Behind-the-Scenes at a Webinar

One of the things I do every time I give a new online course is to offer a free Webinar so potential students get a sense  of what it’s like to work with me in one of my online programs, and get a taste of the course itself. Then I add it to the course itself as a combination warm-up and review.

This is a behind-the-scenes view of me giving a webinar:

The more I do webinars, the more comfortable I get – and last Sunday I ended up singing a big portion of this “Jumpstart Blues” webinar for harp players.   This webinar is a warmup for my 6-week program “Blues Harp-Style” which stated just yesterday!

>> Register for the full 6-Week “Blues Harp-Style” Online Course Here <<

One of the things I do every time I give a new online course is to offer a free Webinar! Share on X

So, what’s it like to give a webinar?

Well, I do it in my attic studio, which is a 10 x 10 room filled with binders, two desks, 2 computers, a printer, a harp, an amp – and me.  I set up a backdrop, try to refocus the lights and balance my computer on a music-stand (sounds scary, eh?  Don’t worry, I’ve tightened the music-stand so it won’t flip my computer onto the floor)

Here’s another photo harpist-and-scientist Inge Wiekenkamp took last summer from behind the camera:

Yes, I actually gaffer-tape my camera to the computer so it won’t slip around during the broadcast.

And all those wires coming out of the computer?  They’re:

• a hard-wired internet connection (so I don’t lose connection during the broadcast)
• the powercord (so I don’t run out of juice in the middle of the broadcast)
• a USB webcam
• a USB audio pre-amp that allows me to connect my headset mic and and a direct signal to my electric harp.

And this is what it looks like in front of the camera. 

Ha! You’d never know that the rest of the room is packed with cables, binders, and who-knows-what!

You’d never know that the rest of the room is packed with cables, binders, and who-knows-what! Share on X

But that’s something I learned from doing so many TV shows. You’d walk in to a room filled with big cameras and piles of furniture and sets – and there’s a tiny ‘onstage’ set that looks like a cozy livingroom – and that’s all the camera ever sees.

To connect with the people who attend, I use a meeting-app called “AnyMeeting” that has a chat-function so students can ask questions, and my Chat Facilitator Claudia logs in from Germany to help me with soundcheck and then help students with any tech problems they have during the sessions.

The “Webinars” are public – but once the course starts, I still do private Q&A webinars for the students each weekend  where they have me all to themselves and I personally answer all their questions.

Once the course starts, I still do private Q&A webinars for the students. Share on X

So that’s how we do the webinar and what it looks like behind-the-scenes.

To see the front-end of another recent webinar, register for instant access to the replay of my Jan 3^rd “Blues HarpStyle” webinar (it’s a lot like the Jan. 10th webinar from above … but different) And then ….

>> Register NOW for “Blues Harpstyle” 6-Week Online Course (for Harp Players only) <<

I  hope I see you online soon!

p.s. After working as my Online Chat Facilitator for over 3 years, Claudia is now thinking about taking up the harp!