, and before long, not only was I the chess mom herding the kids along, but I ended up assisting the coaches, running training sessions, carpools, and small tournaments. Rather quickly, that morphed into running large statewide competitons with other dedicated chess moms, joining the board of the Georgia Chess Association, and creating marketing strategies and materials to move the whole organization online. I met people from all walks of life, including friends that are still with me, long after my kids have grown up and relegated chess to an occasional pasttime. And yeah, I still don't know how to play. Just not my jam. Parents of young kids find plenty of socialization - and maybe a bit of networking, too! - while cheering on their favorite athletes. Social Social aspects are certainly a part of both industry-related and educational events, but don't forget that we build networks through friendships, classes and workshops, and shared interests and hobbies. Have you ever volunteered? Cheered on your kid's soccer team? Or attended a chocolate-tasting event? All opportunities for social networking! Tuning in to the chocolate (I love chocolate!), I'm looking forward to a very different type of event next weekend: a chocolate seder for women 50+. For those who're wondering if "seder" is a typo - it's not. It's the formalized dinner service for the Passover holiday. It's just that this event turns the idea on its head and makes it a purely fun social event, held a week in advance of the actual holiday. Believe it or not, chocolate isn't mentioned anywhere in the Haggadah (the short book with the order of the Passover dinner, the story of the Biblical Exodus, and the prayers, actions, explanations behind the rituals). I have no idea what to expect, just that it should be delicious. No doubt I'll come away with a stomach ache and an extra pound or two out of it - but I bet I'll make some new friends and truly enjoy what's being served! Group games and sports are also networking events, because friends enjoy introducing other friends, and sometimes those meetups turn into business relationships. Yup, I've networked on the pickleball courts. Not intentionally, but people from all industries like to join in the game and conversations naturally go to inquiring about family, hobbies, and what line of work one's in (if not retired). It's an easy way to get to know someone - and you can tell a lot about a person by the way they play and handle wins and losses. Virtual networking options are plentiful and well-suited for those more introverted. Networking for introverts What about those of us who like the idea of networking, but can only take so much at a time? Or not at all? At least, not in person? Or who want to network, but just don't feel comfortable initiating conversations? Networking isn't just for the extroverts who like getting out there and mixing with large crowds of people in noisy rooms. Truly, that can be a bit tiring for anyone. If you're more introverted, you can go about it in one of two ways. First, consider looking for smaller events. Ideally, networking groups of 16-30 people allow you to meet most everyone and have time for more than a superficial conversation. But if that's more than you want, there's nothing to keep you from attending for a short period of time, with the goal to only meet two or three others. I know a very introverted individual who attends conferences, but schedules plenty of breaks during the day to return to his hotel room for quiet alone time before venturing out again. Another idea is to frequent virtual networking events, of which there are quite a few. I belong to several and thoroughly enjoy them. Virtual events can be especially helpful to an introvert, because you're never "trapped" - you're physically in your own space and you always have the option to step back and disengage for a bit by turning off your video. Some of my favorites include the Grand Connection , the JV Directory , and Innovation Women . Another way to network virtually is through social media. If your purpose is primarily self-promotion, then you can post photos, videos, and comments on Instagram, TikTok, and even Facebook and meet new folks. (Or Discord, X, Threads, YouTube, or any number of other platforms.) Personally, I and so have many other business-minded individuals have found LinkedIn to be the best to building authentic relationships. Quite a few of my contacts over the years have become friends that I've even met in person! You can also join groups with specific interests. I'm a member of numerous marketing, women-focused, acting, and voiceover groups on Facebook and they've been wonderful, both for professional and personal purposes. What to choose, what to choose ... maybe a little of both? Both great options! What do you really want to get out of a networking event? Let's go back to that strategy question, so you don't waste time, effort, or money chasing networking opportunities. To recap, what do you really want to achieve? Who are the people you enjoy spending time with or whom you'd like to know? And before signing up as a member to anything, take time to check it out. Many organizations welcome guests, just for this very purpose. Others welcome guests to drop in for events that appeal to them, paying slightly higher guest fees than members to join in. Here are some basic reasons people join: Business contacts Friendships Information Social outlet Group participation in a mutual interest or sport Free food (yes, many of these events do offer complimentary small bites and desserts!) A chance to get out of the house (with so many people working from home, this is a real need) There are really no wrong answers! And usually an organization checks more than one box. Remember what your mother may have told you: if you don't try, you