Video chatting, and video chatting software has become more and more popular over the last few years; especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic when many people had no other choice than to base their community on the offerings of video communication software.
4 Ways to be a Great Host on FaceTime
Now, as we enter the end of the pandemic, many people have found a deeper availability through FaceTime that allows them to be more interconnected with relationships across the globe. Because of this, there is rhetoric and expectation for FaceTime behavior, and being a great FaceTime host is part of it. Here are four ways to be a great host on FaceTime.
Understand Your Audience
There are a number of different scenarios which merit the use of FaceTime. Business conferences, interviews, talking with a friend, a casual call, a group gathering, all of these mandate different behaviors on the FaceTime medium.
Let us take, for instance, the difference between calling a friend briefly over FaceTime, versus hosting a group hangout. When you call a friend over FaceTime, you may just be looking for directions, or seeking to touch base and say hello. Doing this is an occasion where you can put your phone in portrait, be walking around, and potentially not even have headphones connected. This is a situation that has fairly few assumed rules, let alone a “host” character.
In juxtaposition, hosting a group hangout is something where it may be best to use a laptop and have a relatively quiet space. You don’t want everyone to hear how noisy the area you’re in is. You don’t want to have poor video quality or prevent anybody from getting a word in. The proper environment is necessary.
Understanding your audience, and occasion is a crucial piece of being a good FaceTime host.
2. The Right Space, The Right Gear
Just like understanding your audience, having the right space and the right equipment can help you be a good FaceTime host wherever you go. Here is what that entails.
First and foremost, you either want a quiet space or a good microphone. Not everyone needs an external microphone hooked up to their computer or iPhone, but if you don’t have a decent isolated mic, then you need to ensure you are in a quiet or controlled environment. If you are looking for a microphone, consider using a headset, AirPods, or even a pro audio mic routed as your computer’s microphone.
Second, you need a good space. You don’t want a cluttered background or poor lighting. If you are going to go through the trouble of showing your face, make sure that it is well seen. This means that you check your lighting, and maybe move to light around if need be. Avoid any light that is pouring straight into your camera, and try to find a neutral background. If you have the right software or are using an iPhone, use portrait mode if your background is distracting.
Lastly, make sure that you will be able to hear and engage with whomever you are FaceTiming with. This means that you have working headphones or a working set of speakers. You know that your network is functional and effective.
If you check off all of these boxes, you will know that you are being a good FaceTime host.
3. Establish Expectations
If you are distinguished as the “host” of a FaceTime gathering, it may be helpful to establish expectations with your party. Throughout, and following the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have found games to play on FaceTime, and FaceTime game nights are becoming more and more popular. These game nights typically require a host, and doing it well means setting expectations for the party.
These expectations can include muting your microphone if you’re not talking, keeping your rig stationary, or even signaling through emojis or another medium before speaking in order to keep everyone communicating effectively. Especially if you are engaging in a game night, being incredibly clear on how the rules of the game function within the FaceTime medium can ensure that everyone is happy, satisfied, and able to play the game without any bumps or significant frustrations.
4. Know How to Use FaceTime
This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people attempt to host FaceTime gatherings without understanding the full capabilities of the software. Being prepared to utilize FaceTime to draw, send emojis, or even screen share are all critical aspects of being a FaceTime host. You don’t want to be struggling to understand how the software works when you are trying to lead a meeting or a game night.
How to be a Great Host on FaceTime
If you make sure that you incorporate all of these aspects into your FaceTime preparation and execution, you can be sure that no bumps in the road disrupt your FaceTime engagement.
