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Deliberate practice is going to make you feel more comfortable and confident on camera, and that's going to come off to your viewer and your audience, no matter who's watching your videos, so that they feel invited and welcome and want to watch more of your content.
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Good morning, good evening, good afternoon, wherever you are and wherever you're watching from.
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My name is Matt Pierce, host of the Visual Lounge, and today we're gonna be talking about something I think a lot of you have had to come face to face with.
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The reality of being on camera.
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It's not always easy, it's not always comfortable, but there are things you can do to get better, and our guest today is gonna help us out.
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So let's go ahead and introduce her.
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Meredith Marsh specializes in helping online business owners shine on camera and become the go-to expert in their niches.
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With over two decades of experience online, Meredith has mastered the art of teaching video creation from recording to editing.
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She's a creative mind behind the YouTube concept and the inventor of the Set It and Forget It YouTube funnel, empowering entrepreneurs to leverage video for automated sales.
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As the founder of YouTube Brand Academy and creator of courses like 30 Days to a Thriving YouTube channel, Meredith guides her students to video marketing success with enthusiasm and authenticity.
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When she's not helping others look good, sound good, and feel good on camera, Meredith enjoys life in upstate New York with her husband and their two teenage daughters.
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With that said, please help me welcome Meredith Marsh to the Visual Lounge.
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Hey Matt, thanks for having me.
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Meredith, thank you so much for being here.
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I always love when uh someone connects me with great people who have great ideas and thoughts and um feel very privileged to be able to have you here on the show today.
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I'm so excited to be here.
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What's one tip?
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If we just have to start with like a tip about making image using video for the business and workplace, what's one thing you would recommend to this audience about like that they could just do to get you know incrementally better in using video?
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Uh well, I think most people would say practice, but I think this is gonna sound weird, but practice talking to yourself off camera, like throughout the day or in the car by yourself.
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When you practice talking about the topics that you would talk about on camera out loud, I think it really just sort of primes your brain to feel normal and natural talking out loud to yourself and then to a camera.
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I I love that because I I've heard a lot of tips, right?
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And that's one that is very practical and yeah, it makes sense because uh I think it was, I don't know if you knew, uh I think it was either uh Tim Schmoyer or maybe it was uh another YouTube creator.
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I'm trying Andrew Kahn or Andrew Kahn, he said that like he's like, it's not natural to talk to a camera.
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There's nothing natural about this, but making it feel a little bit more natural.
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That's that's it.
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Yeah, I think you can kind of trick your brain into thinking, yeah, this is a totally normal thing that we're doing here.
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I guess just be mindful of where you're doing if you're walking down the street talking to yourself, then it's gonna look a little strange.
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So, Meredith, I want to talk about getting better on camera.
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You've got a lot of experience.
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Obviously, you have a presence about you, you've got your setup, you look good.
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Um why, first of all, why do you think people struggle with this?
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Like, why we talked about it's not natural.
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Is there anything why is it so hard to do this well?
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There's a lot of moving parts um to to creating videos.
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Like, you know, even if you don't want to have a fancy camera and lights and like a fancy microphone and stuff, there's still a lot of moving parts to like what software am I using?
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How am I recording?
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How to do it on my phone.
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And I think a lot of people struggle with the fact that what what we see when we're watching other people on camera in a video, what we see is edited, usually for the most part.
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Um, and you know, people who can pull off like a live stream or something that's unedited but still uh, you know, intriguing to watch, I think have some natural talent and probably some experience under their belt.
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Uh, but what you see, like if you look at my channel, if you look at your channel, it's edited.
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And so I think there's like this sense when you're trying to make videos that it has to be, I have to make it perfect, it has to sound cohesive and coherent coming out of my mouth, because that's what you see, but you don't realize that like I restart my sentences 17 times in every video that I have, it just gets edited out and I edit it so that it looks coherent and cohesive.
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Um, and so it's like it's this case of, you know, sometimes people say, like, don't compare your beginning to somebody else's middle.
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And I think that happens a lot with video where you see what other people are doing and you think, oh, my video has to be at that level, and you don't realize that they they edited their video to look like it's at that level.
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Yeah, I I love that advice that don't compare your beginning to the middle just because, yeah, everyone's on a journey.
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You've been doing this for a while, I've been doing this for a while, but and it's not it's not the same when you start, right?
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So as you as you think about this process, so let's say someone comes to you and says, Meredith, I I really want to do more on camera.
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I want to be on camera more, right?
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And and they are they're seeing that middle and they're saying, like, I know I'm not gonna be there at day one, but what's that first starting point?
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What's the first thing you would recommend to someone to do to help them to start to move towards their own middle?
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That's a great question.
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I what worked for me uh when I first started, I was not an on-camera person.
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Like I never wanted to be on camera.
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I just essentially emulated what I saw other people doing.
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And I thought, well, I'll just emulate what they're doing.
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And and I fell into the trap of what has to be perfect, and the words have to come out of my mouth perfectly every time.
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Um, and then I learned, oh, I can edit all that stuff out, and you know, and that sort of changed my workflow a little bit and helped me to relax when it was actually time to record.
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But I would just look at the people that I was watching on YouTube, how did they, how did they stand?
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How like were they locked eyes with the camera the whole time, or were they looking off, or were they reading from a script?
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Um, and I just I guess sort of like took mental notes on what I saw other people doing, people that I admired and trusted um and wanted to, you know, I saw them at their middle and wanted to be at that level, and just kind of like emulated that, sort of pretended, like if I knew what I was doing on camera, if I if I like what would what would I do if I knew, you know, like can you pretend to know what you're doing and just try it?
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And um, I was really surprised when I first started when I would watch my videos back, that I did sort of feel like I was coming off as like still my authentic self, but this kind of like new level of an on-camera version of my authentic self.
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So emulating other people helped me to pretend to know what I was doing enough to do it and see it and then feel comfortable with it moving forward.
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Yeah, this might be a a little bit obscure, but I'm thinking there's that Shakespeare quote, and I I I had a look to make sure I got it right.
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But what what where uh is it, what ere thou art, act well thy part, kind of thing, right?
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So if you want to be like these people, first act like it, right?
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I think that's great advice.
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Like look at what what you like.
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If I want to be like Meredith, what does Meredith do?
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And just try to emulate those things as a start, and then then I'm guessing you become kind of find who you are, right?
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Like exactly, yeah, yeah.
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And it gets easier over time, but I think there is also a component of like uh like deliberately improving or deliberately getting you know to where you do feel like you're speaking authentically, using your personality.
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Um and instead of just like it's not really practice makes perfect, it's like deliberate practice makes perfect.
