Improving Your On-Stream Speaking Skills: Tips and Techniques

 Improving Your On-Stream Speaking Skills: Tips and Techniques

Have you ever found it challenging to speak while live on stream? Don’t worry you are not alone. Even people who seem comfortable on camera have likely practiced for hundreds of hours to get to that point. When you're new to streaming, it's normal to feel self-conscious and struggle with speaking on camera. Even seasoned streamers can fall into common traps, such as speaking too rapidly or feeling nervous about speaking up. These habits can impact the quality of your stream and turn off potential viewers. In this article, we'll share tips and tricks for overcoming these obstacles and improving your streaming skills.

Speaking slowly

As streamers, we may feel nervous when streaming and people come into chat, so much so that we tend to speak too fast. We tend to adopt this behavior when we are concerned about performing poorly in a game and when we aim to appear more professional or believe that slowing down might make our stream presence less engaging. However, speaking too fast can carry some risks. You might say something offensive or spoil a movie or game. You might even unintentionally repeat someone else’s words. It is essential to speak at a reasonable pace and take time to think about what you are saying to avoid any regrets. As a new streamer, you might be so focused on reading chat that you unwillingly allow manipulative chatters to slip offensive messages.  It could be a disguised slur or a spoiler hidden in a long-winded story. They might even bring up a taboo topic without realizing it’s against the rules. To avoid accidentally reading inappropriate comments on stream, take your time and screen the messages before reading them out loud. For more information on this review the article titled Establishing Boundaries for your stream. 

It is crucial to speak at a pace that is slower than your thought process, allowing you to think ahead of what you are saying. While this may seem like an obvious tip, it can be challenging to execute at the moment. I can attest to this as I struggle with it frequently, and I’ve observed other streamers encountering similar difficulties. For example, you might find yourself reading a toxic comment and halfway through abruptly changing the topic out of shame. To avoid these situations, it’s beneficial to practice swiftly reading and internalizing chat messages to yourself before sharing them on stream. By doing this, you can maintain better control over the content you present to your audience. 

Overcoming shyness

Many streamers struggle with shyness when on camera, but there are ways to overcome this challenge. One key approach is to change your mindset. If you find yourself hesitant to speak during your streams, it may be due to overthinking what you want to say and worrying about how it will be perceived by others. To address this, you can work on becoming less self-conscious and allowing your thoughts to flow more freely by changing your mindset. One technique that can be useful in overcoming shyness is to simply take a “Leap without looking” approach. While this may not be advisable when it comes to reading chat, it can be effective when speaking off the cuff. Start by saying whatever comes to mind, without worrying too much about how it will be received. Once you’ve started speaking, your mind will naturally work to fill in the rest of the sentence.  For example, when playing a game like Fortnite, you might ask “What is my best rotation to be ready when I run into enemies?” This open-ended question can lead to all sorts of interesting conversations and ideas. Even if no one responds in chat, you can use this technique to generate entertaining topics to discuss with your audience. 

Ultimately, people tune into your stream because they want to know what you are thinking and feeling. By learning to let go of your self-imposed filter, you can overcome shyness on camera and connect more authentically with your audience. 

Mastering the Art of Commentary

If you find it challenging to keep the commentary flowing during your streams, there's an effective technique you can use known as "connecting the dots." Simply take any topic being discussed in the game or chat and append the phrase "that reminds me" to it. This approach is especially useful when you feel like you're running out of things to say.

For instance, if the chat is discussing the pineapple on pizza debate, you might say, "That reminds me of this fantastic new pizza place I recently discovered," or "Speaking of pizza, it reminds me of the best pizza I've ever had at a place I found while traveling to...". Incorporating connective language, such as linking a chat discussion to a personal anecdote or using other combinations, can create a more cohesive feel to everything on your stream. Having multiple threads to the topics you're discussing will keep your viewers engaged and interested in what you're sharing.

Final thoughts

Speaking on stream can be a daunting task for many streamers. It's common to feel inadequate and embarrassed while comparing your performance to more experienced streamers, which can make it challenging to watch your own content. As a result, you may become discouraged and lose interest in streaming. Nevertheless, practicing consistently is the key to improving your skills. If you struggle with speaking too quickly or slowly, strive to find a happy medium. With dedication and time, you'll become more at ease and confident on stream.