Forums offer you  an unmatched opportunity to connect with voters and deliver key messages ​
Practice…Practice…Practice…
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Nothing beats practice to prepare for a Forum and a Facebook broadcast. Run through all possible questions and refine the answers until you are comfortable with the responses. Check out the questions from previous Chamber Forums to get a feel for the type of questions that will be asked.   Through this process, you can determine whether: the messages are being communicated; the responses are concise enough; and the proof points are strong enough.  Forums offer you  an unmatched opportunity to connect with voters and deliver key messages while engaging in a dialogue in a polished manner. 

Remember to practice a technique called bridging and blocking. This is a way of steering the interview to your agenda by using phrases like “the real issue here is…” and “that’s an interesting question, but let’s put it in perspective…” Headlining (making a key point first) is especially effective in the sound-bite world of broadcast. Underscore main points with phrases like “it all boils down to two things…” or “the bottom line is…”

It’s normal to be nervous before a forum . The adrenaline rush can help you stay alert. While being fully prepared can go a long way in instilling confidence and reducing nerves, there are a few tips to manage jitters:

• Arrive early to get accustomed to the surroundings.
• Think positively and visualize a successful outcome.
• Focus on the interview as a conversation with the host.
• Reflect on the preparation. This will help you maintain control and make it your interview as much as the moderator’s.
• Create compelling messages and practicing so that your presence is authoritative and professional, you will add tremendous value to the broadcast experience.
• Dress conservatively. 
• Don’t wear white on camera.
• Don’t wear large, shiny or noisy jewelry.
• Wear contact lenses, instead of glasses. If you wear glasses, non-reflective lenses are best. Avoid light-sensitive glasses.
• Arriving early will allow you to participate in lighting and sound checks.
• Speak naturally, and avoid brushing your hand or clothing against the microphone. 
• If seated, sit erect but not ramrod-straight, and slightly forward or toward the interviewer.
• If standing, do so with arms at the side or one hand in a pocket. Planting one foot slightly in front of the other will help you avoid swaying.
• Should you gesture, do so naturally, not expansively. Keep gestures small and in front of you, and avoid sudden body movement.
• Make your expression match your words. Smile if appropriate. Keep a mildly pleasant expression at all times; an expression that looks neutral off camera seems unhappy or angry on camera, so a pleasant face may feel unnaturally smiley. Practice in a mirror.
• Lean forward slightly. Modulate your voice to when making key points.
• Avoid obvious signs of discomfort or nervousness, e.g., foot tapping, clenched fists, shifting back and forth.
• Make punchy and concise statements; put your most important message up front; talk to the interviewer or guests, not the camera; breaking eye contact by staring off into space or looking at the ground will make you appear shifty; stay attentive when others are speaking;  wait until the question is finished to begin your answer/ask the question be repeated is necessary; hold your interview attitude until the interview is over and the camera is off.​