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I think there's a quote in there about that, probably not from Shakespeare, but um there's a quote in like intentional deliberate practice and trying to uh you know improve over time.
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And then it's sort of snowballs, like the more comfortable you are, the more comfortable you become, and then the more comfortable you are, then the more comfortable you become.
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And I think that comfortableness comes off on camera.
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Like I've watched people's videos where they clearly are not comfortable.
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It's kind of like watching somebody speak on stage for the first time and they've never done it, and they, you know, they have a great personality and they have great content, but they're not totally comfortable on stage.
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And so it it sort of like oozes into the audience a little bit, you know?
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It's like, oh man, they're making me feel uncomfortable because they're uncomfortable.
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And I think that can happen on camera, um, which is why that deliberate practice comes in.
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It's not just about improving, but it's like you know, when it looks better, you're gonna feel better about creating it.
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Yeah.
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Well, I want to ask you a question because you've you've you've mentioned a couple of times about, you know, the reality is that you can edit.
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You can fix kind of the the idea is you can fix problems, right?
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It what you mentioned 17, 17, it takes 17 takes, which I get.
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I've definitely been there.
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It's one of the things about being a uh on a podcast, though I don't give myself a lot of allowances for editing because I'm lazy.
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But um, but I I want to talk about that because I think there's some some skills there that are like like it's one thing to say something 17 times, and then in in editing, it can still feel choppy or it can feel hard to put together.
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And I've definitely experienced that.
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I know um trying to piece two things together that maybe I didn't think through.
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So do you have any advice on how to in that process of knowing like I'm gonna edit this, I can I can fix things, but are there things that you've done to allow it to make that easier?
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Because I look, editing's hard.
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Uh, you know, every everyone can do it.
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It's a skill that can be learned, but I feel like sometimes it's like, gosh, I don't want to spend 10 hours trying to figure out how to edit this thing to work when I could have, if I just would have said it right the first time.
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Yeah.
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Um what I my best advice for editing is to to follow something I call the BFF method.
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And um, I mean, I like to think I'm people's video BFF, but BFF actually stands for basic, fine-tune, and fancy.
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And so this is like the workflow that I use because sometimes, you know, I record something and I just want to get it published.
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And there's a balance between do I spend the 10 hours to really make this really polished and really good and really edited, or is it good enough to go out as it is?
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And so the BFF method is is sort of like a filter to figure out just how much editing do I have to do here.
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So pretty much, even if I don't make any mistakes, there's still a little bit of editing, like at the very beginning of a recording or the very end, or a lot of times there is the places where I start my sentence 17 times.
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So that just gets cut out.
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And as long as you can find those places, it's easy to just go in and make a cut, make a cut, and then select and delete, like in any editing program.
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It's pretty simple.
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And then um, so basic is kind of doing those basic cuts.
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Fine-tuning is where you might go into where you made those cuts and zoom way, way, way in so you can see the waveforms.
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And then just make sure there's no like weird, awkward dead space between one clip and the next clip, which this is a really, I think, common.
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I don't I don't know that I would necessarily call it a mistake, but it's a common area that could be easily polished that I see in videos where there's just enough empty dead frames where to the viewer it looks like you were just kind of staring at the camera for a moment before you were talking.
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And if you if you eliminate that dead space, your video can sort of appear like it hasn't even been edited because the cuts just kind of like one flows right into the other, um, without having like an obvious jarring cut.
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So the fine-tuning phase is where I just sort of like clean things up, add any lower thirds like my name or background music if I'm adding background music.
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Um, and then fancy is like transitions and like a bunch of b-roll and animations and text on the screen.
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And a lot of people get so hung up on those kinds of things at the beginning because I I don't know, because it looks like wow, this video is so polished.
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I've got text here and there, and all these animations and transitions, and that's what you maybe that's what you see your favorite YouTuber doing.
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But those are the things that take so much time to figure out.
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Like you have to learn how to do it, then you have to take the time to put it in and make decisions about where does it go?
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And a lot of people focus their time on that kind of like fancy stuff that doesn't really add to the value of the content of the video, and then just it takes extra time to create.
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So that's the BFF method, basic, fine-tune, and fancy.
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Yeah, I well I love that, and that's very practical.
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And I I know we have a lot of internal conversations about as we're making our content, you know, like there's there's this push for a little bit more kind of more perfect, kind of higher quality content.
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But then like when you look at social media in particular, uh, it's like, well, gosh, does it need to be, does it need to be that perfect?
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Can we just put it out the door if it's on going on the TikTok or whatever?
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And so I love that that gives that a structure and kind of consideration.
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So from a from a consideration of if I'm thinking about those people who are saying, Meredith, I hear you.
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I I have a desire, but I'm just not I'm not in a place where I want to be on camera.
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I don't, I don't even want to hear my voice.
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Like, I don't like I don't like the way I look, I don't like the way I sound, and I know some of that's probably a that's a personal thing, right?
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Like we gotta work through our own kind of our own self-worth here.
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Um But for those people who are struggling, but they they've got good ideas, they got good content, what what advice do you give to them who are like, oh, just really caught up on it's not it's not about the mechanics of recording, it's just I I know what I look like.
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Let's let's be honest.
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If you're watching this on YouTube, I know what I look like, guys.
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Trust me.
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Uh so what what do you say to those those individuals who are just in that position where maybe it's part of their job and they're being asked to do it?
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Yeah, you know, one of the things that often my like clients and students will tell me is I can talk to people on a Zoom call with my camera on, but when it's just me and a camera, I freeze.
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And so, I mean, the simple solution to that is so just record it like it's a Zoom call.
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You could even record it on Zoom.
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You know, these days we have ways of connecting a fancy camera, if you have one, to a Zoom.
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Um, or even just use your iPhone.
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Can that can be connected to your Zoom too?
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So you're not just using like a grainy webcam.
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And just do it on Zoom then.
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Pretend you are on Zoom or get a friend or colleague, you know, if this is like a work situation, get a coworker to ask you questions that you can then answer, that you can then edit together into a cohesive video.
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Because if that's where you feel the most authentic and the most comfortable on a Zoom call, having a conversation and delivering value that way, then you're you're already like there.
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You just need to record it and turn it into a video.
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Yeah, I I I love that advice.
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Uh one more question about being on camera, and then we'll we can move into some uh kind of our other parts of the show.
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But I I'm curious, one of the things uh, and and I guess anytime anyone that's listening to this show for a long time, uh and you might have already noticed I'm I am either all in on energy or like not.
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And I think one of the things is modulating the energy sometimes.
