1. Set the stage
Your background is your stage. Make sure wherever you are, your background is not going to be distracting to your audience. They have enough distractions already. You don’t want to add more distractions, taking their attention away from your content.
2. Get a stand/tripod
This may sound self-explanatory, but we have all seen someone trying to conduct a live stream with their camera in their hands. The video will be shaky. Put the phone in a spot and let it stream.
3. Always have the light in front
I didn’t learn this camera trick until about 1.5 years ago. Having light in front of you is essential to getting a high quality and clear view. Especially for people of color, the wrong lighting can honestly make us disappear.
4. Mic Check
Check your mic prior to going live. Record a short video of you on your stage with your lighting and stand setup. Don’t be like Teddy and Babyface.
5. Where’s the lense?
When streaming, be sure to look into the camera. Your viewers on the other end depend on your eye contact to engage with them. If your camera is in a weird place (like my laptop which has a camera in the lower-left corner of the laptop), it may look like you are looking away if you’re looking straight into the screen. One way to avoid this is by getting a stand-alone camera or webcam.
Streaming just like other forms of media is an art.