Studio Setups: Behind the Scenes with Nanna Sondrup

[1:11] We just were talking about so many different things. So I was excited to bring her on. It is Nana Sondrup, who is the Danish LinkedIn content queen, who practices teaches and preaches the give first strategy. Welcome to the show, Nanna, how are you doing?

[1:30] Nanna: I'm doing very well. we met at the uplift live, not just a LinkedIn conference, but uplift live. And that was amazing. So I'm doing great. And now I'm even greater because I'm in your company.

[1:44] Ian: Yeah, oh, thank you so much for coming on to the show. And you're right, I was, when I was introducing the, I was mentioning the conference, I had it in my head that it was called Uplift Live. But I had that like slight doubt in my head that I was going to get it wrong. So I'm glad you mentioned the actual name.

[2:01] and that was a great conference, wasn't it? Now, so you, you spent a lot of time on LinkedIn. So tell us a little bit more about this whole, I love, that you're called the Danish LinkedIn content queen. Tell us a little bit more about what you do and this, the give first strategy.

[2:19] Nanna: Okay. yes. So obviously I use a lot of my time on LinkedIn. therefore the name was actually given the title content queen, LinkedIn content queen from some of my, competitors, but more like colleagues, and when I figured out they, they were talking about me like that, I had to embrace the name.

[2:40] I was like, okay, this feels scary, but I'm gonna, I'm gonna embrace it. and the give first strategy is something I just. Set randomly about five, six years ago when I started, I say just give first ask later. That was the idea instead of, can you buy it from me? Can you buy it from me? I have this product pitch, I was like, okay, how about giving something to them first? And when you have given value, history, storytelling, something that they benefits. Then you might ask, oh, can you use my product? So that was the whole idea. so basically content marketing. but it was just said, so it made sense to me and other people said ah, that sounds amazing.

[3:27] And as go for the LinkedIn content queen, that was the same with the give first. Other people resonated with it. So I just, Embraced it. and now I've been an entrepreneur for about six years just teaching mostly content on LinkedIn, but obviously as any other tool, you can't just teach in one thing.

[3:46] Sometimes you go and catch on to a little bit of different things like teaching confident live. And suddenly we talk a little bit about equipment. And suddenly we talk a little bit about personality and how you fit in all of that kind of thing. So I'm, okay. same in that area.

[4:03] Ian: that's awesome. that's amazing. There are so many different moving parts with all of this, isn't there? And I'm definitely behind you with the whole give first strategy. I love that term because it is I think you have to demonstrate you have to build that trust, don't you? people need to, before they buy from you, you have to show them your expertise, but also that you're, not a serial killer.

[4:25] You are a nice person that you know what you're talking about. You know what I mean? It's it's such a random thing to say, but it

[4:33] Nanna: I loved it. I really loved it.

[4:37] Ian: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[4:39] Nanna: My kind of humor.

[4:41] Ian: Oh dear. so you've been doing this for six years as a, as an entrepreneur. how, what's been your, you're going to come back onto the show to talk about your kind of confidence and, Communication journey. But when it comes to actually creating video content, you, if you're listening to the podcast, by the way, do pop over to iag.me/216

[5:02] because you can see some of the images, I think, Nana has this amazing background. I've just commented when we, when she came on and I loved that it looks, it's really visual, it looks great. it's actually simple, but. but really visual. I assume it's not always been like that for you.

[5:23] So when you first started off, what was it like? Tell us maybe some of the, those early struggles and challenges that you had and getting in front of the camera. Were you always raring to go? with the whole camera thing.

[5:39] Nanna: No, I was very scared in the beginning to, to be honest, like very, scared of it. so it's a long journey. So I'll try to pinpoint some of the most important learnings. When I started doing any kind of video, it was actually as a job seeker. I didn't have much success, applying for jobs. So I had to, do something different.

[6:02] And at some point I was like, okay, I can do video application to show me. And how do I talk? How do I sound? And I'm telling you some of the first that I made. It is hard, it is torture for me today to watch it, because it's really not me. I, don't shine, I don't, I don't wave my arms, which I do normally when I speak and everything.

[6:27] It was just very robotic, very static, very cold, because I was scared saying something wrong. I was scared doing something stupid or whatever. so everything about the camera was Intimidating, frightening, and it was not a great experience. And that showed on me, very, much. However, I still did it.