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Um and it can be, it can, it can be draining, I think, to to put yourself in a situation where you're recording, especially if you're doing it often, or uh maybe you're doing a lot of like takes or you're doing a lot of different videos kind of in a batch production situation.
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What are some things that you do to help just kind of make sure that your your energy is staying up, uh, that you're staying kind of because it is about being on, right?
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Like there's no doubt you have to be on for the camera.
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It's it is a you know, you don't I I I I don't know how else to explain it, but it's like uh how how do you do that?
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What are things that you do to help you with that?
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Because it can be so just tiring and draining after if you're not, you know, if you haven't figured that part out.
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Yeah.
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Oh, this is so good.
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So, you know, uh people used to say about television that the camera adds 10 pounds or something like that.
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I don't know if that's true, but I hope it's not true for YouTube.
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But um I like to say the camera like drains like half of your energy.
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So what when you're recording, you might feel like, oh I'm this is just my natural energy level.
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But then when you go and look at it when you're like editing, it's sort of like a little bit slow, a little bit uh sluggish, a little bit low energy, forgetting to smile, things like that.
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Because like when you're comfortable, you're you're not necessarily high energy smiling, like shining for the camera.
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So I think there's a little balance there between being comfortable, but also, like you said, being on and bringing the energy up a little bit.
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For me, badging videos is sort of like my Achilles heel as a content creator because I don't have energy to create multiple videos in a day.
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And uh several months ago, like about a year ago, I created a whole series on my channel called the Crush It on Camera series, and I made a goal to I'm going to plan like thumbnails, script titles, descriptions, record and edit these six videos in one week.
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And the day that I recorded, I was like, well, this is never happening again.
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And it felt great to have them all done because I had six weeks of content all recorded.
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Um, but when I was editing them, I could see by like the fourth video, fifth video, and then the sixth video definitely.
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And if you go watch the series on my channel, the sixth video is like, hey, it's Meredith and blah blah blah, and there's no smile, my face is totally flat, and I didn't realize it when I was recording, or else I would have like gone to take a walk or to take a break.
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Let's finish the rest of these tomorrow or something.
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Uh, but it wasn't until I was editing that I was like, oh wow, these are like really low energy.
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So I think three videos for me is probably the max for one day.
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And um, so now that I know that I can take breaks and plan to not do more than that in a day.
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But when I first started, I I thought that being comfortable on camera meant being like physically comfortable.
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So I recorded my first videos like sitting on my couch.
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And then when I went to watch them back and edit them, I was like, I look like I look like I don't even really want to be on camera because well, I was brand new and I really didn't know what I was doing.
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But I then heard somebody say, and I think it was John Lee Doumas, was talking about podcasting, and he said he records standing up.
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And that was just like audio only for him back in the day.
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And I'm like, what?
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That's crazy.
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He stands up all day to record.
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So I tried it for my next group of videos.
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Uh, and it was amazing how much more energy I had standing up.
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So I think there's something about I love tricking the brain.
00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:52.880
I think you're sort of tricking your brain into thinking you're saying something important because people who say important things and speeches and things, they're always standing.
00:21:53.279 --> 00:22:07.279
And so what you say is important, it matters, people want to hear it, and um, just the Ability to kind of move around slightly, not a bunch, not walking around, but just slight body movement.
00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:17.359
I think helps you to just naturally uh relax and be in the energy of okay, I'm on, I'm creating a video now.
00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:23.200
And so I don't have to stand up anymore to, I mean, I'm not standing up right now.
00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:34.799
I think I've just learned to take take that energy and put it into my face and my body is sitting down, and it's just been like a practice and experience thing.
00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:45.680
But I do have to consciously think about it sometimes to like, okay, we're recording a video, so make sure we smile, make sure we're engaging with the camera here.
00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:52.880
Um, because like you pointed out at the earlier, it's not natural, it's really not natural to talk to a camera.
00:22:53.039 --> 00:23:03.519
So I think tricking the brain um sort of helps it to be high energy so the viewer feels like they are engaging with you when they're watching your videos.
00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:10.559
Yeah, so I I I love the idea of physicality changing like you know, like how you sit or how you're standing doing those things.
00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:11.680
That's that's really great.
00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:12.880
Um, I will show you.
00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:20.640
Uh we had a guest on the podcast and he talked about making, I think he was making like 200 videos for like a big, big course, right?
00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:28.880
And uh one of the things that he said that has stuck with me that I think is interesting about you're talking about your six videos, he said that he didn't record them in order.
00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.880
I was like, well, right?
00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:38.480
So that way he's like, and he's like, I knew he saved his intro and his exit videos for like the highest energy, like where he was being really good.
00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:40.960
And I thought, oh, that's I never thought of that.
00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:42.640
That was that's just brilliant, right?
00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:47.759
Like put them in different orders so that the energy it can ebb and flow a little bit differently.
00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:53.279
But that that's a great idea, and actually I've done that before with individual videos.
00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:59.519
Like I'll record the beginning of the video, then record the meet of the video, then the end.
00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:10.079
And sometimes I will go back and say, you know what, now that I'm in my energy, let's re-re-record this intro and see if maybe it's a little better than the first time I ran it through.
00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:15.200
And so when I'm editing, I'll just sort of compare and take the better take.
00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:32.240
Uh, but there was a time where I did that on purpose because again, when I was editing, I would go, wow, this is like a really dry, low energy open here for the very first part of the video, which is probably not the greatest strategy.
00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:40.000
So I would deliberately not record an intro at all until I was done recording the rest.
00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:47.119
And uh and that really helped, but it was it was again, it's like the deliberate practice.
00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:53.119
Since I had that deliberate improvement, intentional improvement.
00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:58.319
Now I just know I can just sort of flip a switch and turn the energy on.
00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:05.279
But it took the deliver deliberate improvement to get to that place where I was, you know, then able to trick my brain.
00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:05.839
Yeah.
00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:08.400
Beauty of nonlinear editing, right?
00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:11.680
You can you can record in any way you want and put it together.
00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:14.240
So well, Meredith, this has been awesome.
00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:17.839
I've got I've taken away a few ideas and tips, and I'm hoping our audience has too.
00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:21.440
But we're gonna move into our speed round questions for those who are new to the show.
00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:25.680
Quick questions with quick answers determined by the roll of a die.
00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:27.039
So we're gonna play a little stinger.
00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:27.920
Here we go.
00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:33.920
All right, so I am such a nerd.
00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.599
I have a 12-sided die, Meredith.
00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:38.319
We're gonna roll this, and we've got 12 potential questions.
00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:41.119
So the first one is question number three.
00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.799
Uh, this is this is a good one.
00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:47.759
If if you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would that advice be?
00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:51.359
Oh boy, how young are we talking?
