Hats can be lots of fun during a presentation and they can also help you keep on track without using notes.
I use hats as an outline of my presentation. Let's say I was talking to a company about the past, present and future of their marketing. I might use one of those funny ball caps that has a long pony tail attached to it and talk about how when this company first started it was wild and carefree in it's marketing efforts.
I would put this funny cap on or have an audience member volunteer wear it. The humor really starts here and in many cases you don't have to say a word. The audience members may start picking on one of their male buddies who is bald or one of their short haired female colleagues who always wanted long hair.
Next I might use a top hat to signify a more conservative old time banker when I talk about the growth years of the company up until the present. Again, I wear the hat or pass it out to an audience member.
When I talk about the future, I would use some kind of spaceman, futuristic looking hat that maybe had antennae attached. Some of the magic shops carry a funny lie detector hat with wires all over it that you can operate by remote control. You could make up a funny lie detector test customized to the company and have a participant on stage who lies about every answer. I've seen that an it is hilarious. If you can get the CEO up there with the hat on (make sure you clear it with him/her in advance) you will most likely hit a big home run.
You might be good at folding newspaper into hats which would be fun. You could pick one of the characters in the crowd and fold up a hat using the "Wall Street Journal" and say, "this is as close as the information in the WSJ ever gets to Joe's head.
"You can also get a chapeaugraphy hat http://www.chap-o.com which is a brimless piece of felt that can be twisted into many funny hats.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Public Speaking : SCHMOOZE
One of the easiest things to do to get a good reaction from the audience is to schmooze with them before the presentation. Iactually start this by pre-program phone interviews before I even get to the state where I'm speaking. This tip has to do with schmoozing right before you go on stage.
Whenever possible make it a firm point to have your presentation equipment and materials set up and tested long before anyone is expected to arrive at the meeting. When the attendees do begin to arrive, start introducing yourself as the speaker and shaking hands with them. If they are coming in a few at a time, you should be able to spend a few minutes talking to each group. Either make small talk or ask them what they want to get out of being there. Pay particular attention to people that are by themselves and facilitate introducing them around if it's appropriate . . . at any rate, make them feel at home.
These small gestures will create tons of rapport and cause most of the people that you've touched to be rooting for you.
Whenever possible make it a firm point to have your presentation equipment and materials set up and tested long before anyone is expected to arrive at the meeting. When the attendees do begin to arrive, start introducing yourself as the speaker and shaking hands with them. If they are coming in a few at a time, you should be able to spend a few minutes talking to each group. Either make small talk or ask them what they want to get out of being there. Pay particular attention to people that are by themselves and facilitate introducing them around if it's appropriate . . . at any rate, make them feel at home.
These small gestures will create tons of rapport and cause most of the people that you've touched to be rooting for you.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Public Speaking : SHOCK 'EM
When I was planning for my last all day presentation I was considering the post lunch sleepiness that most audiences experience. I wanted to do something totally different that I knew would shock them out of their afternoon low. So I bought a muskrat trap.
I was talking about the "traps" AKA deep trouble you could get into by spam email marketing. I set the trap with great care. Then I put a pencil into the trap to set it off. The pencil snapped showing the trap to be real . . . This got their attention. I then reset the trap and talked about how learning what I was going to teach them in the next section would keep them from getting hurt in the email spam trap.
Then, with lots of suspense building as I approached the trap, I set it off with my bare hand, I let out a fake Karate-like scream, the trap slammed on my hand and I held it up hanging from my fingers. . . . Believe me this got their attention!
DO NOT TRY THIS! DO NOT TRY THIS! DO NOT TRY THIS!I know how to do this without getting hurt. I am not responsible if you break your finger or get hurt in any way !!!
There are many other ways to shock people. You could put a needle through a balloon, you could stick a knife through one of their coats. Stop by any magic or gag shop for tons of ideas. Just don't get too outrageous and scare people unnecessarily.
I was talking about the "traps" AKA deep trouble you could get into by spam email marketing. I set the trap with great care. Then I put a pencil into the trap to set it off. The pencil snapped showing the trap to be real . . . This got their attention. I then reset the trap and talked about how learning what I was going to teach them in the next section would keep them from getting hurt in the email spam trap.
Then, with lots of suspense building as I approached the trap, I set it off with my bare hand, I let out a fake Karate-like scream, the trap slammed on my hand and I held it up hanging from my fingers. . . . Believe me this got their attention!
