Jeff Sharon of Full Sail University shares his knowledge on Periscope, Meerkat, and other live streaming apps. Presented at the 2015 FLBlogCon.com

1. Meerkat, Periscope and Live Steaming
FLBlogCon 2015

2. About Me
• Course Director at Full Sail
University since 2011
• Former TV reporter
• Blogger at Aerothusiast
• Host of Corner 3 Podcast
• Graduated from UCF &
Syracuse University
• @Jeff_Sharon

3. “Going Live” Back in the day

6. history.org

8. Periscope and Meerkat
Live Video Streaming Apps

9. Meerkat
Simplicity in itself

10. Getting Started with
Meerkat
• Free Download
• Sign in with Twitter (if you want)
• Start Streaming!
• Schedule Streams

11. Getting Started with
Meerkat
• Free Download
• Sign in with Twitter (if you want)
• Start Streaming!
• Schedule Streams

12. Getting Started with
Meerkat
• Free Download
• Sign in with Twitter (if you want)
• Start Streaming!
• Schedule Streams

13. Periscope
A few more bells and whistles

14. Getting Started with
Periscope
• Free Download
• Sign in with Twitter
• Start Streaming!
• Private Streams

15. Getting Started with
Periscope
• Free Download
• Sign in with Twitter
• Start Streaming!
• Private Streams

16. Getting Started with
Periscope
• Free Download
• Sign in with Twitter
• Start Streaming!
• Private Streams

17. Getting Started with
Periscope
• Free Download
• Sign in with Twitter
• Start Streaming!
• Private Streams

18. Differences
• Where streams are saved
• Meerkat: Own servers (or via
Katch.me)
• Periscope: Your Camera Roll
(NEW: Katch Support!)
• Content Streams
• Meerkat: Provides
suggestions
• Periscope: A bit more Twitter
follower-based
• User Base
• Periscope > Meerkat

19. Things I Wish They’d
Fix
• Vertical Video
• Choose which camera to start

20. How to Live Stream
Like You Know What
You’re Doing
Or, How to Fool Everyone into
Thinking That You’ve Been on TV
for Years

21. Pick one and stick with
it
Don’t bounce around.
Try them both, pick one and run
with it.
Don’t split your audience.

22. Promote Your Stream
• Don’t just do it.
• Tell people when you’re going
live and what you’re doing.
• Then tell them again.

23. Production Values
• Follow the Rule of Thirds.
• Good-looking video will get
people coming back.

24. Production Values
• Follow the Rule of Thirds.
• Good-looking video will get
people coming back.

25. Think About
Equipment
• Wobbly video is not great.
• Consider getting a tripod or
other apparatus for keeping the
camera nice and steady.
• Again: Remember the Rule of
Thirds!

26. Audio is Key
• Eliminate background
distractions, especially audio.
• Speak clearly.
• Find a nice quiet room or place
to stream.

27. Be Kind When Live
• It always starts on the back
camera. Your opening shot is
what will be seen in the stream.
• Give people a few seconds to
log in.
• Ask your audience to share.
• Thank everyone.

28. What NOT to Do in
your Live Stream
How Not to Look Like an Idiot on
the Internet

29. Don’t be a troll
• Be nice. Don’t troll your
audience.
• That goes for the audience, too.
Be nice in the comments.
• Keep it PG.
• They’re logging into your feed
because they’re interested in
you.
• Don’t be so self-deprecating
that people don’t take you
seriously.

30. Don’t just “hang out”
• Be prepared.
• Have something to talk about.
• Don’t sign on just to be there
and ask if anyone has any
questions.

31. Don’t script
• Scripting sounds like you’re
scripting. It’s awful.
• This is extemporaneous.
• You can have notes, but going
without a script is more
authentic.
• Also: If you practice too much,
it will sound scripted.

32. Don’t stream things you’re
not supposed to stream
• Don’t violate copyright.
• Don’t stream things on TV.
• Looking at you, MMA, Wrestling
and Boxing fans.

33. Don’t stream things
that are mundane
• Don’t stream your morning
commute.
• Don’t stream yourself boarding
a plane.
• Don’t stream yourself eating
lunch.*
• *Unless there’s a valid answer
as to why.

34. Don’t forget your
postgame
• Check your stats.
• Get your recording and share it.
• Then share it again later on
(Use the 24-48-1 week rule)
• Tease your next stream, if you
can.

35. Don’t worry about
screwing up
• We used to say, “It’s only T.V.”
• There’s no need to be nervous.
• If you mess up, that’s OK.
• Give yourself some reps - You’ll
get better.
R-E-L-A-X…RELAX.

36. Ideas!
How can you use live streaming to
your advantage?

37. Thanks!
jsharon@fullsail.com
@Jeff_Sharon
@Corner3Podcast
@Aerothusiast
All images: Wikimedia Commons (unless otherwise noted)