00:25:52.799 --> 00:26:00.079
Um I would say people want to hear what you have to say.
00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:08.079
Even if it doesn't seem that way, the people who do want to hear what you have to say will find you.
00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:10.400
That's what I would tell my younger self.
00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.599
I I love that.
00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:14.640
That's that is great advice because yeah, you've you've got a voice.
00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:16.160
Obviously, people want to listen to you.
00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:18.799
You've got a successful channel and platforms.
00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:22.400
And if you could have started maybe five years earlier, right?
00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:24.240
How much better would that even be?
00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.039
Right.
00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:25.920
Awesome.
00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:27.680
All right, let's move on to our next question here.
00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:30.079
Second roll of the die, as long as it's not a three.
00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:32.799
We're just gonna go right up, we're just numbering up right here.
00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:34.000
Number four.
00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:39.519
Uh, what's your guilty pleasure song or movie that you secretly love?
00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:43.359
Well, it can't be too secret because you won't tell us that, but oh man.
00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.039
Secretly love.
00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:50.000
I love period films and shows.
00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:59.200
So, like Downton Abbey is my comfort show, and I just need something to watch that's kind of like light and easy.
00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:04.000
And um yeah, that's my go-to is Downton Abbey.
00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:05.440
One more question here.
00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.160
Here we go.
00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.359
Roll of the die.
00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:11.759
And we can't do four again unless you have another movie, but I doubt it.
00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.839
Uh okay, question one.
00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:19.279
Ooh, this one tip people typically have a little bit of they struggle because it's a little harder question.
00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:29.119
If you could have dinner, okay, you're gonna have dinner with anyone, historical or living, doesn't matter, who would it be and why?
00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:39.759
Okay, I have been asked this question before on a podcast, and the answer I gave surprised the host.
00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:41.599
So I'm gonna use the same answer.
00:27:42.160 --> 00:28:05.119
Hopefully, it doesn't have to be somebody like famous, because I would have dinner with my great-great grandparents because um they had like a general store in this like super small town at the turn of the century, and they were really my great-great-grandfather was into like gadgets and things.
00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:09.599
He had a camera way before cameras were mainstream.
00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:37.599
Like I have pictures of my relatives from the 1800s, and um I I would just want to have a conversation about how cool it must have been to be able to just kind of play with these new gadgets and technology that were emerging, like cameras and cars and things like that, because I'm a gadget girl, and I think I I might have inherited that from that side of my family.
00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:45.839
I well, I I I love that answer because yeah, you think about the kind of the trajectory of uh just technology through the 1900s, right?
00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:48.160
Like it's crazy how far we've come.
00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:49.119
Yeah.
00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:56.640
So, well, that's and that what a cool legacy too, and to have it be family and right, you know, kind of see where where did we cut where did I come from?
00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.680
Who are these people?
00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.039
That's great.
00:28:59.279 --> 00:28:59.599
All right.
00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:02.960
Well, Meredith, this has been a just a delight to talk with you.
00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:08.480
Um for those who might want to connect with you or learn more from you, where should they turn?
00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:11.279
The best place would be my YouTube channel.
00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:14.640
If you just search my name on YouTube, you'll you'll find it.
00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:19.359
Um I have I already mentioned my Crush It on Camera series there.
00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:20.480
It's six videos.
00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:28.720
I might have even added some more videos since then to help you look good, sound good, and then feel good on camera.
00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:38.319
And I have a couple other videos there that are really great for starting a channel, growing your audience with your content if you're into you know growing your YouTube channel.
00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:58.480
And then if you have, if you're a course creator or you have programs or you work with clients, I have a whole system on there with a video that explains how to set up your YouTube channel so that you can attract those like sales and your clients and customers with YouTube once you're comfortable being on camera.
00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.319
Fantastic.
00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:03.039
Well, Meredith, we like to end the show the same way.
00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:06.079
We always ask our guests to give us their final take.
00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:08.720
So, Meredith, what is your final take?
00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:18.000
My final take is deliberate practice is going to make you feel more comfortable and confident on camera.
00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:30.400
And that's going to come off to your viewer and your audience, no matter who's watching your videos, so that they feel invited and welcome and want to watch more of your content.
00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:32.319
Fantastic.
00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:35.039
Well, thank you so much for joining me in the Visual Lounge.
00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:36.480
Thanks for having me.
00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.279
You bet.
00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:41.200
All right, everybody, as we wrap up today's show, thanks to Meredith.
00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:44.480
What a great advice that deliberate practice is so important.
00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:52.079
And YouTube, video creation, let me tell you that people definitely have talent to do this, but they don't need the talent necessarily.
00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:56.880
They need practice, to build the skills because you can be successful.
00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:58.720
That's what we're all about at the digital level.
00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:09.359
Figure out how you can get it better, all the things that you're doing to make it be successful as a content creator, as a YouTuber, as a video maker, whatever it is, a video.
00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:14.640
So we hope you take a little time to level up every single day.
00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:16.160
Thanks, everybody.
00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:18.160
Deliberate practice is going to make you feel more comfortable and confident on camera, and that's going to come off to your viewer and your audience, no matter who's watching your videos, so that they feel invited and welcome and want to watch more of your content.
00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:23.600
Good morning, good evening, good afternoon, wherever you are and wherever you're watching from.
00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:30.879
My name is Matt Pierce, host of the Visual Lounge, and today we're gonna be talking about something I think a lot of you have had to come face to face with.
00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:33.039
The reality of being on camera.
00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:39.359
It's not always easy, it's not always comfortable, but there are things you can do to get better, and our guest today is gonna help us out.
00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:41.520
So let's go ahead and introduce her.
00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:48.719
Meredith Marsh specializes in helping online business owners shine on camera and become the go-to expert in their niches.
00:00:49.039 --> 00:00:54.560
With over two decades of experience online, Meredith has mastered the art of teaching video creation from recording to editing.
00:00:54.719 --> 00:01:03.920
She's a creative mind behind the YouTube concept and the inventor of the Set It and Forget It YouTube funnel, empowering entrepreneurs to leverage video for automated sales.
00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:15.280
As the founder of YouTube Brand Academy and creator of courses like 30 Days to a Thriving YouTube channel, Meredith guides her students to video marketing success with enthusiasm and authenticity.
00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:23.519
When she's not helping others look good, sound good, and feel good on camera, Meredith enjoys life in upstate New York with her husband and their two teenage daughters.
00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:27.599
With that said, please help me welcome Meredith Marsh to the Visual Lounge.
00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:29.599
Hey Matt, thanks for having me.
00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:31.599
Meredith, thank you so much for being here.
