Page 29 - March 2020

Prep Time Makes the Difference

James Wantz, DTM

As more clubs are encouraged to have virtual start of the meeting.

meetings (especially with club meetings being Of course, there are issues that will complicate
cancelled due to health concerns) it is important meetings (like my cat walking across my
to develop a virtual routine. When I do a zoom keyboard or loudly insisting that it is dinner
meeting or teleconference, I also have a routine. I time when I am talking) but with a regular

check all my equipment: computer, microphone, pre-meeting routine, you can minimize the effect
& camera—before the meeting (I don’t want my those interruptions will have. . . like feeding the
laptop to update 5 minutes into my presentation cat 15 minutes before the meeting.
—yeah, that’s happened!). As a speaker, develop a pre-speech routine.

Next, I remove distractions from in front Find what works best for you—how you empower
of the camera. The biggest distraction is the yourself, how you psych yourself up, and how to
background behind me. I’ve found that using a use your stage. Once you become comfortable
folding screen is the best way to block out my before a talk, you will present yourself as being,

messy room. I simply put the screen behind looking, and sounding more confident. And
my chair and, voila!, clean sightlines without confidence is its own reward.
laundry baskets! James Wantz, DTM, came to Toastmasters
Lastly, I sign on early—about 5-10 minutes after many years in theatre. He is currently a

or so. I do this because it helps me get into a member of two clubs and was an early adopter
meeting mindset and I don’t feel so rushed. Once (and cheerleader) of Pathways. He can be reached
I am signed in, I mute my microphone to be sure at wantzjames@gmail.com
there are no extraneous sounds to disrupt the

VOICES! | MARCH 2020 29