It seems everyone picked up a hobby or new gig during 2020. One thing I started doing a lot more of was that of teleprompter operator for corporate video production projects and I am here to share with you why I absolutely love it.
First of all, let me tell you what a teleprompter is. A teleprompter is a device that displays a script in front of the camera lens. It is used to help the talent or presenter read their lines smoothly and with confidence. As a teleprompter operator, my job is to control the speed of the script and make sure it is synced up with the talent’s delivery.
That’s the easy part.
The FUN part is interacting with the guests, helping them learn how to comfortably and confidently read the prompter so it doesn’t look like they’re reading.
THAT is the fun part.
And getting to directly be an advocate for the person on screen, reading the lines – as a teleprompter operator in Minneapolis and St Paul (the largest Twin Cities metro in Minnesota) means I have been on some exciting events and prompted for some big name people.
Sure – the celebrities are cool but it’s more of a sense of honor. It’s an honor to make their experience smooth as butter.
And it’s so rewarding hearing people say stuff like “we need a teleprompter for all our events!” or “why didn’t we have a teleprompter last year? We need a teleprompter for all our galas!” – and I hear those lines all the time from people reading from my presidential style teleprompters which I own and operate at live event galas. It’s a high for sure.
When the talent is reading from a teleprompter, they can focus on their performance and delivery, rather than worrying about memorizing lines or stumbling over words. As a video producer – I own a video production company in Minneapolis MN and 100% know the costs involved when people can’t remember their lines and we have to do take after take just to get something useable.
In the end, when someone struggles just to remember what words to say – they don’t have the same energy to focus on HOW they deliver those lines. As a prompter operator, it’s a “small” job on set but this little thing can make the entire production process much smoother and more efficient.
As part of the camera crew, my job is also important because it helps keep everything on schedule. With a teleprompter, the talent can get through their lines quickly and accurately, which means less time spent on re-takes and editing – More time spent on refining their actual expressions and delivery.
This can save a lot of time and money in the long run.
But the best part of my job is seeing the final product – which for galas and live events is immediate.
When the talent delivers their lines flawlessly and the people in the room are smiling, laughing, crying, and the livestream or recorded video looks polished and professional, it is a great feeling to know that I played a part in making that happen.