don't get. If you're like me, you'll probably meet some pretty incredible people along the way, so put yourself out there and have a good time. coming up... The Shameless Hussy's Guide to On Camera Confidence a FREE webinar! Thursday, May 1 4pm EST Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Voiceover conferences are more than industry get-togethers - they're often social salvations What do you know about the life of a voice actor? Well, with the word "actor" in its title, you might imagine that more than a few are the starving artist type. It's not easy work to come by, there's a lot of rejection involved, and the vast majority don't earn a respectable living from it. All true. Maybe not the starving part. Quite a few hold full-time jobs or juggle two or more part-time employment. You might also think that voice actors primarily work in animation, like your favorite Saturday morning cartoon when you were a kid. Not quite true, though some do. The rest of us would love to be in their shoes. Most of us work quietly and unrecognized in many other genres: corporate narration, eLearning, political, medical, documentary, audiobooks, telephony, explainers ... and yes, the better known genres of commercials (radio, TV, internet), promos, and video games. Me, I primarily work in commercials and corporate, eLearning, and explainers, though I've done a fair number of voice overs for film, TV, and YouTube animated videos. What you may not realize is that professional voice actors these days work from home studios. Thank you, Covid! It was a trend in its infancy before 2020, but Covid closed down recording studios and opened the market for home studios, and it's now here to stay. If you're a voice actor today without a professional, broadcast-quality home studio, a good volume of work may be bit hard to come by. Well, those home studios can be teeny tiny, often just 4x4, and more than a little confining when you're recording inside one for hours each day. No one else to interact with (unless perhaps a client via audio for a directed session). Just you, your mic, your script, and the equipment needed to make it all happen. Oh, and a nice little padded room to dampen echoes, keep unwanted outside noises out of the recording, and ensure a quiet noise floor. So when you have a chance to bust out and meet some other human beings for a change, you're all over it! In the industry, we call that a voiceover conference. And we love 'em. Conferences are for learning - and reconnecting with colleagues. Friends are the family we choose for ourselves. Drinking from the firehose Voice actors joke that we spend our time in padded rooms talking to ourselves. Literally true. I don't really fall into that category because I mix it up with my on-camera work - where I'm always with a ton of people on set - and my On Camera Confidence coaching. It's a nice balance. What do you get most from conferences? When I was starting out in VO, back in 2018, I was drinking from the firehose. Trying to absorb as much as possible. It was mind-spinning, but also exhilirating. I mean, if you're going to jump into the water, learn to swim with the best coaches out there. VO Atlanta has always delivered. In recent years, with much more experience under my belt, it's more like cherry-picking. What do I want to learn? Which coaches, casting directors, or agents do I want to learn from most? It's a great opportunity to do a deep dive into one or two areas, rather than sampling many superficially, and especially to pick up a new skill or two. For me, that was learning live announce, also called Voice of God, from the ceiling-crasher herself, Randy Thomas, who's voiced umpteen Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, and so many TV shows and specials. Loved it! Can't wait to learn more. Conferences are also great ways to network. Nowadays, it's meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends that I love best. The best way to make new friends? Besides walking straight up and introducing yourself, think about becoming a speaker. Best way to accelerate the networking! I've been a speaker at VO Atlanta 2021, at the One Voice USA conference in Dallas in 2023, and will be for the Mid-Atlantic Voice Conference in DC in November. When you're a speaker, people approach YOU, and if they've heard your talk, you already have a great jumping off point for the conversation. What makes a conference especially memorable? Anna Collins, the organizer of VO Atlanta, and her husband J. Michael Collins, a hugely successful voice actor, coach, and demo producer - and godfather of our industry! - put on a phenomenal four-day event. This is how they make it especially exciting, enough to sell out with over 1000 attendees: Fresh, up-to-date content and speakers every year. Additional workshops (for extra $$) that provide deep dives into particular topics of interest, led by well-known and respected leaders in those areas. Fun and surprises in the way of entertainment, prize drawings, and spontaneous appearances of free champagne. A well-run event with plenty of good food, ambassadors on hand to welcome attendees and smooth out any technical problems, and a hotel or conference center that's well-compensated, so they go the extra mile to treat your attendees the way you want them to be treated. Smiles and professionalism all around. I'm not the only one already looking forward to next year's conference! Getting the most for your money Conferences aren't cheap, especially if you're a solopreneur and have to travel and put yourself up at a hotel on your own dime. Thank goodness for business expense write-offs! They do help. To get the most bang for your buck, know why you're going and what you want to come away with from the conference? Updated industry briefings? New connections for business opportunities? A