Guests

Be a guest on TechVi! Email booking@techvi.com with some biographical information about who you are, and why your opinions matter, and we'll get you slotted on the show.

Being a good TechVi Guest

So you're booked for the show, but want to know some "best practices" so you look as great as you can on the show, eh? Lucky for you, we've got a list of things to do to be the best on the show.

Assume you're always on camera

It might sound odd, but basically if you're called in, and you've started the show, you should assume that everything you do is seen by everyone watching the show. We're always cutting between camera shots, so even though it might feel like you're not on camera right this second, assume you are on camera.

Look into the lens

Another "it feels funny" practice is looking directly into the lens of the webcam at all times. It's sort of strange to interact with an amorphous circle, but peering into the lens at all times will keep you looking like you're talking directly to our viewers, which is what they're expecting. Looking away for a moment to verify a fact feels natural, but try to keep your eyeballs plastered on your webcam at all times.

"Good enough" audio

Our big bit of guidance is to try to avoid the headset look if at all possible. Our viewers have given us feedback that says it looks odd, and while we appreciate the audio quality, most times people in relatively silent rooms can use a computer's built-in mic with little problems.

If you're planning to try to find the best audio for your computer, look for a "lavalier" mic, which is the mic style that TV anchors typically wear on their lapels. We're using the Samson QL5-CL mic, which is great if you can connect to an XLR style audio connection. If not, any mic that connects to an 1/8" connection (the mic-in port on most computers) should do just fine.

Framing

Keep in mind, we have a "lower third" title that shows your name and publication in the lowest third portion of the screen. Try to frame your shot so your face is clearly visible above the lower third portion of the screen. We prefer a shoulders included medium-length shot.

Lighting

Our biggest bit of advice: Avoid backlight if at all possible. Make sure you're the brightest part of the frame if possible. We're not saying you have to have a lighting grid installed or anything, but choose a background that is more dimly lit than you are.