How to perform a perfect live show
If you are wondering how to run a successful online meet-up with your fans, whether just a friendly chat or a staged performance, this article is for you.
A live performance involves many techniques that are used to engage the audience, and the best way to do that is to follow the simple tips and you'll soon develop your own unique style.
Retention:
It’s very important to put your best effort into not only attracting new subscribers but making every member subscription last as long as possible.
New videos and photos will keep your members interested for a while but the key to successful interaction with your fans is your special personality and charm. You should do live shows as often as possible in order to build a personal relationship with your fan community. Be loyal to your fans and let them have a few hours of being close to you and your real life.
Schedule:
There's no universal answer on how often you should perform.
Generally speaking we advise you to perform at least once a week for about an hour. The exact timing is not that important but remember to notify your fans beforehand about the next show. Give them a chance to dedicate some time to you and this way they won't be disappointed by missing the show.
Equipment:
You will need a PC or a laptop, not too outdated (check if it could handle the HD video playback on YouTube for example).
Also crucial are a stable, high speed Internet connection, web camera and microphone.
Connection: Ideally this would be a cable connection - DSL, T1, or ISDN. No public wi-fi or dial-up connection would allow you to run a great show.
Web Camera & Microphone: It's highly recommended that you spend some cash on high quality video and audio input devices. The best case scenario would be an external (not built-in) USB HD web camera with auto-focus and a microphone. Logitech, for instance, offers a wide variety of high quality webcams starting from $70 and up to $400 - so you really can choose what suits you best.
Lighting (Optional): Cameras love light. A poorly lit room can degrade the video quality substantially and can turn your performance into scary story time under the blanket (unless that was the original idea). The good news is that you don't need a professional photo studio lighting kit. Small fluorescent lights that are $10 each can do the trick perfectly. Just make sure to put them in front of you (on either side of the computer screen for instance) and not behind your back! In case you still want something more professional, for about $40-$150 you can get a decent studio kit with two umbrellas, 2 lights and 2 stands. And always make sure your PC doesn't have a blue or other weird color screensaver! We don't want you going blue during the show, right?
Set up:
In a great live show, it's not only you who has to look good. Performing in an untidy room with many distracting elements might turn off viewers. The background of the show doesn't need to look fancy - your fans want some insight into your real life and would appreciate a view of your actual apartment. Just make sure your surroundings look appealing, that the colors match your outfit and there's no distracting background noise. Try to avoid red and black-white color domination in the webcam area - this can be distracting and simply boring.
Focus on audience:
And now - regarding the live show theme. You should definitely have one! It’s much easier to perform with a plan than expect to just start and see how it goes. Prepare your mood, your mind and your outfit beforehand, because you will definitely be the queen of the ball.
When running a live show, it's important to get the camera to work for you. A few simple tips may help you here:
- Don't sit too closely to your cam. Pick the right position in order not to look like a real "talking head" - let your shoulders and chest be visible.
- The camera should be positioned directly on your eye line or slightly above. Placing the camera below your face won't do you any favors because your look will become heavy and angry.
Performing online is not the same as in person, so we suggest you practice a few times beforehand - with a boyfriend watching you or just recording a show and reviewing it by yourself.
When talking to the camera, try to imagine real people in front of you - eye contact and body language (pose, gestures, etc.) - is what your audience will be mostly concentrated on. Fans would love to hear your voice, so try to use the microphone instead of typing when answering them. Besides, it's much easier to talk to several customers at once than to type a message to each of them.
Try to feel the audience's mood through their chat messages, engage them in conversation and don't let them get bored! Use customer nicknames or ask them for real names and try to remember them or write them down. Engage viewers in the show by allowing them to influence the story - give them a variety of options to choose from - starting from location (for the next show) and to your next action.
The goal you should keep in mind is to set a warm and friendly atmosphere and try to give each visitor personal attention - that’s the only way to gain your fans' love and consistent payments.
Good luck!
A live performance involves many techniques that are used to engage the audience, and the best way to do that is to follow the simple tips and you'll soon develop your own unique style.
Retention:
It’s very important to put your best effort into not only attracting new subscribers but making every member subscription last as long as possible.
New videos and photos will keep your members interested for a while but the key to successful interaction with your fans is your special personality and charm. You should do live shows as often as possible in order to build a personal relationship with your fan community. Be loyal to your fans and let them have a few hours of being close to you and your real life.
Schedule:
There's no universal answer on how often you should perform.
Generally speaking we advise you to perform at least once a week for about an hour. The exact timing is not that important but remember to notify your fans beforehand about the next show. Give them a chance to dedicate some time to you and this way they won't be disappointed by missing the show.
Equipment:
You will need a PC or a laptop, not too outdated (check if it could handle the HD video playback on YouTube for example).
Also crucial are a stable, high speed Internet connection, web camera and microphone.
Connection: Ideally this would be a cable connection - DSL, T1, or ISDN. No public wi-fi or dial-up connection would allow you to run a great show.
Web Camera & Microphone: It's highly recommended that you spend some cash on high quality video and audio input devices. The best case scenario would be an external (not built-in) USB HD web camera with auto-focus and a microphone. Logitech, for instance, offers a wide variety of high quality webcams starting from $70 and up to $400 - so you really can choose what suits you best.
Lighting (Optional): Cameras love light. A poorly lit room can degrade the video quality substantially and can turn your performance into scary story time under the blanket (unless that was the original idea). The good news is that you don't need a professional photo studio lighting kit. Small fluorescent lights that are $10 each can do the trick perfectly. Just make sure to put them in front of you (on either side of the computer screen for instance) and not behind your back! In case you still want something more professional, for about $40-$150 you can get a decent studio kit with two umbrellas, 2 lights and 2 stands. And always make sure your PC doesn't have a blue or other weird color screensaver! We don't want you going blue during the show, right?
Set up:
In a great live show, it's not only you who has to look good. Performing in an untidy room with many distracting elements might turn off viewers. The background of the show doesn't need to look fancy - your fans want some insight into your real life and would appreciate a view of your actual apartment. Just make sure your surroundings look appealing, that the colors match your outfit and there's no distracting background noise. Try to avoid red and black-white color domination in the webcam area - this can be distracting and simply boring.
Focus on audience:
And now - regarding the live show theme. You should definitely have one! It’s much easier to perform with a plan than expect to just start and see how it goes. Prepare your mood, your mind and your outfit beforehand, because you will definitely be the queen of the ball.
When running a live show, it's important to get the camera to work for you. A few simple tips may help you here:
- Don't sit too closely to your cam. Pick the right position in order not to look like a real "talking head" - let your shoulders and chest be visible.
- The camera should be positioned directly on your eye line or slightly above. Placing the camera below your face won't do you any favors because your look will become heavy and angry.
Performing online is not the same as in person, so we suggest you practice a few times beforehand - with a boyfriend watching you or just recording a show and reviewing it by yourself.
When talking to the camera, try to imagine real people in front of you - eye contact and body language (pose, gestures, etc.) - is what your audience will be mostly concentrated on. Fans would love to hear your voice, so try to use the microphone instead of typing when answering them. Besides, it's much easier to talk to several customers at once than to type a message to each of them.
Try to feel the audience's mood through their chat messages, engage them in conversation and don't let them get bored! Use customer nicknames or ask them for real names and try to remember them or write them down. Engage viewers in the show by allowing them to influence the story - give them a variety of options to choose from - starting from location (for the next show) and to your next action.
The goal you should keep in mind is to set a warm and friendly atmosphere and try to give each visitor personal attention - that’s the only way to gain your fans' love and consistent payments.
Good luck!
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