chance to promote your products or services, either as a speaker or as a sponsor or vendor? When you have a goal, it makes it so much easier to plan your time and prioritize which presentations or social events you attend. One of the biggest challenges may be to put into action those things you've learned, long after you've rturned from the conference. Guilty! I tend to take copious notes, because I. Don't. Want. To. Forget. A. Thing. Except that when I'm back in the whirlwind of my typical workday, that folder of notes doesn't always get looked at. And some of those great ideas are buried, only to resurface when I finally get around to cleaning out my office. Does that happen sometimes to you, too? Don't let it! If you can, perhaps on your way home, summarize the most important takeaways and keep them with you. Or throw the mishmash of notes into ChatGPT and ask AI to sort it into highlights and actions items for you. Make the most of the conference, even long after it's over. That's my To Do this week (in addition to everything else that got log-jammed because I was away from my office for 4.5 days). Sigh. It takes a bit of work even after the conference to be sure I got full value. But you know what? In the end, it's well worth it. Upcoming Events Women in Business Expo and Symposium Saturday, March 29 11am - 4pm EST Atlanta, GA (I'm the MC and panel moderator!) Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Perfectionism is boring. There's a reason accidents draw rubber-neckers. If your goal is to be the picture perfect on-camera speaker ... STOP IT. Stop it right now. You're heading in the wrong direction. Perfectionism is boring. B-O-R-I-N-G. Perfection, by definition, is unattainable. Excellence, yes, that's a worthy and doable goal. Perfection will always just be out of reach. Human quirks, personalities, and even mistakes are so much more relatable, watchable, and entertaining. If you want eyeballs on your videos, media appearances, and online presentations, quit emulating the 'bots and be unequivocally and unapologetically human. Train wreck? It happens. Be your own superhero and rise from the wreckage. Train wrecks are fascinating Let's be honest. While most of us enjoy a well-organized, well-delivered speech or presentation, the ones most memorable are often those went off track. Something happened. The technology failed and the speaker was left stranded without notes or visual aids and had to wing it. An audience member challenged the speaker and exposed him or her as unprepared, not forthcoming (even a bit of dishonest), not as knowledgeable as supposed, or openly hostile at being challenged. A physical, mental, or emotional breakdown by either the speaker/presenter or an audience member. These are pattern disruptions - no one saw them coming! The interest lies in how the speaker handles them successfully. Done well, those trust, credibility, and respect metrics increase dramatically and prove to be blessings in disguise. Mishandled, well, those make great stories shared around the social media water cooler. It's not like we're trying to make a train wreck happen - it is and should be a rare occurrence. It's that we should give ourselves time to acquire and develop new skills. And be as patient with ourselves getting there as we would be for anyone else. You can't win the race if you don't show up. The hardest thing is just to get started Stop second-guessing everything you're doing in the pursuit of "getting it right." Especially if you want to stand out amongst both AI avatars and your human competitors, lead with your unique personality and perspectives. No one else is quite like you, and there is no right way of being you. Except to just be you. Your skills and comfort at speaking on camera will improve over time. Everyone has to start somewhere, Everyone makes mistakes or does things inefficiently or ineffectively at first. Me, too. I look at my earliest videos and see that I was too presentational vs. conversational and far too focused on getting the information out there, rather than sharing it more personably with my audience. I learned. I'm still learning. You can and will, too. But if you don't get started, you'll never begin that journey. You'll never improve. People are far more patient and understanding with us that we are with ourselves. So give yourself permission to try and fly, even if your running start lands you flat on your face. Pick yourself up, review what you didn't do too well, make adjustments, and go again. On Camera Confidence is a process, one that you CAN develop to look and sound great while developing a reputation as a go-to expert. Here are a few of my favorite tips: Relax - enjoy the message vs. worrying how you come across. Let go of worries about your appearance or how people will judge your expertise. When you focus on sharing what's important and do so from both your heart and mind, your knowledge and passion will shine through and leave a noticeable impact. Visualize your story's roadmap - know the journey you'll take your audience on by telling it as a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Stories naturally pique our interest and draw us in to the storyteller. Thinking of your message as a story keeps you on track, too, and provides structure to your material. Having difficulty keeping the stops along the journey in order, without missing a single one? Create visual images for each part of the journey and imagine a narrative where each image by necessity leads to the next. Enjoy your role as a storyteller - even if you're called upon to update a group with rather dry facts, find the interest, find the fun in what you have to say, and share your enthusiasm. When your audience sees that you're enjoying sharing information, they'll find it more interesting, too. Want to make a strong