[6:51] and I didn't do it once or twice. I kept on making these video applications. And that's how I started actually getting comfortable in front of a camera. Just to practice it again and again, even though I sounded horrible. And I had the 50 takes, on, on the camera roll because I was never satisfied.

[7:11] It was never good, but I did get good at editing for the same reason.

[7:16] Ian: Yeah. Yeah.

[7:18] Nanna: Um,

[7:20] Ian: So we'll, talk a little bit more about that when you come back on the show, because I do want to dig deeper into that. We, we, one of the things that we talked about a lot was perfectionism. We're both recovering perfectionists. And, I think the live video journey was definitely helped me.

[7:36] I can resonate with the, editing as well, but, let's, dig into the tech. Because I'd love to know, let's focus maybe on your microphone. So what is your audio setup and why did you choose your microphone and your audio setup?

[7:52] Nanna: I started with something very simple. I think I just bought the first and the best mic that I could get for the least amount of money. and at the time I have changed a little bit, but not as much as I think other people have. I ended up with something.

[8:13] Saramonic Blink 500, I'm reading out loud saying that, because there is the stand as you have where it's in front of the camera or it's something that just stays the same place. However, I figured out that doesn't really work for me because whenever I do lives, I tend to move around a lot. I have to, I make.

[8:34] big arm movements and sometimes moving around in the studio, which doesn't make sense for most people, but it makes sense for me. and for the sound not to go up and down all the time, I have something attached to me because that makes sense to me. I don't say That everybody should do that because the sound is actually better when it comes closer to the mouth.

[8:57] However, it really works out for me because I become more natural. my voice, does get, influenced by how my body can move doing me doing lives. So that's, really the best thing for me to be my authentic self when I do lives.

[9:15] Ian: that's really interesting. I hadn't really thought about that because, for me, like audio quality is so important. So I, focused on a dynamic microphone, but it's in shot. That's not everyone's cup of tea. but you were saying that, unlike a mic, you weren't, quite saying it like this, but you could say like a microphone like this that I have would get in the way of your arm movements and that would then stop you from being natural and being able to speak the way you want to, and everyone's different.

[9:47] That's, cool. and I think

[9:49] Nanna: I tend to hit it and not on purpose

[9:52] Ian: yeah, like that, which, which, and that's good. That's good that you've worked that out because that you can, you, it's so important to be natural. And so you've chosen

[10:05] Nanna: and not beat your equipment.

[10:07] Ian: Yeah, there's different ways of doing this you could get like a you can get a what they called shotgun microphones is one thing But you've gone for a lapel mic haven't you and that attaches on to you and that looks great.

[10:19] It looks great So that I think you've written it down as the Saramonic blink 500. Is that right? So that sound about right? Okay, that's cool. I love that. And then does that plug directly into your computer? How does that work?

[10:32] Nanna: No, it's just a Bluetooth actually. Again, so I have movement because whenever there is something that's attached to me, I tend to, knock it away. I really not on purpose. I sometimes have put my microphone in front of me if I had done podcast and then try to sit down and try to be more quietly with my body.

[10:53] But I tend to always, hit it because I do a big arm movement at some point and Yeah, it gives some funny moments, but if I knock it down on the floor, it's not that Great

[11:07] Ian: No, you it's probably funny the first time but you don't want to do that all the time. Yeah. Yeah. No that yeah that's

[11:14] Nanna: this really works with me. No, no wires, no, something in front of me that really works for me to be more authentic and feel more like when you do live, you don't normally have a response from people other than comments. So at least I can have a response from myself by having the ability to communicate with my body movement.

[11:39] I think this is very personal thing, but that's just how I feel. So, for me to have the freedom to move around, to, move my arms, to go back and forth, that really, helps for me to feel more natural when I, whenever I do lives.

[11:54] Ian: Yeah. Oh, that's, really helpful stuff. So yeah, just because people like me talk about having a, like a nice fancy dynamic microphone in front

[12:03] Nanna: And it looks nice!

[12:04] Ian: it look, it does look nice, but it's not for everybody. And that is absolutely totally cool. So microphones we've talked about that. you don't plug that in.

[12:12] It's Bluetooth. It's wireless, which is another cool thing. And this is, that's particularly good. If you're like, if you're doing, if you're like a fitness instructor, I know somebody who was doing Pilates or you could be doing yoga and obviously you need something that is flexible cameras. Now your image, we've talked about your background, but your camera.

[12:31] Looks really good. The picture is really sharp. I'm interested to know what your choice of camera is and then any thoughts on that

[12:40] Nanna: yes, the thoughts was, what's on sale?