00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:40.480
I always love when uh someone connects me with great people who have great ideas and thoughts and um feel very privileged to be able to have you here on the show today.
00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:42.319
I'm so excited to be here.
00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:43.439
What's one tip?
00:01:43.519 --> 00:01:56.959
If we just have to start with like a tip about making image using video for the business and workplace, what's one thing you would recommend to this audience about like that they could just do to get you know incrementally better in using video?
00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:11.840
Uh well, I think most people would say practice, but I think this is gonna sound weird, but practice talking to yourself off camera, like throughout the day or in the car by yourself.
00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:26.400
When you practice talking about the topics that you would talk about on camera out loud, I think it really just sort of primes your brain to feel normal and natural talking out loud to yourself and then to a camera.
00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:29.520
I I love that because I I've heard a lot of tips, right?
00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:40.000
And that's one that is very practical and yeah, it makes sense because uh I think it was, I don't know if you knew, uh I think it was either uh Tim Schmoyer or maybe it was uh another YouTube creator.
00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:45.199
I'm trying Andrew Kahn or Andrew Kahn, he said that like he's like, it's not natural to talk to a camera.
00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:49.520
There's nothing natural about this, but making it feel a little bit more natural.
00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:50.159
That's that's it.
00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:56.479
Yeah, I think you can kind of trick your brain into thinking, yeah, this is a totally normal thing that we're doing here.
00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:02.560
I guess just be mindful of where you're doing if you're walking down the street talking to yourself, then it's gonna look a little strange.
00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:06.080
So, Meredith, I want to talk about getting better on camera.
00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:07.439
You've got a lot of experience.
00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:11.439
Obviously, you have a presence about you, you've got your setup, you look good.
00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:15.840
Um why, first of all, why do you think people struggle with this?
00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:17.599
Like, why we talked about it's not natural.
00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:20.560
Is there anything why is it so hard to do this well?
00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:27.120
There's a lot of moving parts um to to creating videos.
00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:39.520
Like, you know, even if you don't want to have a fancy camera and lights and like a fancy microphone and stuff, there's still a lot of moving parts to like what software am I using?
00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:40.479
How am I recording?
00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:42.080
How to do it on my phone.
00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:55.840
And I think a lot of people struggle with the fact that what what we see when we're watching other people on camera in a video, what we see is edited, usually for the most part.
00:03:55.919 --> 00:04:09.759
Um, and you know, people who can pull off like a live stream or something that's unedited but still uh, you know, intriguing to watch, I think have some natural talent and probably some experience under their belt.
00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:15.439
Uh, but what you see, like if you look at my channel, if you look at your channel, it's edited.
00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:42.240
And so I think there's like this sense when you're trying to make videos that it has to be, I have to make it perfect, it has to sound cohesive and coherent coming out of my mouth, because that's what you see, but you don't realize that like I restart my sentences 17 times in every video that I have, it just gets edited out and I edit it so that it looks coherent and cohesive.
00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:50.399
Um, and so it's like it's this case of, you know, sometimes people say, like, don't compare your beginning to somebody else's middle.
00:04:50.560 --> 00:05:06.800
And I think that happens a lot with video where you see what other people are doing and you think, oh, my video has to be at that level, and you don't realize that they they edited their video to look like it's at that level.
00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:12.480
Yeah, I I love that advice that don't compare your beginning to the middle just because, yeah, everyone's on a journey.
00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:19.600
You've been doing this for a while, I've been doing this for a while, but and it's not it's not the same when you start, right?
00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:27.040
So as you as you think about this process, so let's say someone comes to you and says, Meredith, I I really want to do more on camera.
00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:29.279
I want to be on camera more, right?
00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:37.519
And and they are they're seeing that middle and they're saying, like, I know I'm not gonna be there at day one, but what's that first starting point?
00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:44.319
What's the first thing you would recommend to someone to do to help them to start to move towards their own middle?
00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:46.560
That's a great question.
00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:51.839
I what worked for me uh when I first started, I was not an on-camera person.
00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:54.160
Like I never wanted to be on camera.
00:05:54.399 --> 00:06:00.079
I just essentially emulated what I saw other people doing.
00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:04.000
And I thought, well, I'll just emulate what they're doing.
00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:10.800
And and I fell into the trap of what has to be perfect, and the words have to come out of my mouth perfectly every time.
00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:23.120
Um, and then I learned, oh, I can edit all that stuff out, and you know, and that sort of changed my workflow a little bit and helped me to relax when it was actually time to record.
00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:31.199
But I would just look at the people that I was watching on YouTube, how did they, how did they stand?
00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:37.680
How like were they locked eyes with the camera the whole time, or were they looking off, or were they reading from a script?
00:06:38.000 --> 00:07:09.360
Um, and I just I guess sort of like took mental notes on what I saw other people doing, people that I admired and trusted um and wanted to, you know, I saw them at their middle and wanted to be at that level, and just kind of like emulated that, sort of pretended, like if I knew what I was doing on camera, if I if I like what would what would I do if I knew, you know, like can you pretend to know what you're doing and just try it?
00:07:09.839 --> 00:07:30.399
And um, I was really surprised when I first started when I would watch my videos back, that I did sort of feel like I was coming off as like still my authentic self, but this kind of like new level of an on-camera version of my authentic self.
00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:41.920
So emulating other people helped me to pretend to know what I was doing enough to do it and see it and then feel comfortable with it moving forward.
00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:49.279
Yeah, this might be a a little bit obscure, but I'm thinking there's that Shakespeare quote, and I I I had a look to make sure I got it right.
00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:55.680
But what what where uh is it, what ere thou art, act well thy part, kind of thing, right?
00:07:55.759 --> 00:08:00.240
So if you want to be like these people, first act like it, right?
00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:01.279
I think that's great advice.
00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:02.639
Like look at what what you like.
00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:05.279
If I want to be like Meredith, what does Meredith do?
00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:12.959
And just try to emulate those things as a start, and then then I'm guessing you become kind of find who you are, right?
00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:15.199
Like exactly, yeah, yeah.
00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:36.639
And it gets easier over time, but I think there is also a component of like uh like deliberately improving or deliberately getting you know to where you do feel like you're speaking authentically, using your personality.
00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:43.360
Um and instead of just like it's not really practice makes perfect, it's like deliberate practice makes perfect.
00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:54.879
I think there's a quote in there about that, probably not from Shakespeare, but um there's a quote in like intentional deliberate practice and trying to uh you know improve over time.
00:08:55.039 --> 00:09:04.559
And then it's sort of snowballs, like the more comfortable you are, the more comfortable you become, and then the more comfortable you are, then the more comfortable you become.