impression? Learn to be comfortable in your own skin - even on camera! - and showcase your confidence and unique personality, Bessie lives on her own terms. Don't keep tweaking 'til the cows come home Those cows are on a bovine bender and they're NOT coming home anytime soon. Some tweaking is good. You'll improve. No problem. Overworking your material or delivery, though, can be a drain of time, resources, and energy without enough benefits to justify the effort. We call that rapidly diminishing returns. I'm not saying that you shouldn't strive for excellence. You should! Just don't fall into the perfection trap. Excellence vs. Perfection. The cold, hard truth is that perfection is a goal imagined differently by each person, and often reset. When is enough, ENOUGH? And good, GOOD ENOUGH? The answer: usually when it involves limited available time and money. Or patience: yours, friends, family, or co-workers. Or when someone grabs whatever you're working on and hits you over the head with it. That's a clear indication that you might have slid into obsession. Try this instead: Know your constraints and honor them If that means setting limits to the amount of time and money you can spend on something, decide what those limits are BEFORE beginning work. Then stick to then. Yes, that calls for self-discipline. I know, it's painful. But it's better than a knock on the noggin. Define what you consider to be an excellent result Make sure that it's a reasonable goal and achievable within your constraints. Write it down, keep it clearly in mind, but make sure it's realistic. If it helps, share your goal and your work with others for outside opinions. Just make sure you ask those who have your best interests at heart! Focus on creating and delivering the excellent rather than the perfect Do your best with what you have. Don't spend unnecessary time and/or money tweaking towards perfection when you can create an excellent result on time and within budget. If you're bumping against a deadline, chances are you'll grow impatient with yourself, discouraged by your efforts, and end up getting barely anything done. In other words, perfectly unproductive. (Congrats, I guess - you achieved perfection. Just not how you imagined it.) And if you're in a sour mood, you probably won't be much fun at parties, either. Be gracious to yourself and allow time for improvement This is especially applicable to the performance part of speaking on camera. It takes time. If you stumble during a live presentation or livestream interview, collect yourself and go on. No big deal, we've all been there. If you're creating a video ... guess what? You can edit out the flubs in post-production. Return to the beginning of the point your stumbled on and just go over it again. Presto, magico - it comes across smoothly in the final edit. Remember that DONE imperfectly is often better than INCOMPLETE Are you on a tight deadline? This is where perfection can be the enemy of good. Sometimes having a project done well enough and delivered on time is far more preferable than having a more polished version completed too late or not at all. Laura's Quick Tips Working on a project? Strive for excellence, not perfection. Improve. Don't obsess. Know and work within your limits - every project has some sort of deadline and budget attached to it. Honor them. Don't waste time on diminishing returns, especially if no one else can tell the difference between "tweaked" and "not tweaked." You'll end up frustrated and risk burnout. If you screwed up, you screwed up. Sometimes how you handle things counts more than how well you talked about them. Take a chance at something new or scary. You'll improve with time and experience. We thrive when we allow ourselves to expand and grow, even if it seems a little risky at the time. I'm a recovering perfectionist. I've had to learn some of these lessons the hard way because I have wasted time trying to perfect something that really did not need it. Conversely, sometimes I've made the end result worse by unwittingly overworking it. Acting training taught me that one. Because acting is an art, not a science, and one that requires a measure of spontaneity. And nothing kills spontaneous, authentic response than overplanning. Even in theater, where performances are repeated over and over, the best actors find something new in each retelling of the story so that it doesn't appear stale, uninspired, or over-rehearsed to the audience. In film and TV, some of the most memorable scenes are created from spontaneous, honest reactions to what's happening in the moment, not what's been scripted on paper. And these are the ones that prove to be far more "perfect" than those originally planned. Additionally, the performance element - whether it's acting, public speaking, or teaching - is perceived subjectively, not quantitatively measured. The content can be measured, but the impact that the actor, speaker, or instructor leaves differs with each person who receives it. The moral of the story is to let go of the harsh self-judgment, the thinking that you're falling short of the mark, or that you'll be "found out" to be less than adequate. (That's the ol' imposter syndrome!) You're holding yourself back! Focus on what you have to say, find the joy or fun of sharing it, and allow yourself to make mistakes. Hey, if you want to make an impact, don't be afraid of the train wreck. Own it, work through it, and rise above it. Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER  •  ON CAMERA  •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Set your pace based on your subject matter, audience, and intent Are you the tortoise or the hare? Or the Goldilocks of pacing?  