Write the script the way you will say it
Most teleprompter scripts fail because of the writing, not the equipment. Keep sentences short, one idea each. Write the way you talk, not the way you write an email: use contractions and simple words, and put punctuation where you'd naturally take a breath. Read it aloud once before you record. Anything that trips you up the first time will trip you up again on camera.
Read it so it doesn't sound read
What gives a teleprompter away is a flat, word-by-word delivery. Read in phrases: let your eyes run a few words ahead while you say the current one. Put the emphasis where you'd put it in a conversation, not evenly on every word. Pauses are fine. A monotone isn't.
Set the distance and size right
Keep the lens as close to the text as your setup allows, so you look at the camera and not off to the side. Make the font big enough to read at arm's length without squinting. If you find yourself leaning in, it's too small.
Voice-activated vs. a fixed scroll speed
A fixed words-per-minute scroll assumes you never change pace, so a breath or a glance up puts you behind. A voice-activated teleprompter like Atrio listens as you read and moves the line only when you say the words, so a pause doesn't cost you your place. Voice follow runs on the iPhone and is free for your first 3 sessions.
Questions about reading a teleprompter
- How do I read from a teleprompter without sounding robotic?
- Read in phrases, not single words, and let your eyes stay a few words ahead of your voice. Natural emphasis and pauses sound better than a flat, even pace.
- How long should teleprompter sentences be?
- Short, one idea each. Long sentences are harder to read ahead and easier to get lost in.
- What is a good teleprompter scroll speed?
- There isn't one number, because it depends on how fast you talk. A voice-activated teleprompter avoids the question by following your actual pace instead of a fixed setting.
- Can I practice reading a teleprompter for free?
- Yes. Atrio's autoplay and manual scroll are always free, and voice follow is free for your first 3 sessions.