Live Stream Setup

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I am not an expert but I have found out what is working well for me and wanted to share. Live streaming on platforms like Facebook or Instagram can be incredibly intimidating. Lets reduce that intimidation by showing you what I do. You can easily mimic this in your own space and to suit your needs.

Background

The first thing you want to consider is what will everyone see behind you. This is where you want to do a quick swoop of picking things up. Also it doesn’t have to be perfect. If you are crafting do it from your craft space or even your dining room table! If you are baking then the kitchen. Wherever it is I just recommend it not show your dirty laundry. Well unless you are talking about dirty laundry like I did. If you really truly don’t have a space and this is what is holding you back. Consider purchasing a BACKGROUND (affiliate). This can be held up by a STAND (affiliate) or simply clipped on to something behind you.

I use my bookcase. It has pretty vinyl in bins and is mostly organized. I have 2 sections that are more miscellaneous items but I also have a working business so my space won’t always be perfect. And here is an insider tip, behind the scenes I usually have a little bit of a mess. I tend to have piles of things I have set out of site during the live. For more tips, check out my post on Live Streaming Tips.

Camera Setup

This will vary slightly depending on what you are using. However this is a product that just makes life easier! And who doesn’t want life to be easier? I use the ARKON MOUNTS REMARKABLE BUNDLE. If you use code: CRAFTYLIFE they will give you 20%. But honestly not remotely why I recommend them. Arkon is a mount company, it’s what they do. But you know what else they do? Education! Aaron their VP of Sales does Live Streaming several times a week and teaches and educates you about social media. He does free giveaways too and I won once!

What these mounts do is gives you the holder for your phone and/or a tablet so that you can live stream from those. What’s unique about theirs is the hinged arm that you can set in place to have a downward view on your table. So you don’t even have to be in your video if you don’t want too. I typically stream from my phone but am working to do it more often from my tablet since its easier to see the comments on a tablet. Using both allows you to stream on 2 platforms at the same time!

Alternatives are a TRIPOD or SELFIE STICK. If you are going to be mobile, lets say showing something at a store or doing a house tour the selfie stick is your best option. Many of them make small tripod with their bases too. The point is to have a steady place to put the camera. Don’t make your audience sea sick by having a bumpy video.

Lighting

This is a complaint I hear as an excuse. My lighting stinks. Well then get different lights! I have a light similar to this RING LIGHT. Mine is the Stellar Diva Light and I do not recommend it. The colors are good but the stand and clamps are an issue. If you get the remarkable bundle from Arkon it comes with a phone clip on light and that may be perfectly adequate for you! I like the larger light because my space is a decent size but only has overhead pot lights that give off a lot of shadows.

Quick How to Go Live

Now that you are setup, how the heck do you actually Go Live on social media. Here’s quick way to go Live on Facebook. Download and use the “Page Manager App” from Facebook. The icon is an orange flag. Once you are on your page go to “post” and then it will bring up a normal post. Below there are categories like “photo/video” one of these is “Go Live”. It doesn’t go live if you just tap it, so you can practice. From there you will add any filters or frames you want and get the camera in the right direction facing you. This is a good time to move around your mount or setup to see what they are seeing. Then to go live the big blue button that says “Start Live Video”. And there you have it, you are live on your business page.

Bonus!

I have not perfected this but here is a bonus tip. You can get BLUETOOTH CAMERA REMOTE that will start and stop your camera and lives. I tend to forget to get this out. So I am moving to store it with my mounts. But it means you are in the right setup position when your video starts. I find that more helpful when filming than on my lives.

I can’t wait to see you live! Let me know if you found this helpful or have any more ideas for those who are struggling to go live!