Filming client feedback over zoom - a few basics..

Just one quick thing to get our of the way...

I have a podcast (yep another one). But I'd be a phoney if I made yet another self help show that even I couldn't be fussed watching. So I asked my coaching friends a bunch of 'what if' stuff about the Matrix, Zombies, Being John Malkovic and other random questions often inspired by the last thing I was watching. Unlike when I record people's clients at home, and obsess over how things are set up, I'm always filming this from some local bar in Gozo, so don't mind the fact I personally look ghastly at the best of times. Link is via the image below, subscribe if you want.

Now in true hypocritical fashion (given the above), lets move onto some stuff you should and shouldn't do when filming clients over zoom. You might know most of this yet there might be a trick you've missed, and even seasoned pro's can mess up at the key moment.

1) Do tell your client to find a quiet place, ALONE.

People can often hide off screen, lying in wait for the worst moment to start making a racket, when your client is ready to make that awesome sales winning remark about your service. And by that point it might be too late and awkward to have them move. If in doubt, ask. Pets you don't need to ask; they need to go. Cute doesn't pay the bills (sorry kitty).

2) Tell them to tell everyone else, to not disturb them.

Just like the above; you don't want someone crashing in whilst your client is in mid sentence yelling, "What do yer want for tea luv?".

3) Ask them to mute their phones and their laptops before filming.

Think this sounds obvious? Trust me this happens more than you'd realise. Mostly with laptops. Busy business owners get lots of emails and for some reason never switch off that ping sound, which is a doubly bad thing because it nudges their focus from your question to "What could that be? Is it urgent? Has my factory been invaded by an army of ravenous feral cats?".

Check again just before shooting that they've done . Laptops might be more tricky. But most of the time they should figure it out.

4) Film during daylight if you can.

I'm aware we can't always do this, but ask for it where possible. Otherwise ask the client that they film in a place with good lighting. Aside from looking worse, bad lighting makes people's lips seem to move slower than their words.

5) Aim for a medium close up.

Ah the MCU, that safest and most pedestrian of things in the movies, aside from Marvel. I'm taking the not very exciting framing of the camera subject from the shirt pocket (or same kind of hight) upwards. Avoid spaghetti western close ups. Leave enough room for captions at the bottom; you might want them later.

6) Try to avoid having a light source on screen (if you can).

Apart from distracting viewers' eyes, windows and naked bulbs can drive your clients' cameras mad and make them do strange stuff, as making the screen brightness go up and down) that takes the focus away from the lovely things they are saying about you. Windows can black out your client, making it hard to see their face, making it in turn harder for viewers to trust their word. It might be arty, but it aint helpful.

7) Don't let your client sit next to a window's side...

This is a great portrait (by someone called Lindsay Adler). But this is not how your client should look on camera. If this was a feedback video I'd be worried something sinister is going on. Films and TV have conditioned us to think that way. Also it's just bloody distracting.

8) Film your client in Zoom's split view mode.

DON'T FILM IN SPEAKER VIEW. If you do then your lovely face is going to be on screen for the first few seconds every time your client speaks. Which is weird; imagine someone else speaking with your voice. Film instead in split view, because you can crop the image later (using many apps), without losing any pixels (split view is 2x the resolution of speaker view).

9) No virtual backgrounds (Unless their room looks like a tip).

First, it can distract viewers from your clients praise when a virtual background is doing weird things to the screen, such as making jagged edges around their body, blending into their clothes (and maybe worse their face), overwhelming us with bright colours, or more sneaky pushing their brand logo. As for the last one; I wouldn't allow it. Who are they doing this for; you or them? And no roll up banners in the background either. No. No. No. No. No. Don't be telling them they can use this is a chance to promote themselves. It never works and they shouldn't be doing it eiher.

10) If you know their sound and video is awful, get them to use their phone

But have them prop it up, don't have them holding it (god forbid). I'd rather have a lower angle (wellquite not up their nose), than awful video and sound. Just get them to install zoom on their phone or tablet if they don't have it. It's not so hard these days, people are getting a bit savvier. Just make sure they have the screen horizontal.

11) If your client does use a laptop, avoid super low angles with books if needs be. No client wants to look like an actor from the Blair Witch Project.

12) Ask clients in advance if they have mic'd earphones.

This ALWAYS sounds better, and makes it less likely your clients best praise will not suffer from strange feedback, a weak voice, or something going on next door.

Right that's enough free stuff. Want it done for you or your clients? DM me. Want me to present for your team or event? DM me. Want me to consult as to how this could best work for your company? DM me (You get the drill by now). My own work and client feedback is on my profile's featured section.

The quicker you start the more leads you convert. See you abouts.

Tommi