[12:45] Ian: Yeah

[12:48] Nanna: Sorry. this is as Danish as it can be actually, but I didn't want something huge at the time against some kind of budget also came into mind. I wanted something that both could work for like zoom calls or whatever that wasn't big at that I could bring with me. So it's just a very, small, Logitech camera that I can just Place on top on my screen or whatever and it just It works.

[13:17] it works really well. It's nothing fancy. it's not expensive on anything, but it's great at working, with me. If I jump around too much, it sometimes loses focus and I have to help it a little bit. so that's maybe the biggest, critique, but I think I'll have that with whatever I pick because.

[13:37] That is, again, who I am. I am not the best at what should you choose for, geeking out and the right sound and the right, quality of video and such. Because I'm very As, you mentioned, I am very much a perfectionist. And when I started, I wanted the right equipment. I wanted to read, I wanted to learn, I wanted to invest.

[14:02] But every time I did that, I just caught myself being like, Oh, and then you have a new excuse to not do something. And now you have an excuse saying, Oh, I have to learn this to perfection before I can start. So for me getting more and better equipment. sometimes it becomes my self excuse to, not do something because I need to be really good before I can do it because it has to be perfect.

[14:30] being very accountable to myself being like, okay, it has to be simple. it has to be on a budget because then sometimes it's also very simple. Then I easily just get started. Then I don't have something to hold me back that I have to learn. Again, not saying that you shouldn't do it at some point, or if it makes sense, that's not the point.

[14:52] It's just for me, I was very, has, was, self aware that is something I sometimes use, as, holding myself back because of my perfectionism. So it really worked for me to have something simple, and that's what it is.

[15:09] Ian: that is so so true. And I'm very impressed with your like level of self awareness because I've been down that route too and I have to admit I have given in To buying the tech thinking that's going to solve all my problems and you haven't and this is really interesting I assume this is you've written down here, this is the Logitech C922.

[15:31] Is that right? The pro stream webcam. And like some people I've heard, like really, are quite down on the Logitech range. And so you know, they say their budget, and you need to upgrade to the fancy cameras. And the thing is, you said you so don't like if you're listening to the podcast again, pop on to the look at the video and look at the crisp quality banana has it's okay, it's, it might not be up to the mega top professional quality, but it's, I think it's really good.

[16:02] And so don't, knock the Logitech range. And particularly if you're getting started, is there a great range, they're inexpensive. And, also they're not complicated. the setup that I've got, a Sony camera. And it's not for the faint hearted, you've got all the settings and then you have to plug it into a capture card and then into your computer.

[16:23] It's okay, the quality is good, but if, you just, if you want to just get content created, go for something like the Logitech. I think that's great.

[16:35] Nanna: yeah.

[16:36] Ian: Definitely.

[16:37] Nanna: and you have probably my dream, but I just know with myself, I will have to learn all of that because it's fun, isn't it? to really go down. I'm like, what can I do? And how do I, Make the best of it. It's really fun to just geek out with equipment. So for me, again, I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible, but I do have some. The first thing is, the non tech thing is that I am close to a window. I have always used that because I think it gives a lot of good lighting, but also it's, it actually helps me to stay more focused and work better.

[17:13] So I'm always close to windows. but the tech part, I use a ring lighting. Some people like it, some people don't. and, one of the things that is critical for ring lighting is for instance, if you have glasses, which I actually do whenever I, in front of a screen right now, I don't, but I can put them on right now.

[17:34] Then you can see it slightly. And what, I don't, I know this is a podcast, but I'm going to describe it. So whenever I put my glasses on, It's only when I look very much up, you can see my ring lighting. That's because instead of putting in right in front of me, as you normally would ring light, I put it a little bit to the side and a little bit taller than normally I would.

[17:57] And I know then a bit of the idea of a ring light goes away. but that's because I wanted to experiment what is the best for me. of course, I could put it right behind my camera. then I can't use glasses, because then I get that, ring effect in the glasses. And I agree, it's not super nice. So I moved it a little bit, to the side and then it ended up being there because then I didn't have to think about if I had glasses on or not. Yeah.

[18:27] Ian: That makes sense, and I think, yeah, that is one of the big problems with ring lights. If you use them as they are intended to, then you're going to get that reflection. And even if you don't wear glasses, you get these big, almost like alien effects in your eyes. Yeah. Yeah. but if you have it to one side like that, it's it looks great.