When it comes to public speaking  –  or talking to the camera, which is a form of public speaking – how do you know what the right speed should be? Do you take it nice and slow so that everyone can follow? Or do you raise the energy by speaking quickly? Or maybe you prefer the middle ground, whatever that means to you. Well, to state the obvious, avoid the extremes. Too slow, and you’ll put your viewers to sleep. Or more likely, they’ll become impatient and switch you off. Too fast, and they may not understand your words clearly or process quickly enough what you’re saying. A fast pace can be appropriate, but keep the words short and simple so that they can be understood easily enough. What’s your purpose? Who’s your audience? These are two of the best guidelines for choosing your pace.  Technical material? Calming and meditative? Either way, catch your breath and take your time. Slow and Steady Keeps Your Audience on Track Generally speaking, a slow pace is ideal for giving step-by-step instructions and sharing detailed or technical information. The last thing you want is your audience scrambling to keep up, focusing more on note-taking than on understanding and retentioin, or missing out altogether on important information. A recorded message can be replayed, but that becomes tiresome after a while. When you record to the camera, you probably will not have a live audience to gauge reception. If you’re not sure of those parts in which you’d naturally slow down, based on an audience’s reactions, imagine hearing your presentation for the first time yourself. What would you want emphasized? Or, do a dry run or two of your presentation and note where your trial audience would prefer a slower pace. Chances are, they’d be happy to give you feedback. When else does a slow pace make sense? Meditations and telling ghost stories around a campfire! One leads the listener to a slower, more relaxed state of being. The other adds tension, as the campers are in suspense as to what happens next (usually told with a very loud bang). As a voice actor, I’ve recorded both types and the slow pace, combined with music, is incredibly effective. Any parent, grandparent, or caretaker will also tell you that we instinctively talk to young children to make sure of their understanding and to give them time to respond. The same with speaking to or recording a video for the elderly, who may be hard of hearing. Enunciation certainly is important here! It also helps greatly for the hearing-impaired who may be reading lips. Thank goodness for the proliferation of captioning – just make sure to use them so that your videos are easily accessible by all audiences. Will you be recording or speaking live in a room that could double as an echo chamber? Besides giving everyone headaches, the reverberating sound can greatly undermine the understandability of your speech. If you can, treat the room with carpets, wall hangings, and soft curved or upholstered surfaces to dampen the bounce of sound waves off bare floors, wooden furniture, high ceilings, and empty walls. At the very least, use a head or lavalier mic to bring your voice as closely to the mic as possible. If all else fails, speak slowly and allow time for your voice to bounce off surfaces before continuing. Want to wake up the room? Get some sales people motivated? Use an energetic pace. Speedy Gonzales, at Your Service I loved that little cartoon mouse. Perhaps because I’m naturally a bit of a fast-walker/fast-talker (which came in handy when I was a debater back in school). Just like there’s a place for a slow, steady tone, there are also many calls for a quicker pace. A faster pace comes in handy when you’re trying to energize the room, such as for a sales meeting or motivational conference. You want everyone in rah-rah land? Get up and away from the podium. Move around a lot. Use humor and entertaining graphics, video clips, and stories to keep your audience interested and totally engaged. Add an interactive component to your presentation, but by all means, use a happy, quick, and even a clipped pace to keep them on their feet. Your energy will be contagious, which is what these event organizers are hoping for. Looking for a step or three below rah-rah? Most of us would rather be there, too. Keep a quick pace, perhaps less energetically delivered, and you’ll convey happiness, optimism, and encouragement. The upbeat tone you set will be enough. If you authentically feel good and excited by your material, you’ll deliver it from the heart, and that too is a great way to raise the personal energy of everyone in the room. If talking quickly is just not in your comfort zone, don’t push it. If you tried, it could just come across as forced, and people would be much less likely to accept the truth of what you’re saying. You also don’t want to trip over your words by speaking too fast or rely on verbal fillers like “um,” “you know,“ and “well…” when you can’t think quickly enough of the next point. Know your comfortable pace and stick with it. There are great speakers who are naturally fast or slow and it’s just part of their signature style. Besides, you’re probably already at … (drumroll, please) the Goldilocks pace. When in doubt, go natural: not too fast, not too slow ... just whatever's right for you. The Goldilocks Pace That in-between place is the Goldilocks pace, and that’s where most of us aim to live. Easy to understand and follow, energetic enough to keep us engaged. How do you know if you’ve nailed it? Many of us think we’re there, only to be told later that either we need to pick up the pace (people are falling asleep or walking out) or that we’re racing through our presentation and need to take a deep breath and relax into it. That’s when a dry run in front of a live audience pays off. Or just record yourself in video fashion with your smart phone and see how you come across. Show the video to others and see what they say. Chances are you’re just fine. If not, see where you need to adjust your pace and practice until you find your sweet spot.  