Here are a few "Tips & Tricks"
you may find helpful.

Contribute your own "T 'n' T" to this page

through our contact page.

TIP: When creating a ZOOM event, set the time for at least a half hour before you want to begin and a half hour after you expect to end. So, if your rehearsal is scheduled for 6:30, start your meeting at 6:00 and then stay with it. I let people know that I will be available for any last minute needs. I also monitor my email closely for folks having trouble signing on.

TIP: Set your ZOOM to Gallery View (everyone can be seen). As folks appear one-by-one on your screen, greet them in a friendly welcoming manner; you’re really glad to see them. One of the things I always worry about is whether everyone will show up, especially with all volunteers; or even if everyone will be able to get on-line at the same time; so, believe me, when my actors appear on my screen, I am genuinely delighted to see them!

TIP: Open your ZOOM Lobby at least fifteen minutes prior to start time. You’ll want your actors to “arrive” early and you need to be “at the door” to let them in.

TIP: Have a plan for your rehearsal tell folks about it up-front. I am a frequent collaborating director for The Pipeline Collective’s Salons where I get just one hour to produce a scene with a cast I’ve never met and then have it performed before a group of my peers. Even before the Salon starts, I email folks with this statement:

“My plan is to start by asking the playwright for any preparatory comments or guidance.
After which, we’ll talk a bit about how to approach the characters’ speech, accents, movement, etc.
Then we’ll just run it, stopping only if necessary. Then we’ll talk about it, share notes, ideas, etc.
Then run again, fixing as we go. Finally, we’ll run it non-stop, just as we want to do it in the performance.”

And then, at the start of rehearsal, I repeat and ask are there any questions or concerns.

TIP: Before beginning your rehearsal, ask your actors to change their name on the ZOOM screen to their character’s name. Or, if you do not want the name to show up, instruct them in VIDEO SETTINGS to un-check “Always display participant name.” And, while they’re in Video Settings, ask them to check off “HD” and “Mirror my video” (you may change that later).

TIP: In AUDIO SETTINGS, ask your actors to check-off “Automatically adjust microphone volume,” and set “Suppress background noise” on High. If your production involves singing, ask your singers to check-off “Show in-meeting option to enable ‘Original Sound,” otherwise leave it unchecked.

TIP: If your script calls for background images, in BACKGROUND & EFFECTS ask your actors to upload any graphics that you’ve sent them beforehand by clicking on the little “+” and choosing “Add Image.”

TIP: When “blocking” a scene, try to get as much of your actors in the shot as you can. This will be a function of how much space the actor has to work with. When two or more actors are on screen at the same time, have actors adjust the “headspace” to match their real-life height relationship. If all your actors have the same headspace, they will appear to be the same height. I recently directed a scene with two characters: a “basketball player” and an “Asian journalist.” My actors were 6’6” tall, and 4’11” short, so I had the basketball player with no headspace and even popping above occasionally, whereas the journalist had a full half-screen of headspace.

TIP: Pay careful attention to lighting, both in terms of individual actors and generally across all actors. Too much light and scenes are washed out; too little and actors can’t be seen well – you need to strike a balance. If you have actors who wear glasses, try to avoid reflections of computer monitors, or worse, ring lights that show up as two bright circles. I purchased a pair of glasses with non-reflecting lenses for my ZOOM work.

TIP: If your actors are going to be reading from a script, as is common practice in virtual theater, ask them to position the script as directly in front of them as they can. I place my printed scripts right-below the camera so I’m looking at the camera, not to the side or above it.

TIP: When you ask your actors to provide their own costumes, have them try to have colors pallets on the dark side. Avoid white and especially green if you are using background images.