00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:09.679
And I think that comfortableness comes off on camera.
00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:14.000
Like I've watched people's videos where they clearly are not comfortable.
00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:27.279
It's kind of like watching somebody speak on stage for the first time and they've never done it, and they, you know, they have a great personality and they have great content, but they're not totally comfortable on stage.
00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:32.559
And so it it sort of like oozes into the audience a little bit, you know?
00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:36.639
It's like, oh man, they're making me feel uncomfortable because they're uncomfortable.
00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:46.080
And I think that can happen on camera, um, which is why that deliberate practice comes in.
00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:53.120
It's not just about improving, but it's like you know, when it looks better, you're gonna feel better about creating it.
00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:53.840
Yeah.
00:09:54.080 --> 00:10:00.240
Well, I want to ask you a question because you've you've you've mentioned a couple of times about, you know, the reality is that you can edit.
00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:04.320
You can fix kind of the the idea is you can fix problems, right?
00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:08.639
It what you mentioned 17, 17, it takes 17 takes, which I get.
00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:09.919
I've definitely been there.
00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:15.919
It's one of the things about being a uh on a podcast, though I don't give myself a lot of allowances for editing because I'm lazy.
00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:29.600
But um, but I I want to talk about that because I think there's some some skills there that are like like it's one thing to say something 17 times, and then in in editing, it can still feel choppy or it can feel hard to put together.
00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:31.279
And I've definitely experienced that.
00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:35.440
I know um trying to piece two things together that maybe I didn't think through.
00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:46.000
So do you have any advice on how to in that process of knowing like I'm gonna edit this, I can I can fix things, but are there things that you've done to allow it to make that easier?
00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:48.639
Because I look, editing's hard.
00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:50.799
Uh, you know, every everyone can do it.
00:10:50.879 --> 00:11:01.279
It's a skill that can be learned, but I feel like sometimes it's like, gosh, I don't want to spend 10 hours trying to figure out how to edit this thing to work when I could have, if I just would have said it right the first time.
00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:02.720
Yeah.
00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:11.440
Um what I my best advice for editing is to to follow something I call the BFF method.
00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:20.879
And um, I mean, I like to think I'm people's video BFF, but BFF actually stands for basic, fine-tune, and fancy.
00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:29.039
And so this is like the workflow that I use because sometimes, you know, I record something and I just want to get it published.
00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:39.679
And there's a balance between do I spend the 10 hours to really make this really polished and really good and really edited, or is it good enough to go out as it is?
00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:48.879
And so the BFF method is is sort of like a filter to figure out just how much editing do I have to do here.
00:11:49.279 --> 00:12:02.639
So pretty much, even if I don't make any mistakes, there's still a little bit of editing, like at the very beginning of a recording or the very end, or a lot of times there is the places where I start my sentence 17 times.
00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:04.559
So that just gets cut out.
00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:15.840
And as long as you can find those places, it's easy to just go in and make a cut, make a cut, and then select and delete, like in any editing program.
00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.600
It's pretty simple.
00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:22.559
And then um, so basic is kind of doing those basic cuts.
00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:30.320
Fine-tuning is where you might go into where you made those cuts and zoom way, way, way in so you can see the waveforms.
00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:40.000
And then just make sure there's no like weird, awkward dead space between one clip and the next clip, which this is a really, I think, common.
00:12:40.639 --> 00:13:01.919
I don't I don't know that I would necessarily call it a mistake, but it's a common area that could be easily polished that I see in videos where there's just enough empty dead frames where to the viewer it looks like you were just kind of staring at the camera for a moment before you were talking.
00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:17.679
And if you if you eliminate that dead space, your video can sort of appear like it hasn't even been edited because the cuts just kind of like one flows right into the other, um, without having like an obvious jarring cut.
00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:27.519
So the fine-tuning phase is where I just sort of like clean things up, add any lower thirds like my name or background music if I'm adding background music.
00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:37.440
Um, and then fancy is like transitions and like a bunch of b-roll and animations and text on the screen.
00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:47.840
And a lot of people get so hung up on those kinds of things at the beginning because I I don't know, because it looks like wow, this video is so polished.
00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:56.000
I've got text here and there, and all these animations and transitions, and that's what you maybe that's what you see your favorite YouTuber doing.
00:13:56.159 --> 00:14:00.960
But those are the things that take so much time to figure out.
00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:07.919
Like you have to learn how to do it, then you have to take the time to put it in and make decisions about where does it go?
00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:23.039
And a lot of people focus their time on that kind of like fancy stuff that doesn't really add to the value of the content of the video, and then just it takes extra time to create.
00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:28.320
So that's the BFF method, basic, fine-tune, and fancy.
00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:32.159
Yeah, I well I love that, and that's very practical.
00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:42.559
And I I know we have a lot of internal conversations about as we're making our content, you know, like there's there's this push for a little bit more kind of more perfect, kind of higher quality content.
00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:50.879
But then like when you look at social media in particular, uh, it's like, well, gosh, does it need to be, does it need to be that perfect?
00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:54.000
Can we just put it out the door if it's on going on the TikTok or whatever?
00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:57.360
And so I love that that gives that a structure and kind of consideration.
00:14:57.919 --> 00:15:05.519
So from a from a consideration of if I'm thinking about those people who are saying, Meredith, I hear you.
00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:11.519
I I have a desire, but I'm just not I'm not in a place where I want to be on camera.
00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:13.360
I don't, I don't even want to hear my voice.
00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:19.679
Like, I don't like I don't like the way I look, I don't like the way I sound, and I know some of that's probably a that's a personal thing, right?
00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:23.440
Like we gotta work through our own kind of our own self-worth here.
00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:38.960
Um But for those people who are struggling, but they they've got good ideas, they got good content, what what advice do you give to them who are like, oh, just really caught up on it's not it's not about the mechanics of recording, it's just I I know what I look like.
00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:39.759
Let's let's be honest.
00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:42.080
If you're watching this on YouTube, I know what I look like, guys.
00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:42.720
Trust me.
00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:51.360
Uh so what what do you say to those those individuals who are just in that position where maybe it's part of their job and they're being asked to do it?
00:15:52.080 --> 00:16:08.320
Yeah, you know, one of the things that often my like clients and students will tell me is I can talk to people on a Zoom call with my camera on, but when it's just me and a camera, I freeze.
00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:13.759
And so, I mean, the simple solution to that is so just record it like it's a Zoom call.
00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:15.759
You could even record it on Zoom.
00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:22.159
You know, these days we have ways of connecting a fancy camera, if you have one, to a Zoom.
00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:24.639
Um, or even just use your iPhone.
