Don't take chances with important presentations. Use a teleprompter.
Fundraising online is stressful. It helps to maintain eye contact with potential donors while making your appeal.
This blog describes the experience of Mark Lufkin, Senior Development Officer at the Worcester Academy. He used the BigStage Teleprompter app for an alumni fund raising event in recognition of Black History Month and the school's founding in 1834. The fundraiser featured Victor Fields, a Worcester alum. Victor is a critically-acclaimed jazz vocalist who has performed with luminaries including Isaac Hayes, Cameo, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Patti Austin, Regina Belle, and Norman Simmons, and Melba Moore.
Preparing a fundraising script
An onscreen teleprompter runs on your computer screen without the need for any external equipment. A well written script like Mark's shows which phrases to emphasize and where to insert pauses. The script is pasted into the teleprompter window, which is placed next to the browser window running Zoom. This enabled Mark to keep eye contact with viewers who do not see the teleprompter that Mark was using.
Teleprompter script
"My name is Mark Lufkin and I am a member of the advancement team at Alumni House. Thank you so much for participating in tonight’s call as part of a month long celebration of the founding of Worcester Academy and Black History. Worcester Academy, as you know has a long standing history of embracing diversity, equity and inclusion. When we witness events that are counter our values as a community, we act and respond based on our core belief of “achieving the honorable.” The death of George Floyd and subsequent unrest in our country around racial injustice elevated the issue to the center of our consciousness..." - portion of Mark's script that was uploaded into the BigStage Teleprompter.
Watch how Mark's comments scroll in the BigStage Teleprompter at this link.
Maintain eye contact
Position your teleprompter properly
The BigStage Teleprompter runs in its own browser window besides the ZOOM (or WebEx, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet) window. This lets you read the script while still keeping eye contact with your audience who do not see the teleprompter.
Watch Mark's video presentation where he maintains eye contact while reading the script on the teleprompter here.
BigStage Teleprompter
The BigStage Teleprompter is a free web app that runs in a browser window along with Zoom, WebEx, Microsoft Team or Google Meet. The teleprompter can be used on a phone, tablet or computer and supports scripts in English and other languages. The premium version of the app offers advanced features.
Takeaway: Present better on Zoom with the free onscreen BigStage Teleprompter.
Deepak
DemLabs
Image credit: Nappy