DO NOT TRY THIS! DO NOT TRY THIS! DO NOT TRY THIS!I know how to do this without getting hurt. I am not responsible if you break your finger or get hurt in any way !!!
There are many other ways to shock people. You could put a needle through a balloon, you could stick a knife through one of their coats. Stop by any magic or gag shop for tons of ideas. Just don't get too outrageous and scare people unnecessarily.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Public Speaking : SPEAKER HUMOR
=> Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.
=> Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.
=> Divorce: Future tense of marriage.
=> Office: A place where you can relax after your strenuous homelife.
=> Yawn: The only time some married men ever get to open their mouth.
=> Etc.: A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do.
=> Father: A banker provided by nature.
=> Boss: Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early.
=> Doctor: A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you with the bill.
=> Love: An obsessive delusion that is cured by marriage.
=> How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.
=> Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them?
=> Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
=> Women should not have children after 35. Really...35 children are enough.
=> Men are like slinkies.......not really good for anything but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.
=> Marriage is an institution in which a man loses his Bachelor's Degree and the woman gets her Masters.
=> Men are like ... horoscopes. They always tell you what to do and are usually wrong.
=>I hate housework! You make the beds, you do the dishes and six months later you have to start all over again."-- Joan Rivers,
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Two brand new complimentary teleclasses
Two awesome new complimentary teleclasses this Wednesday and
Thursday
On Wed November 19th Jeff Hockings will be telling us how you can
star in your own 30 minute television show . . . and do it on an
extremely tight budget.
I've done this twice and you can see one of my shows at
http://www.KickStartVideos.com
On Thursday November 20th Daniel Hall is the only guy in the
world who teaches you how to get complimentary luxury cruises
just by using your speaking skills . . . and you don't have to be
Tony Robbins to get the gigs.
Both calls are complimentary.
For complete details and to register visit:
http://www.GreatInternetMarketing.com/2greatcalls
I'll talk to you Wed and Thursday night.
Tom
Monday, November 17, 2008
Public Speaking : EXTREMELY SMALL CUSTOMIZATION
When speaking to a very small group of people you should be able to include an extremely large amount of customization. You should have researched the group and done your normal homework including phone interviews with the expected attendees (if it is a public event and you don't know who is coming, be set up way early so you can greet and interview people as they arrive.) Jot down a note of why each person attended. Then, when a section of your talk applies to them, point it out and name them by name.
Example: "John, you told me you wanted to learn how to sell more to the people that visit your website. This section specifically addresses that, especially the part about the psychology of the sale.
"Don't assume that people will perk up when you come to the part that specifically applies to them. Make a big deal to point it out to them. You will be adding an extreme amount of value which makes them realize that it was a good thing they attended. Oh and don't forget they'll love you for it.
Example: "John, you told me you wanted to learn how to sell more to the people that visit your website. This section specifically addresses that, especially the part about the psychology of the sale.
"Don't assume that people will perk up when you come to the part that specifically applies to them. Make a big deal to point it out to them. You will be adding an extreme amount of value which makes them realize that it was a good thing they attended. Oh and don't forget they'll love you for it.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Public Speaking : TOP SEVEN WAYS TO TUNE UP YOUR WEBSITE
TOP SEVEN WAYS TO TUNE UP YOUR WEBSITE by Philippa Gamse
Its a great time to take stock of what's working, and what needs some attention on your Web site!
Here are my suggestions for a tune-up audit - take a fresh look at your site and your promotional strategy:
1. Is your site appealing to all your markets?
Do you have different potential buyers for different aspects of your products and services? Is there content on your site that's designed for each of these? Have you considered whether your Web audience might be different from your traditional markets, and if so, whether you can exploit that?
2. Does your content engage your visitors?
Your site should be written from your visitors' point of view, not yours. Does your home page clearly recognize why the reader might be there - what's in it for them, and why they should care? What are the problems or issues that they might have, and how will you solve them?
3. Can you make your case?
If you claim that your products or services achieve results, does the content on your site substantiate this? Do you have case studies, sample client lists, and testimonials from happy customers? Third party endorsements are worth far more than your own promotional text, and they should be spread throughout your site, not relegated to a separate page that few visitors will go to.
4. Do you position yourself as an expert?
A very effective way to get exposure is publishing articles around your area of expertise. Even if you sell widgets, you can help people get the most out of using them! Articles on your site will be picked up by search engines, and you can also offer them to publications that your target markets read - always with a link back, or reference to your site, of course.
