Public Speaking: The Art of Clear Stage & Camera Communication

Today’s business world demands that you perform exceptionally well on camera (Zoom, Google Meet and other platforms.) Hybrid work environments are growing. How you appear and sound on camera matters more than ever. In addition TED Talk style speaking engagements are fast growing, in particular at conventions and you’re ability to capture, hold and motivate an audience is a skill you need.

What SVA offers:

A three-week program for business who want to train their employees in the art of communication.

Week 1: Two hours online training. We will cover camera technique, setting up your workspace professionally, how to engage everyone in the meeting/conference with or without their cameras on.

Week 2: Two hours either online or in-person at your place of business. We will cover stage techniques. How to “read” the audience, capture focus on stage and engage the audience so well it feels just like a TED Talk. And for those who wish to do TED talks, this is solid training to create those talks.

Week 3: In-Person at your place of business or a local stage. At this point we bring it all together and each attendee will give a three minute talk, followed by supportive, caring and safe feedback.

For more information on these trainings please contact: shana@shanapenningtonbaird

If you are an individual who would like the same training listed above, we can offer private coaching and teach the same skill set. Please reach out so that we can create a set of lessons for your personal public speaking needs.

The Seattle Voice Academy specializes in effective communication. We help employees, managers and CEOs increase effectiveness by working on a wide range of public speaking concepts, including how to correctly use microphones; how to read from teleprompter and still sound natural; and how to recapture an audience whose attention may be drifting.

We are a collection of working theatre artists and voice-over professionals. However, our day jobs have centered in corporate America and non-profit management. While we teach theatre techniques, we are grounded in corporate terminology so that it translates effectively.

Most meetings are online these days and for the near future, many conferences, meetings and networking events are online through Zoom and other similar platforms.

We teach best practices for how to set up your mic, lighting and camera so that you look and sound professional. We also teach how to focus when you are not speaking. When you are listening you are still on camera, and most likely observed.

Last, we can focus on how to project professional energy into the camera.

Past Clients include:

  • South Lake Union Chamber of Commerce
  • IRG Physical Therapy
  • UW Library Science Department
  • MG2: Global Architecture Design, Strategy & Branding Firm

Book a coaching session.

Dialect work – American dialect adjustment

Professionals who have relocated to America often find themselves challenged at the workplace despite having conversed in English all their lives. One might often encounter the request – “Say that again?!”, leading to confusion and doubt.

Often it takes a bit of time to learn to clarify vowels, practice slight changes to consonants and shift mouth placement.

Clear speech is incredibly important in the workplace. Clear communication is invaluable. Clients hire organizations whose employees communicate with clarity, confidence, and ease.

Often, we are asked how long it takes to make vocal shifts to dialect. Our answer: it depends on how often you practice. As with a new sport, first there is a learning curve, then mastery, after a lot of repetition.

At the Seattle Voice Academy, we can work directly with individuals to support their goals.

Book a coaching session now.