Record Yourself

Few things are as cringe-worthy as watching yourself on video, until you realize how much you can learn from it. Whether you’re preparing for a concert, a work presentation, a speech, or even just want to improve your general poise and delivery, recording yourself is one of the fastest ways to level up your public performance skills. There’s so much you can get from a short video made with your phone propped up on a bookshelf or dresser. I’ve put my money where my mouth is, and have shared a trial video I made today for a song that I’ve been practicing the last few weeks, and I’ve added my notes down below. It’s not the greatest performance, but it’s a step in the right direction. Feel the Pressure I find that standing in front of my camera triggers a similar nervous response to being in front of real people on stage. Your pulse quickens, your focus widens, and suddenly you forget how to talk or move like a normal human. That’s good news. I think it means you’re training the same reflexes you’ll need when you are in front of an audience. Practicing on camera lets you experience the jitters in a low-stakes environment, and learn to calm them down. Study the Tape Once I’ve recorded myself, I watch the playback and take notes. Where do I stumble, mumble, or speed through? For music, are there chords, lyrics, or transitions that I repeatedly mess up? For a speech, are there words that I mumble or stumble over? What parts of the text don’t flow, or do I seem less convinced by as I talk? Mistakes are obvious teachers, but smooth sections are just as important. They show you what’s automatic and reliable, so you can shift some of your attention ahead to the tricky parts coming up. Over time, your “smooth zones” expand, and your confidence follows. Let It Sit Don’t review your video immediately. Give it a day or three. That little bit of distance lets you see yourself more objectively. What felt like a catastrophic pause in the moment may turn out to be an effective bit of pacing. What you thought was enthusiasm might read as panic. With fresh eyes, you’ll spot both your real strengths and the small tweaks that make a big difference. Watch the Body Language A presentation isn’t just about words. It’s about presence. That’s not an easy thing to build, as most of us aren’t rock bank front person material. Nevertheless, there are still a few things we can all look out for and improve. Are you standing there stiff as a statue (yep - that’s me)? Or flailing your arms like you’re trying to land a plane? Most people are surprised by what they see. Movements that feel huge are often barely visible on camera. The recording allows to find your sweet spot: enough physicality to look alive, not enough to distract. Bonus Tips Check your voice: Does your tone vary, or are you slowly lulling your audience into a coma? Mind the filler words: For a speech, “um,” “like,” and “you know” sneak in unnoticed until you hear them in stereo. Be kind to yourself: Watching a recording can make you hypercritical. Remember, you’re seeing yourself from an unfamiliar viewpoint, one your audience never analyzes that harshly. And Finally Always wear a wizard hat. It won’t help your stage presence, but it will distract everyone long enough that they won’t notice you fluffing the chorus. Twice.