5. Do you ask for the business?
Whatever the outcomes that you want from your site, you need to ask for it. Too many Web pages end weakly, with no clear calls to action. Don't make your visitors work to decide what to do next -they won't! Every page on your site should have a strategy -invite the visitor to
interact with you, or go to the next page, but make it easy and obvious.
6. Do you have a diversified promotional strategy?
Don't depend on search engines to get you traffic. Are you exploring other ways of promoting your site - such as using your content and articles, advertising in e-zines, appending a signature file to your e-mail, regularly sending updates to your database, and ensuring that your traditional marketing is integrated with your online activities?
7. Are you reviewing your traffic analysis?
Last, but really key - your Website traffic reports will tell you what's working and what isn't. Without this information, you're shooting in the dark - what if you were to find that the majority of your hard-earned visitors never go beyond your home page?
This isn't an exhaustive list, but it's a good start. I hope that your Web site passes the test!
Its a great time to take stock of what's working, and what needs some attention on your Web site!
Here are my suggestions for a tune-up audit - take a fresh look at your site and your promotional strategy:
1. Is your site appealing to all your markets?
Do you have different potential buyers for different aspects of your products and services? Is there content on your site that's designed for each of these? Have you considered whether your Web audience might be different from your traditional markets, and if so, whether you can exploit that?
2. Does your content engage your visitors?
Your site should be written from your visitors' point of view, not yours. Does your home page clearly recognize why the reader might be there - what's in it for them, and why they should care? What are the problems or issues that they might have, and how will you solve them?
3. Can you make your case?
If you claim that your products or services achieve results, does the content on your site substantiate this? Do you have case studies, sample client lists, and testimonials from happy customers? Third party endorsements are worth far more than your own promotional text, and they should be spread throughout your site, not relegated to a separate page that few visitors will go to.
4. Do you position yourself as an expert?
A very effective way to get exposure is publishing articles around your area of expertise. Even if you sell widgets, you can help people get the most out of using them! Articles on your site will be picked up by search engines, and you can also offer them to publications that your target markets read - always with a link back, or reference to your site, of course.
5. Do you ask for the business?
Whatever the outcomes that you want from your site, you need to ask for it. Too many Web pages end weakly, with no clear calls to action. Don't make your visitors work to decide what to do next -they won't! Every page on your site should have a strategy -invite the visitor to
interact with you, or go to the next page, but make it easy and obvious.
6. Do you have a diversified promotional strategy?
Don't depend on search engines to get you traffic. Are you exploring other ways of promoting your site - such as using your content and articles, advertising in e-zines, appending a signature file to your e-mail, regularly sending updates to your database, and ensuring that your traditional marketing is integrated with your online activities?
7. Are you reviewing your traffic analysis?
Last, but really key - your Website traffic reports will tell you what's working and what isn't. Without this information, you're shooting in the dark - what if you were to find that the majority of your hard-earned visitors never go beyond your home page?
This isn't an exhaustive list, but it's a good start. I hope that your Web site passes the test!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Public Speaking : RECORD THEIR BLURBS
One of the smartest things you can do is to be ready to write down or audio tape things the audience yells out to you when you are having fun with them. These lines can be used by you in future speeches.
One of my stories is about a riches to rags story that I lived. I build up the story of how I lost a whole bunch of money in a failed business and then I injured my leg and was bedridden, and then my girlfriend left me and I finish that part of the story saying, "and my dog got run over." One time when I told the story someone yelled out from the crowd something about the dog went onto write a country music song which obviously referred to all the doom and gloom I was suffering. This got a BIG laugh.
In future speeches, to relieve the tension of people thinking that the dog got killed, I used the line, "Don't worry he's OK and went on to write a country music hit" which always gets a good laugh.
Always be ready for this when you have a really fun loving crowd. One way to be sure that you remember the line after the speech is over is to stop right then and jot the note down while saying something to the person yelling out the line, "Would you repeat that because it's funnier than my line / story etc." which will get a laugh and make the audience member the star.
This is really a win win because you really do need to write things down when they are fresh because you are likely to forget them after the speech (especially if you are not audio taping) and also because you get an interaction with the audience and another laugh line out of the situation.