[18:47] and yeah, if you're, recording during the day, and you live in a country where it's, you do have some light, then, that's good. you can, do that. So lighting, let's go to your computer because, obviously that, is the brains of the system. so what kind of computer have you got?

[19:10] and. Maybe go into some of the tools that you use for your content creation.

[19:17] Nanna: so I didn't, nerd that much in about how to pick my computer. because I am actually old in gaming and did a lot of gaming. so some of my preferences quickly goes to, it has to be, adapting to that. and that's just an old habit, I think. I don't think my computer choice had much to do, if any.

[19:45] With live streaming and so on. It was just like, can, it also do gaming and This is not a great answer, but that, it's a very honest one. however, some of the tools, like software that I use on it, it can take all of them, which is necessary. So there's of course the online software like Stream Yard that I use, I'm very happy with.

[20:10] That's what I use for livestream. They have also LinkedIn, but I also use some editing tools, which is called Vegas Movie, Editor. I think it's called. It's not a new and high tech one. then I use Photoshop to edit my thumbnails for my live stream. sometimes if I'm a little bit lazy, I might use a PowerPoint because it can do a lot of great stuff too.

[20:37] I'm not a Canva girl, but I am big applauding for the Canva system. I think that's about it. It's not super nerd and geeked out as I want it to be, but again, this is, me being very self aware of what I'm, where I go down in a rabbit hole and disappear for weeks and not actually achieving something.

[20:59] Ian: No, that's really important. And I think that I really appreciate your honest answer, because It's your computers are not just for one thing that you want it to work for lots of different things. I assume, is it a PC or is it a Mac? I assume it's a PC if

[21:13] Nanna: pain for me.

[21:14] Ian: yeah. Yeah. Cause obviously like Macs, I mean you can do gaming on, on, on Macs, but it's not really the same experience.

[21:21] Exactly.

[21:22] Nanna: Oh, don't say that. Don't

[21:25] Ian: it's, It just doesn't work. It just doesn't work. So that's cool. I was hoping we were going to get a PC user on the show because all my previous guests have been Mac users. So we've got a PC user.

[21:35] That's great. and, that's the great thing

[21:37] Nanna: one with the least tech experience of them all comes in with pc. That's a bad reputation.

[21:44] Ian: no, not at all. and I, was a PC user for, many, years and I still, like PCs. my, my son is, he is a gamer and so he, we actually built his PC together. yeah. So that's great. thank you for sharing all of those things. and again, I think it is about keeping it simple, isn't it?

[22:10] So just before we get on to the quick fire round, just a brief thing about your personalization of your space. So we can see a really nice background. maybe explain a little bit more about, about your studio office space. How have you made it uniquely yours to foster not just your personal style, but also creativity and productivity?

[22:34] Because presumably this is the space that you create all your content or a lot of your content.

[22:40] Nanna: Yes, that is true. a little backstory. Three years ago, we bought our house and before that, the studio that I have was just like what it was possible, So when we moved here, I had a vision like, I want this to be something very personal for me. Of course, it has to look, at least nice, not necessarily amazing, but at least nice.

[23:08] And I am into this, comfy looking background. in Danish we say hygge. yeah. I think it's very national, international known that's something you say. and I actually, everything I have in my background is something I chose because there is some kind of story or there is some kind of relation to it.

[23:29] For instance, the, furnitures that I have, was something I saw in the Danish version of the lion's den, or dragon's den? Dragon's den, I think. Yeah, from a guy who built them from old used stuff. And he was dyslexic and had an amazing backstory. And I was very inspired by it because I'm dyslexic as well.

[23:54] So I was like, I need those furniture. To be as a part of my background, also because it's reusable and there is, both a good story and a good message about them. Then I had, then put in all of these different things I had to, I didn't want it to just be like, perfectly balanced because it's perfectly balanced where like one plant in one side, one plant in the other side, it actually doesn't seem balanced in our mind.

[24:21] So I had to be, choose something where it was different from each side, but still have some kind of balance. And then I put in a lot of stuff that just meant something to me, starting with the classic, all of my books, because whenever I look at other people's, books, I get an idea of what is in your mind, what is in your beliefs.

[24:41] And I wanted to give that to whoever wanted to listen to me. Of course, you can't always see it up close. but I know for me at least, I can recognize some of my favorite books, even in pixelated, very hard to read, kind of version. And then in, then I put in just small things that was, Nice looking, but still told a little bit about me.