The Goldilocks pace is your own natural, comfortable way of speaking. It’s also varied speech. You instinctively slow down when you’re explaining an important or complex point, and speed up when you’re bridging from one topic to the next. Most of us don’t speak in a measured, monotone pace, so you shouldn’t either. Where do I go from here? Pace is part of what I call dynamic delivery. Other components include volume, tone, and strategic use of the pause and I'll highlight all of these in a future newsletter. All of these together contribute to a speaking style that is interesting to listen to, engaging, and relatable to your audience. Looking to discover how you can can be more effective on camera? Book a free call with me and we'll talk about how and where I think you can elevate your speaking style. In the meantime, if you're in the Atlanta area, I'd love to see you at my next event! MC and Moderator for the Women in Business Expo & Symposium Saturday, March 29 11am - 4pm I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

The key to taking a great headshot is in your mindset - and imagination! I was talking with a friend the other week and she was getting ready to take new headshots for her realty business. Understandably, she was a bit nervous. So much rides on taking a great professional or corporate photo. You want to look your best. Plus, all wrapped up in one package, you need to come across as friendly, approachable, and relatable, yet also authoritative, competent, and serious-minded about your work. That's quite a lot of manage in one look. Should you smile or not? Stand or sit? Look into the camera or off at a slight angle? How should you dress or wear your hair and makeup? The list goes on. As if all those concerns weren't enough, you're challenged to look comfortable and natural, even though the experience of literally being in the spotlight is often anything but comfy and normal. In talking with my friend, my advice was pretty much the same as what I regularly share with my clients about developing their own on-camera confidence for videos and online appearances. After all, it's still about knowing how to prepare for and work with the camera. After her session, my friend reached out to tell me that the suggestions were quite helpful, so I thought I'd share them here in this blog with all of you. Whether you're preparing for your first headshot session or a seasoned veteran needing an update, here are some broad guidelines for you to reference. A great headshot captures the real, genuine you in an unguarded (not self-conscious!) moment. Wanna know a secret? To capture your authentic self on camera for a headshot, have your thoughts on a real story you're recalling. Plan out your looks - what do you want to convey? Start with some basic organization. What types of looks do you want? My realtor friend had three in mind. Friendly - approachable and relatable Expert - knowledgeable and experienced Caring - "I'm there for you" vibe Of course, she would like to convey all three with one look. Chances are there's going to be some "bleed through" - she'll review photos that blend two or maybe all three of these characteristics. Knowing what you're going for, though, gives you a solid jumping off point. Settle into your body so you look natural and at ease The secret to looking and speaking at ease for the camera is to get comfortable in your own skin. Release nervous energy and negative thoughts with some light physical movements. Hydrate Drink plenty of water before your session. Your body will feel less tense with a throat that's not so dry (always heightened by anxiety!) and your muscles will feel less tight. Relax Easier said than done, right? Nope. Three quick and easy exercises you can do on the spot: Shoulder shrugs up and down - better photos result when your shoulders aren't up around your ears. Head circles, followed by slowly tilting your head back to face the sky and then forward towards your chest. Knee bends and twists at the waist from side to side. Breathe Take a moment, close your eyes if it helps, and breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose for four seconds, hold for two to three seconds, and then breathe out slowly through your mouth for four seconds. Do a few times and you'll feel your nerves settling down. Adjust your mindset and fire up your imagination The biggest takeaway here is not to worry about how you look, what people may think of you when they see the photo (or during the shoot if you're in a public place), or anything that has to do with the photographer's job, like the lighting or composition of the photo. Your thoughts should be on the story you're telling. Huh? What story? you may be wondering. It's the story of you interacting with your client in a very positive way. A warm greeting. A deal being closed. Seeing how you've helped your client through a difficult transition. Whatever emotion is driving the story, it will be reflected in your facial expression. The photographer's job is to capture those moments on film. If it sounds like you're doing a little playacting, you are. Except your story is real, because you lived it. Here's where an acting technique comes in handy to help get you where you want to be. Imagine that you're with a great client and you're walking through a scenario. Let's say you are a realtor and you're showing someone a home that's just been renovated and is looking quite lovely. Run the story through your mind, how you will see your client excited to see that gorgeous new kitchen and - gasp! - it's within her price range. How do you react? Happily? Click! The photographer captures that moment. Pleased? Click! Another great look. Responding to a worried question? Click! You