One of my stories is about a riches to rags story that I lived. I build up the story of how I lost a whole bunch of money in a failed business and then I injured my leg and was bedridden, and then my girlfriend left me and I finish that part of the story saying, "and my dog got run over." One time when I told the story someone yelled out from the crowd something about the dog went onto write a country music song which obviously referred to all the doom and gloom I was suffering. This got a BIG laugh.
In future speeches, to relieve the tension of people thinking that the dog got killed, I used the line, "Don't worry he's OK and went on to write a country music hit" which always gets a good laugh.
Always be ready for this when you have a really fun loving crowd. One way to be sure that you remember the line after the speech is over is to stop right then and jot the note down while saying something to the person yelling out the line, "Would you repeat that because it's funnier than my line / story etc." which will get a laugh and make the audience member the star.
This is really a win win because you really do need to write things down when they are fresh because you are likely to forget them after the speech (especially if you are not audio taping) and also because you get an interaction with the audience and another laugh line out of the situation.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Public Speaking : SLOW DOWN
By Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE
You're charged with energy and maybe a bit nervous. Too often this can translate into talking too fast, maybe even a rise in voice pitch until the best-intentioned speaker sounds like Minnie Mouse.
Pay attention to audience feedback. If one person reports a problem with understanding you, this may be an individual perception or opinion. But if several do, it's time to time yourself.
Try this test. First, tape-record a casual conversation with a friend. Then compare the number of words per minute to a tape recording of one of your recent speaking presentations. Do you always speak quickly? Or just when you're giving a speech? Was your presentation deliberately speeded up to meet some time constraint? If so, were you trying to include too much material?(That's a signal to cut some information so the rest is more effective.)
If you decide you need to slow down your delivery, start before you even hit the podium. As you're putting together your remarks, think about logical places to slow down. It's okay to speak quickly as long as you leave yourself room for pauses and silence. The faster you talk, the longer your pauses should be. Give the audience time to digest what you've just said. If you say something really profound or suggest something like, "Consider the proposal in front of you," you are asking the audience to think. Give them time to do so.
Finally, here's an excellent slow-down exercise. Practice reading your speech aloud. Pause for one second at a comma, two seconds at the end of a sentence, and three seconds after a paragraph. (You can count the seconds the same way you did as a child, saying "one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi, three-Mississippi" silently to yourself.) Then, breathe and smile!
You're charged with energy and maybe a bit nervous. Too often this can translate into talking too fast, maybe even a rise in voice pitch until the best-intentioned speaker sounds like Minnie Mouse.
Pay attention to audience feedback. If one person reports a problem with understanding you, this may be an individual perception or opinion. But if several do, it's time to time yourself.
Try this test. First, tape-record a casual conversation with a friend. Then compare the number of words per minute to a tape recording of one of your recent speaking presentations. Do you always speak quickly? Or just when you're giving a speech? Was your presentation deliberately speeded up to meet some time constraint? If so, were you trying to include too much material?(That's a signal to cut some information so the rest is more effective.)
If you decide you need to slow down your delivery, start before you even hit the podium. As you're putting together your remarks, think about logical places to slow down. It's okay to speak quickly as long as you leave yourself room for pauses and silence. The faster you talk, the longer your pauses should be. Give the audience time to digest what you've just said. If you say something really profound or suggest something like, "Consider the proposal in front of you," you are asking the audience to think. Give them time to do so.
Finally, here's an excellent slow-down exercise. Practice reading your speech aloud. Pause for one second at a comma, two seconds at the end of a sentence, and three seconds after a paragraph. (You can count the seconds the same way you did as a child, saying "one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi, three-Mississippi" silently to yourself.) Then, breathe and smile!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Public Speaking : ANOTHER HYDRATION TIP
by reader David Smith
Being well hydrated is a great way to keep from getting that raspy voice. But when you are less than well-hydrated there is a trick you can use that Marine Drill Instructors have used for years. That's right! Marine Drill Instructors, or DI's. As you might imagine, the DI's spend a good portion of the day barking out commands to their recruits, and if anyone is prone to lose their voice, it's a DI. Their secret? Lemon water. Squeeze a half lemon into a glass, then fill with cold water and ice if you like. Keep this somewhere on stage and have a drink when you first hear your voice rattle. It not only works fast, but it's very refreshing. Also, the slight pause can draw the attention of your audience or work as part of a transition.
