How to Build Confidence Behind the Microphone
It’s estimated that 77% of the population has a fear of public speaking, so if the thought of talking publicly for a living – whether as a DJ, podcaster, or broadcaster – makes you a bit anxious, you’re not alone. The good news is, the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it, and your confidence and speaking skills will grow. Here are some other tips to help you build confidence behind the mic.
Talk about things you’re passionate about
When you’re talking about a topic that you know well and are passionate about, you’ll automatically be more confident about what you’re saying. Pretend you’re just talking to a good friend. You may even get so involved in what you are saying that you forget to be nervous.
Be prepared
“Winging it” is not a good strategy, especially if you feel at all unsure about yourself. While you don’t want to script out everything you say, make sure you know the topic well (or if you are interviewing someone, you know their background). It can be very helpful to write out an outline ahead of time that highlights the key points you want to make, and what you want the audience to take away from your broadcast.
Practice
Before you hit record, you may want to practice your podcast in advance. If you’re interviewing someone, consider having a friend play that role so you can practice how you would respond to different answers. Talking through your topic out loud will help you polish what you plan to say and eliminate some of the ums, errs, and awkward pauses.
Stay calm & positive
Relax, you got this. Help yourself stay calm by getting a good night’s sleep before your broadcast, exercising or doing some meditation to get rid of any jitters, and doing some deep breathing. Also be sure to have water nearby if your mouth starts to dry out, and don’t talk too fast. Take a break when you need to calm yourself if you can. Avoid negative self-talk – you are a rock star!
Get training
Finally, you’ll feel a lot more confident if you get training from an accredited broadcasting school, like the International College of Broadcasting (ICB). At ICB, we offer innovative, hands-on training in Audio and Video Recording, Broadcasting, and Multimedia Production & Broadcasting to prepare you for an awesome career behind the mic. To learn more, contact us or give us a call at 855-896-3733.