E18: How To Project Confidence On Camera: Interview with Melissa Marty
“Failures aren’t necessarily failures...our failures are just stepping stones and are just corrections for the next time we go at it, we know what not to do.”
-Melissa Marty
Melissa Marty is an accomplished actress, dancer, singer, TV host, presenter, and beauty pageant title holder. And best of all, we went to college together and she’s a fellow Puerto Rican native! Melissa won the reality show/beauty contest Nuestra Belleza Latina 2008 and received over $100,000 and a contract with Univision! She gained national exposure as she hosted her own entertainment show. She followed her childhood dream of moving to L.A. to pursue an acting career and is best known for her roles on Notorious, Dangerous Company, and Jane the Virgin.
HOW TO PROJECT CONFIDENCE ON CAMERA (OR IN AN INTERVIEW, ETC)
Know what you’re talking about! Learn your lines, know your product, know your industry, know your accomplishments. The more prepared you are, the more confident you can be. If you have the knowledge and did your best, you can leave knowing you did all you can do. And what happens from there is out of your control.
Strategies For Speaking With Confidence
Stand in the super hero pose with feet apart and fists on hips. This psychologically will boost your confidence before presenting.
Rehearse in front of a mirror so you can see your facial expressions and mannerisms.
Find opportunities to be in front of an audience - make announcements at church, speak at your local school or civic organization, or even lead a Bingo activity! Practice creates comfort with speaking.
“NOBODY’S GOING TO DO SOMETHING THE SAME WAY YOU’RE GOING TO DO IT”
Tips For Memorization of Lines (or anything else)
Association. Imagine the circumstance, visualize being there, feel as if you are actually in that situation.
Listen. Pay attention and listen well. This prompts you into the flow of what comes next.
Practice. Record your lines and listen to them repeatedly while exercising or doing chores. Once you memorize your lines, then you can put emotion into it and say them in a conversational way.
How To Overcome Stage Fright (public speaking, podcasting, social media)
Realize it’s not personal; it’s not about you. It’s about bringing your content to an audience and if you don’t get that role or client, move on to the next opportunity. Perhaps you made a good impression that will result in a role or client in the future.
Nobody can do something the way you do it. You are unique and your life experiences allow you to bring your own flair to what you’re doing. Be the most genuine version of yourself because YOU are your own secret sauce!
Just go for it! What have you got to lose? What’s the worst that can happen?!
Try not to compare yourself and your path to others’. Educate yourself, prepare yourself, keep up with your industry and trust that your time will come. Rather than focusing exclusively on the destination, enjoy the journey because it provides the experiences and tools that will get you to your goals.
Don’t miss Melissa’s answers to my lightning round of questions! Find out how she got to FLY, and not in a plane!
“Sometimes the biggest lessons are in the journey”
CONNECT WITH MELISSA
On Instagram @MeliMarty