Being well hydrated is a great way to keep from getting that raspy voice. But when you are less than well-hydrated there is a trick you can use that Marine Drill Instructors have used for years. That's right! Marine Drill Instructors, or DI's. As you might imagine, the DI's spend a good portion of the day barking out commands to their recruits, and if anyone is prone to lose their voice, it's a DI. Their secret? Lemon water. Squeeze a half lemon into a glass, then fill with cold water and ice if you like. Keep this somewhere on stage and have a drink when you first hear your voice rattle. It not only works fast, but it's very refreshing. Also, the slight pause can draw the attention of your audience or work as part of a transition.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Public Speaking : Tough Venues
Did you ever present in a barn? How about a bowling alley? How about a community center where drum lessons are being given in the next room?
Well I've been in all those situations and more and so far I've survived the recurring nightmares and waking up in a cold sweat just thinking about them. I've been diagnosed with PTVD -- Post-Traumatic Venue Disorder.
If you are really gung ho about speaking, you're going to jump at the chance to do just about any speaking engagement. You should do this because it helps you to get really good, really fast. As you get more experienced you'll learn to use your pre-program research to recognize potentially disastrous venues before you agree to speak. But sometimes, even with the best of preparation, you get blindsided and have to present in a lousy venue.
What is a lousy venue? A lousy venue could have one or more of the following problems:
=> Bad lighting
=> Bad sound system
=> Noise coming from outside
=> Numerous sight blocking fixtures
=> Poor heating and air conditioning
=> Large distance between the stage and the seats
This list is by no means comprehensive. One time because of a scheduling mishap, I ended up on the dance floor of the sportsbar during lunch time. I would call this a lousy venue, wouldn't you?
So what do you do? My first piece of mundane, but powerful information is to stay calm and keep smiling. (Don't think I haven't violated this rule before because I just did last month when a very large amount of money was riding on my presentation and nothing was set up when I got into the room.)
Then, determine what is in your control and what is out of your control. If the air conditioning is making noise, you can turn it off yourself or go find a janitor to do it for you. (in past issues I have described ethical bribes where I'll grease a janitor's palm with twenty bucks if he can get something resolved for me in the next five minutes)
But if you've got 500 people waiting and the sound system just blew up, what do you do?
Go directly to the meeting organizers and ask them what they want you to do.
They are under as much or more pressure than you are so again, try to keep smiling and portray a very helpful and accommodating attitude. This is no time for prima donna antics.
Know your schedule in advance and the costs to reschedule airfare, etc and be ready to tell the meeting planner what you can and can't do. For instance, if you must make your flight to be able to get to your next speaking engagement on time, then you certainly can't agree to do the presentation after they fix the sound system if it will make you miss your flight. It wasn't the other group's fault the sound system blew up at this event so you can't cause them problems by being late.
Be creative and be prepared On big events where they have plenty of money, maybe they would agree to charter you a flight or call in the corporate jet if you can stay and get the job done. Maybe the meeting planner of your troubled event knows the meeting planner of your next event and they can help each other out behind the scenes with scheduling so that you can get both jobs done.
On local and smaller events you could have your own portable sound system in the trunk of your car as a backup.
For noise coming from the next room, have some pre-planned ad-libs ready to acknowledge the distraction and continue if possible. If the weather is nice, take people outside (which has it's own set of problems) or go to another part of the building.
I certainly don't have solutions for all the problems you will run into in your speaking career. What I want to get through to you is that bad venues will happen. Sometimes you just can't do anything about it and you must quit or reschedule the event and sometimes you can be flexible and creative and find a way to get the job done. . . . That's what being a pro speaker is all about.
P.S. What did I do about the sports bar presentation? I got manager to turn on the DJ booth and show me how to work the disco lighting. I got the lunch patrons involved and a good time was had by all.
Well I've been in all those situations and more and so far I've survived the recurring nightmares and waking up in a cold sweat just thinking about them. I've been diagnosed with PTVD -- Post-Traumatic Venue Disorder.
If you are really gung ho about speaking, you're going to jump at the chance to do just about any speaking engagement. You should do this because it helps you to get really good, really fast. As you get more experienced you'll learn to use your pre-program research to recognize potentially disastrous venues before you agree to speak. But sometimes, even with the best of preparation, you get blindsided and have to present in a lousy venue.