00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:26.720
Can that can be connected to your Zoom too?
00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:29.759
So you're not just using like a grainy webcam.
00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:31.919
And just do it on Zoom then.
00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:47.759
Pretend you are on Zoom or get a friend or colleague, you know, if this is like a work situation, get a coworker to ask you questions that you can then answer, that you can then edit together into a cohesive video.
00:16:48.240 --> 00:17:01.840
Because if that's where you feel the most authentic and the most comfortable on a Zoom call, having a conversation and delivering value that way, then you're you're already like there.
00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:06.240
You just need to record it and turn it into a video.
00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:09.920
Yeah, I I I love that advice.
00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:15.599
Uh one more question about being on camera, and then we'll we can move into some uh kind of our other parts of the show.
00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:27.119
But I I'm curious, one of the things uh, and and I guess anytime anyone that's listening to this show for a long time, uh and you might have already noticed I'm I am either all in on energy or like not.
00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:30.240
And I think one of the things is modulating the energy sometimes.
00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:44.079
Um and it can be, it can, it can be draining, I think, to to put yourself in a situation where you're recording, especially if you're doing it often, or uh maybe you're doing a lot of like takes or you're doing a lot of different videos kind of in a batch production situation.
00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:52.640
What are some things that you do to help just kind of make sure that your your energy is staying up, uh, that you're staying kind of because it is about being on, right?
00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:55.519
Like there's no doubt you have to be on for the camera.
00:17:55.759 --> 00:18:03.119
It's it is a you know, you don't I I I I don't know how else to explain it, but it's like uh how how do you do that?
00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.720
What are things that you do to help you with that?
00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:10.880
Because it can be so just tiring and draining after if you're not, you know, if you haven't figured that part out.
00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:11.680
Yeah.
00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:13.200
Oh, this is so good.
00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:19.759
So, you know, uh people used to say about television that the camera adds 10 pounds or something like that.
00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:23.200
I don't know if that's true, but I hope it's not true for YouTube.
00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:29.359
But um I like to say the camera like drains like half of your energy.
00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:36.400
So what when you're recording, you might feel like, oh I'm this is just my natural energy level.
00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:48.400
But then when you go and look at it when you're like editing, it's sort of like a little bit slow, a little bit uh sluggish, a little bit low energy, forgetting to smile, things like that.
00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:57.200
Because like when you're comfortable, you're you're not necessarily high energy smiling, like shining for the camera.
00:18:57.599 --> 00:19:07.920
So I think there's a little balance there between being comfortable, but also, like you said, being on and bringing the energy up a little bit.
00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:21.839
For me, badging videos is sort of like my Achilles heel as a content creator because I don't have energy to create multiple videos in a day.
00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:44.000
And uh several months ago, like about a year ago, I created a whole series on my channel called the Crush It on Camera series, and I made a goal to I'm going to plan like thumbnails, script titles, descriptions, record and edit these six videos in one week.
00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:50.799
And the day that I recorded, I was like, well, this is never happening again.
00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:55.920
And it felt great to have them all done because I had six weeks of content all recorded.
00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:03.839
Um, but when I was editing them, I could see by like the fourth video, fifth video, and then the sixth video definitely.
00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:23.119
And if you go watch the series on my channel, the sixth video is like, hey, it's Meredith and blah blah blah, and there's no smile, my face is totally flat, and I didn't realize it when I was recording, or else I would have like gone to take a walk or to take a break.
00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:25.839
Let's finish the rest of these tomorrow or something.
00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:31.599
Uh, but it wasn't until I was editing that I was like, oh wow, these are like really low energy.
00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:37.920
So I think three videos for me is probably the max for one day.
00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:46.079
And um, so now that I know that I can take breaks and plan to not do more than that in a day.
00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:54.480
But when I first started, I I thought that being comfortable on camera meant being like physically comfortable.
00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:58.640
So I recorded my first videos like sitting on my couch.
00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:13.359
And then when I went to watch them back and edit them, I was like, I look like I look like I don't even really want to be on camera because well, I was brand new and I really didn't know what I was doing.
00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:21.759
But I then heard somebody say, and I think it was John Lee Doumas, was talking about podcasting, and he said he records standing up.
00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:25.359
And that was just like audio only for him back in the day.
00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.319
And I'm like, what?
00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:27.359
That's crazy.
00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:29.440
He stands up all day to record.
00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:32.960
So I tried it for my next group of videos.
00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:39.119
Uh, and it was amazing how much more energy I had standing up.
00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:43.200
So I think there's something about I love tricking the brain.
00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:52.880
I think you're sort of tricking your brain into thinking you're saying something important because people who say important things and speeches and things, they're always standing.
00:21:53.279 --> 00:22:07.279
And so what you say is important, it matters, people want to hear it, and um, just the Ability to kind of move around slightly, not a bunch, not walking around, but just slight body movement.
00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:17.359
I think helps you to just naturally uh relax and be in the energy of okay, I'm on, I'm creating a video now.
00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:23.200
And so I don't have to stand up anymore to, I mean, I'm not standing up right now.
00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:34.799
I think I've just learned to take take that energy and put it into my face and my body is sitting down, and it's just been like a practice and experience thing.
00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:45.680
But I do have to consciously think about it sometimes to like, okay, we're recording a video, so make sure we smile, make sure we're engaging with the camera here.
00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:52.880
Um, because like you pointed out at the earlier, it's not natural, it's really not natural to talk to a camera.
00:22:53.039 --> 00:23:03.519
So I think tricking the brain um sort of helps it to be high energy so the viewer feels like they are engaging with you when they're watching your videos.
00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:10.559
Yeah, so I I I love the idea of physicality changing like you know, like how you sit or how you're standing doing those things.
00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:11.680
That's that's really great.
00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:12.880
Um, I will show you.
00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:20.640
Uh we had a guest on the podcast and he talked about making, I think he was making like 200 videos for like a big, big course, right?
00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:28.880
And uh one of the things that he said that has stuck with me that I think is interesting about you're talking about your six videos, he said that he didn't record them in order.
00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.880
I was like, well, right?
00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:38.480
So that way he's like, and he's like, I knew he saved his intro and his exit videos for like the highest energy, like where he was being really good.
00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:40.960
And I thought, oh, that's I never thought of that.
00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:42.640
That was that's just brilliant, right?
00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:47.759
Like put them in different orders so that the energy it can ebb and flow a little bit differently.
00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:53.279
But that that's a great idea, and actually I've done that before with individual videos.
00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:59.519
Like I'll record the beginning of the video, then record the meet of the video, then the end.
00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:10.079
And sometimes I will go back and say, you know what, now that I'm in my energy, let's re-re-record this intro and see if maybe it's a little better than the first time I ran it through.
