Imagine you’re speaking to a large business audience. Your company is facing new challenges this year, and it’s an important meeting. You’re there to motivate, inform and effect change. Sound familiar?

Your time to speak has arrived. You take the platform and tell your story. Will you deliver your message with the right spin, or will you misspeak and have to explain? Will you make all your points? What happens if you omit something? Will you speak succinctly, or will you push the limits of your audience’s attention span? Will you make eye contact with the audience and video cameras or will everyone be watching the top of your head?

Teleprompting is a tool that can help.

• You have the freedom to ad-lib.
• There is no need to handle note cards or paper scripts.
• Computer graphics and video rolls are cued to your script, and you don’t have to call for them.
• The audience may never realize you’re reading prepared remarks.

Yes, you can deliver a scripted message and still appear to be speaking “off the cuff.” This naturalness, however, does require some practice and preparation. Plan to practice with the prompter at least once before your speech. And be sure to practice with the person who will be operating the prompter during your speech.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve never used a teleprompter before. What do I need to know?
There are three points to keep in mind:

1. You set the pace. The teleprompter operator follows you.
2. Are you planning to ad-lib? Most prompter operators will “scroll off” the copy you’ve read and wait for you to return to the script. Make sure you and the operator have a procedure for your ad-libs. If you know when you’re going to stray from the script, insert a line that reads: (ad-lib).
3. If you’re speaking with Presidential Prompters (two glass panels), you have two places to look. Avoid windshield wiper eye movements. Stay with each panel for at least a sentence, maybe longer.

Can I trust the prompter operator?
Rehearsals are your opportunity to try out a prompter operator.

How big are the words?
Letter height depends on the size of the display and the capabilities of the software. Usually, capital letters are 1” to 1.5” tall.

Can I walk away from the lectern and still use the prompter?
Large video monitors can be positioned around the stage, between you and the audience. As you look at the monitors, you appear to be looking at the audience. See "Teleprompter for Public Speaking FAQs."

Can I ad-lib?
Yes. Some ad-libbing makes a speech seem more natural. For more information, see the answer to the first question of this section.

How do the words scroll?
The prompter operator listens as you speak and constantly adjusts the speed of the scroll. If you pause, we’ll pause the prompter. If you speed up, we’ll match your pace.

How much rehearsal do I need?
Plan to rehearse at least once before your speech. This ensures the prompter script has all of your latest changes. Rehearsals also give the operator a chance to learn your style and hear any of your ad-libs.