obviously are listening and care for your client in that photo. Let the photographer do his or her job and catch those golden moments. Not ever snap is going to be great. You may have your mouth open, your eyes slightly closed. Those won't be used. But ... the ones that are will reveal real emotion, a smile that's real and natural, not composed for camera. What if you're not so adept at running stories through your head like that, especially if you're nervous or self-conscious? Get some help! A good photographer may be able to able to prompt you, much like the fashion photographers in the movies ("work it, baby, work it!") ... but in a less intimidating way. Or perhaps a friend can come along to engage with you in real conversation, standing either behind the photographer or slightly off to the side, if your photographer wants options where you're not looking directly to camera. Talk with your friend, react naturally - even with conversation and laughter - and let the photographer do the magic. Just check with your photographer beforehand if you want to do this, so that they're on board with it, too. A bonus tip The best tip I can offer overall? Know that people who see your headshot aren't judging on glitz and glamour or the lack thereof. They're getting a sense of who YOU are before they meet you, or triggering a memory of meeting you when they look at your photo afterwards. Human beings naturally orient right to the face to get a sense of someone. What's their first reaction and is it positive or negative? Then they'll focus on the eyes to see if they match the facial expression. A disconnect? Oh, no, someone may be lying or masking real intention or emotion. You don't want that disconnect in your headshot. You want WYSIWYG: "what you see is what you get." That's why you need to create real, natural, authentic expressions in your headshot photography session, even if the experience unnerves you or you just don't like the spotlight. Remember, it doesn't really matter whether you're laughing, smiling, or appearing quite composed in your photo. It's the read of "genuine" that makes your headshot work. Give these suggestions a go in your next headshot session. I can pretty much guarantee that they WILL make a difference - and when they do, please drop me a line to let me know! Need any help preparing? Reach out to me and we can work together so that your new headshot puts you first and foremost in your clients' minds in the best possible way. Women in Business Expo & Symposium Let's meet in person! I'm the MC and moderator for 3 panel discussions Saturday, March 29, 2025 11 am - 4 pm EST Atlanta, Georgia Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING

Size DOES matter when it comes to your camera frame Here's how to get framed in a good way. (Not the "getting tangled up in something illegal and being blamed for something that you didn't do" kind of framing.) We're talking about camera frames here, not getting tangled up in something you didn't do. When you're in film, TV, or video production, frame refers to the camera shot. Specifically for you the speaker, that's how much of you and your surroundings that the viewer will end up seeing. For film, TV, and longer-form video, that's the typical 16:9 ratio or landscape view. For short videos on social media, it's flipped to 9:16 or the portrait view. Up close and personal, the frame determines how much of your body will be shown. Typically, it’s somewhere between a close-up (head and shoulders) and a waist up shot. When you know your frame, you'll know how big - or how little - your movements, gestures, and even expressions can (or should) be. Sorry, but the visiting habits of a magical Hogwarts portrait don't work too well in the real world. Here's how it works. Imagine that you’re a magical portrait hanging at Hogwarts. You’re an animated picture that can move within your frame, which is defined by a top, bottom, and left and right sides. Because you’re magical, you can move beyond the boundaries of your frame and visit other portraits, but in doing so, you’ll totally disappear from view in your own frame. You may still be heard, but you won’t be seen. That may be OK if the action is on something else is going on in your frame, but the act of you slipping off the side of your frame will have the viewer wondering where you went. Better instead to just cut from your shot to another focused on a different action.  Let’s talk about how to best work within your frame, what to keep in mind while you’re moving around in it, and how to use the camera to give a 3D feel within 2D media. How do you decide on the size of your frame? Experiment! Try different sized frames for your videos. What works best for casual short videos? For long form? Fit the frame to your message, however you think it’ll be best received. Working within your frame So how do you know how much space you have to work with? If you’re working with a professional production company, there’ll be a videographer or director of photography to set up the shot. Their job, aside from lighting, is to position you nicely within the frame of the video. Typically, you’ll be centered in the shot, depending on how much of the background is involved in the video. If you’re self-taping, then you can use the flip screen of your camera to see how much of you and your surroundings are seen on camera. Get a feel for the space. As you watch yourself, move your arms up and around you to judge how much movement you can allow yourself before you’d disappear from view. How much of yourself should be shown on camera? That depends on your subject matter and what you’ll be doing, your artistic preference for the shot, and your own comfort level about being on camera. The “talking head” shot shows head and shoulders. Many more people are comfortable shooting from the