00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:15.200
And so when I'm editing, I'll just sort of compare and take the better take.
00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:32.240
Uh, but there was a time where I did that on purpose because again, when I was editing, I would go, wow, this is like a really dry, low energy open here for the very first part of the video, which is probably not the greatest strategy.
00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:40.000
So I would deliberately not record an intro at all until I was done recording the rest.
00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:47.119
And uh and that really helped, but it was it was again, it's like the deliberate practice.
00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:53.119
Since I had that deliberate improvement, intentional improvement.
00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:58.319
Now I just know I can just sort of flip a switch and turn the energy on.
00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:05.279
But it took the deliver deliberate improvement to get to that place where I was, you know, then able to trick my brain.
00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:05.839
Yeah.
00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:08.400
Beauty of nonlinear editing, right?
00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:11.680
You can you can record in any way you want and put it together.
00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:14.240
So well, Meredith, this has been awesome.
00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:17.839
I've got I've taken away a few ideas and tips, and I'm hoping our audience has too.
00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:21.440
But we're gonna move into our speed round questions for those who are new to the show.
00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:25.680
Quick questions with quick answers determined by the roll of a die.
00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:27.039
So we're gonna play a little stinger.
00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:27.920
Here we go.
00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:33.920
All right, so I am such a nerd.
00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:35.599
I have a 12-sided die, Meredith.
00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:38.319
We're gonna roll this, and we've got 12 potential questions.
00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:41.119
So the first one is question number three.
00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.799
Uh, this is this is a good one.
00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:47.759
If if you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would that advice be?
00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:51.359
Oh boy, how young are we talking?
00:25:52.799 --> 00:26:00.079
Um I would say people want to hear what you have to say.
00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:08.079
Even if it doesn't seem that way, the people who do want to hear what you have to say will find you.
00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:10.400
That's what I would tell my younger self.
00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.599
I I love that.
00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:14.640
That's that is great advice because yeah, you've you've got a voice.
00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:16.160
Obviously, people want to listen to you.
00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:18.799
You've got a successful channel and platforms.
00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:22.400
And if you could have started maybe five years earlier, right?
00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:24.240
How much better would that even be?
00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.039
Right.
00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:25.920
Awesome.
00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:27.680
All right, let's move on to our next question here.
00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:30.079
Second roll of the die, as long as it's not a three.
00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:32.799
We're just gonna go right up, we're just numbering up right here.
00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:34.000
Number four.
00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:39.519
Uh, what's your guilty pleasure song or movie that you secretly love?
00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:43.359
Well, it can't be too secret because you won't tell us that, but oh man.
00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.039
Secretly love.
00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:50.000
I love period films and shows.
00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:59.200
So, like Downton Abbey is my comfort show, and I just need something to watch that's kind of like light and easy.
00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:04.000
And um yeah, that's my go-to is Downton Abbey.
00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:05.440
One more question here.
00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.160
Here we go.
00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.359
Roll of the die.
00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:11.759
And we can't do four again unless you have another movie, but I doubt it.
00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.839
Uh okay, question one.
00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:19.279
Ooh, this one tip people typically have a little bit of they struggle because it's a little harder question.
00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:29.119
If you could have dinner, okay, you're gonna have dinner with anyone, historical or living, doesn't matter, who would it be and why?
00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:39.759
Okay, I have been asked this question before on a podcast, and the answer I gave surprised the host.
00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:41.599
So I'm gonna use the same answer.
00:27:42.160 --> 00:28:05.119
Hopefully, it doesn't have to be somebody like famous, because I would have dinner with my great-great grandparents because um they had like a general store in this like super small town at the turn of the century, and they were really my great-great-grandfather was into like gadgets and things.
00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:09.599
He had a camera way before cameras were mainstream.
00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:37.599
Like I have pictures of my relatives from the 1800s, and um I I would just want to have a conversation about how cool it must have been to be able to just kind of play with these new gadgets and technology that were emerging, like cameras and cars and things like that, because I'm a gadget girl, and I think I I might have inherited that from that side of my family.
00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:45.839
I well, I I I love that answer because yeah, you think about the kind of the trajectory of uh just technology through the 1900s, right?
00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:48.160
Like it's crazy how far we've come.
00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:49.119
Yeah.
00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:56.640
So, well, that's and that what a cool legacy too, and to have it be family and right, you know, kind of see where where did we cut where did I come from?
00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.680
Who are these people?
00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.039
That's great.
00:28:59.279 --> 00:28:59.599
All right.
00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:02.960
Well, Meredith, this has been a just a delight to talk with you.
00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:08.480
Um for those who might want to connect with you or learn more from you, where should they turn?
00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:11.279
The best place would be my YouTube channel.
00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:14.640
If you just search my name on YouTube, you'll you'll find it.
00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:19.359
Um I have I already mentioned my Crush It on Camera series there.
00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:20.480
It's six videos.
00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:28.720
I might have even added some more videos since then to help you look good, sound good, and then feel good on camera.
00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:38.319
And I have a couple other videos there that are really great for starting a channel, growing your audience with your content if you're into you know growing your YouTube channel.
00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:58.480
And then if you have, if you're a course creator or you have programs or you work with clients, I have a whole system on there with a video that explains how to set up your YouTube channel so that you can attract those like sales and your clients and customers with YouTube once you're comfortable being on camera.
00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.319
Fantastic.
00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:03.039
Well, Meredith, we like to end the show the same way.
00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:06.079
We always ask our guests to give us their final take.
00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:08.720
So, Meredith, what is your final take?
00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:18.000
My final take is deliberate practice is going to make you feel more comfortable and confident on camera.
00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:30.400
And that's going to come off to your viewer and your audience, no matter who's watching your videos, so that they feel invited and welcome and want to watch more of your content.
00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:32.319
Fantastic.
00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:35.039
Well, thank you so much for joining me in the Visual Lounge.
00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:36.480
Thanks for having me.
00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.279
You bet.
00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:41.200
All right, everybody, as we wrap up today's show, thanks to Meredith.
00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:44.480
What a great advice that deliberate practice is so important.
00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:52.079
And YouTube, video creation, let me tell you that people definitely have talent to do this, but they don't need the talent necessarily.
00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:56.880
They need practice, to build the skills because you can be successful.
00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:58.720
That's what we're all about at the digital level.
00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:09.359
Figure out how you can get it better, all the things that you're doing to make it be successful as a content creator, as a YouTuber, as a video maker, whatever it is, a video.
00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:14.640
So we hope you take a little time to level up every single day.
00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:16.160
Thanks, everybody.