What is a lousy venue? A lousy venue could have one or more of the following problems:
=> Bad lighting
=> Bad sound system
=> Noise coming from outside
=> Numerous sight blocking fixtures
=> Poor heating and air conditioning
=> Large distance between the stage and the seats
This list is by no means comprehensive. One time because of a scheduling mishap, I ended up on the dance floor of the sportsbar during lunch time. I would call this a lousy venue, wouldn't you?
So what do you do? My first piece of mundane, but powerful information is to stay calm and keep smiling. (Don't think I haven't violated this rule before because I just did last month when a very large amount of money was riding on my presentation and nothing was set up when I got into the room.)
Then, determine what is in your control and what is out of your control. If the air conditioning is making noise, you can turn it off yourself or go find a janitor to do it for you. (in past issues I have described ethical bribes where I'll grease a janitor's palm with twenty bucks if he can get something resolved for me in the next five minutes)
But if you've got 500 people waiting and the sound system just blew up, what do you do?
Go directly to the meeting organizers and ask them what they want you to do.
They are under as much or more pressure than you are so again, try to keep smiling and portray a very helpful and accommodating attitude. This is no time for prima donna antics.
Know your schedule in advance and the costs to reschedule airfare, etc and be ready to tell the meeting planner what you can and can't do. For instance, if you must make your flight to be able to get to your next speaking engagement on time, then you certainly can't agree to do the presentation after they fix the sound system if it will make you miss your flight. It wasn't the other group's fault the sound system blew up at this event so you can't cause them problems by being late.
Be creative and be prepared On big events where they have plenty of money, maybe they would agree to charter you a flight or call in the corporate jet if you can stay and get the job done. Maybe the meeting planner of your troubled event knows the meeting planner of your next event and they can help each other out behind the scenes with scheduling so that you can get both jobs done.
On local and smaller events you could have your own portable sound system in the trunk of your car as a backup.
For noise coming from the next room, have some pre-planned ad-libs ready to acknowledge the distraction and continue if possible. If the weather is nice, take people outside (which has it's own set of problems) or go to another part of the building.
I certainly don't have solutions for all the problems you will run into in your speaking career. What I want to get through to you is that bad venues will happen. Sometimes you just can't do anything about it and you must quit or reschedule the event and sometimes you can be flexible and creative and find a way to get the job done. . . . That's what being a pro speaker is all about.
P.S. What did I do about the sports bar presentation? I got manager to turn on the DJ booth and show me how to work the disco lighting. I got the lunch patrons involved and a good time was had by all.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Public Speaking: Camcorders for Speakers
Here are the criteria for picking a camcorder that will help you in your speaking career.
1. It must have an external microphone jack. This allows you to set the camera up on a tripod and with the use of a wireless microphone you will get a perfect audio track on the video.
2. It must have a tripod mounting hole. Many of the micromini camcorders do not have this and you won't be able to mount the camera on a tripod.
3. It must have a light shoe. This is two metal rails used to mount a video light on the camera. You will not use it for this purpose. You will use it to mount the receiver of a wireless microphone. (I recommend Azden brand wireless mic for good quality and low price)
4. Right now miniDV tape is the most reliable and lowest price and most sensible for speakers. I'd avoid MiniDVD discs and I'd avoid a hard drive camera because if you speak longer than the hard drive will hold, you are stuck. A miniDV tape camera will let you simply switch the tapes and record forever.
If you shoot with enough light and close up enough, you can get usable demo footage with just about any modern camcorder. A good editor can cut the footage to make you look great (unless you really suck that is).
Also, you can use the camcorder to critique yourself and make video products to sell.
1. It must have an external microphone jack. This allows you to set the camera up on a tripod and with the use of a wireless microphone you will get a perfect audio track on the video.
2. It must have a tripod mounting hole. Many of the micromini camcorders do not have this and you won't be able to mount the camera on a tripod.
3. It must have a light shoe. This is two metal rails used to mount a video light on the camera. You will not use it for this purpose. You will use it to mount the receiver of a wireless microphone. (I recommend Azden brand wireless mic for good quality and low price)
4. Right now miniDV tape is the most reliable and lowest price and most sensible for speakers. I'd avoid MiniDVD discs and I'd avoid a hard drive camera because if you speak longer than the hard drive will hold, you are stuck. A miniDV tape camera will let you simply switch the tapes and record forever.
If you shoot with enough light and close up enough, you can get usable demo footage with just about any modern camcorder. A good editor can cut the footage to make you look great (unless you really suck that is).
Also, you can use the camcorder to critique yourself and make video products to sell.
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