chest up or from the waist up. If you’re demonstrating a product that requires whole body movement, you may choose to have your entire self in frame. A professional videographer may alternate between closeups and full body shots to add interest and dimension to the video. They may shoot your scene multiple times at different angles and then cut and edit their videos into a single production. Alternatively, the video may just be filmed once in a wide shot and later edited into closer-up frames. Forget Mr. DeMille ... are YOU ready for your closeup?! Small is LARGE on camera The number one rule when appearing on camera is to keep your movements small, especially if it’s a tight shot like from shoulders on up. The bigger the frame, the more freedom you have to move and gesture. That’s why it’s important to know your frame or, if you’re self-taping, deciding ahead of time how large your frame will be. Why small movements? Because the camera will act as a magnifying glass. Remember that viewers may watch your video on screens of any size. A lot of movement on a cell phone screen can be engaging, but on a large monitor, it’ll be quite distracting and potentially quite annoying. In closeup shots on a large screen, you’ll literally be larger than life. If you’re using a professional production company, they will show you where to stand. If you’re following a script that calls for walking from place A to place B, they’ll tape colored marks on the floor to show you where you’re supposed to “land and stand” at different points in the script. Otherwise, stay planted squarely on both feet and minimize any natural swaying you may have while you speak. Are you a big hand talker? If wild gestures are part of your animated style, practice taking them down a notch or two. While they may bring your story alive when you’re telling it to a physical audience, they’ll be much too distracting in a close-up video. Simple gestures that accentuate your points work well; movements like pointing, shrugging, or holding a hand up to count or to indicate “stop” are natural and part of our body language. If you can’t keep your gestures small enough, though, keep your hands below frame so they’re not seen. The movement of your shoulders and arms will be enough without viewers having to see your hands flying all over the place. If you’re a very bouncy, energetic type of person, would you be better off sitting? Not necessarily. If you choose to stand, do so squarely but comfortably on both feet. Don’t shift your weight around; the camera will catch and amplify the movement. That’s not to say you should stand stiff as a board – that physicality just announces that you’re uncomfortable or possibly about to say something dishonest or true. Adopt a comfortable stance and stay put. You may want to practice it on your camera phone beforehand so that your body language reflects your message.  If you choose to sit, be sure not to slouch! If you’re leaning too far back or to one side in a close-up frame, it’ll give the impression that you’re detached from your message and your viewers. Unless you mean to convey a “devil may care,” very casual attitude, use a backless stool. It’ll make you sit up straighter and offer a clean background, too (no views of the back of a chair). Just don’t use a swivel stool. You’ll be tempted to swivel, especially if you’re nervous, and you’ll give the impression that you’re lacking in confidence. It just may make your viewers a little dizzy, too. Not a good move. Working 3-Dimensionally Within a 2D Frame You can create excitement, intimacy, suspense, and an assortment of other responses by the way you move and relate to the camera – all while staying within your frame. These movements are tiny, but they’ll seem much more deliberate on camera.... Angle your body to make a point. Take a teeny tiny step forward or lean in a bit to demonstrate sincerity or the need to really talk directly to the viewer. Cock your head slightly to one side to indicate a thought or new idea. Move your arm or hand slightly toward the camera to offer up a point (but don’t get too close or your arm or hand will look outsized and a bit aggressive). Lean back a little from the camera and then return to your normal posture to show assessment or a dash of confidence. Hands on the hips and a nod of your head forward says “in the know.” Experiment! But just remember that a little goes a long way. Working with a professional video production team If you’re working with a professional production team, tell them what you’re trying to convey in your video and they’ll work with you to get the framed shots that support it. They may have suggestions to enhance your delivery, too, or techniques to add interesting angles. If you plan on moving from place to place in your video, know that they’ll need time to set up the lighting, sound, and camera angles for each shot. And be sure that they show you exactly where to walk and stop at each station (with tape on the floor). And if you're on your own? Making videos yourself with your mobile phone? Trial and error is the answer - you'll figure out the right framing for yourself soon enough, just by looking back at what you've recorded and how it compares to other videos you like. And if you'd like some feedback, maybe some advice ... well, you know where to find me. Always happy to help! Extended through February 3! Over 30 Free Gifts! Want to learn more? Let's talk! I'm Laura Doman, a voice & TV/film actor and video communications coach. As an actor, I create memorable characters that tell my client's stories well, from the friendly CEO to your sassy best gal pal dispensing real-world advice. As a coach, I help you become more comfortable and charismatic on camera in videos, presentations, and online appearances. VOICE OVER •  ON CAMERA •  CONSULTATION & COACHING