[25:05] For instance, I love plants. I love to schedule with sketches, note with sketches whenever I listen to other people speak. I draw stuff, as notes instead of just writing. I put in, Here you can't see it on the podcast, but I can show it anyway, so I have the elder worn in my background just to address my nerd Version I have magic the gathering cards in the background.

[25:37] I have all of these small little things to tell a little bit about who I am and To the person watching it, even though I don't address it. Also because it actually makes me more comfortable. It makes me feel more safe because I have so much, basically supporting me, in the back. So that's, and then I, and, I have actually, designed my studio.

[26:06] that's a nice practical thing so that it works, even though if I'm standing up, which I mostly do whenever I have lies, but also works when I'm sitting down, it looks a little bit different, but I made sure that the camera where it looks still works whenever it's Up high or down low, so that there's different things to look at, but it still is balanced and it, works out nicely.

[26:35] yeah, so I don't know if that's something everybody else can use. but at least that's, what worked out for me to put a little bit of myself in all of it.

[26:46] Ian: I think that's really I think that's really cool because it's not just an aesthetics thing It's not just about like how it looks to people watching it's a lot of that and it's but it's that personality but it's also like you mentioned that what makes you feel comfortable and safe and I and Presumably that also helps you to be more creative.

[27:05] And I also love what you said about you've, got a standing desk as well. So you, it's adjustable and you can change that. And you've thought about how it looks at those different levels, whether you're sitting down or standing up. I'm, I'm a big advocate of standing up. I'm actually sitting down, which is.

[27:25] I should, be standing up really, but it's, good to get, keep those energy levels going. So yeah, that's really interesting. Yeah. We need those energy levels going.

[27:36] Nanna: Exactly. And especially if you're doing a live, by yourself, it really, helps. I actually use it to, if I, know I have to tone down my energy, I sit down. So if I had done podcast where I know it's very, person vulnerable kind of thing. in depth, much more honest, not that this is not honest, but then I actually sit down because it, calms me. But whenever I do lives, I, had to, I have to have my best and highest kind of energy, which is also who I am. I am both those kinds of energies, but it helps me get that. high level energy because I know the screen takes out some of the energy that you can send out to the audience.

[28:23] So for me to have the highest amount of energy that I create for myself, it's helpful whenever I do lives. So that's a way for me to control my energy level, standing up high level energy, outgoing, which very suits me the most of the time sitting down is very calming, very comfy, very vulnerable, talks.

[28:46] that also works and it talks slower.

[28:49] Ian: Yeah. That's yeah. We are, actually very alike when it comes to this. I, but for my other podcast, we've got, this is the, smart ADHD podcast. We've got quite as a long, very, Kind of quite vulnerable in a way kind of podcast. And yes, we're sitting down. It's a lot more kind of relaxed and the energy levels is much lower down and that works really well.

[29:12] But for these, these are shorter, more energetic, And so the standing up thing I should be standing up. So you've reminded me about that. we are out of time. I could talk to you for ages. So but we do need to get on to the quick fire around. So are you ready for this?

[29:29] We've got some questions. Questions.

[29:31] Nanna: Yes.

[29:31] Ian: So let's, get the tech working and here we go. So first question is acoustic panels, aesthetic choice or acoustic essential.

[29:49] Nanna: Aesthetic, I think I'll say.

[29:52] Ian: Okay.

[29:53] Nanna: it depends. Oh,

[29:54] Ian: Okay. We need to get quick. Okay. Green screen or natural background.

[29:57] Nanna: Natural.

[29:58] Ian: Definitely ring lights. Good or bad.

[30:01] Nanna: Good.

[30:02] Ian: Good. Webcam or fancy camera.

[30:06] Nanna: Webcam. Keep it going.

[30:07] Ian: What's best going solo or with guests?

[30:11] Nanna: Oh, with guests that you love.

[30:13] Ian: That you love. Yeah. Headphones. Wearing headphones. Yay or nay.

[30:18] Nanna: nay?

[30:19] Ian: Okay? No, there's no right or wrong. Teleprompter. Yes or no.

[30:24] Nanna: No.

[30:25] Ian: Okay. Coffee or tea while recording.

[30:27] Nanna: None. Distraction.

[30:29] Ian: Background music. Mood setter or distraction. Mac or PC.

[30:35] Nanna: Easy.

[30:36] Ian: And finally, microphone in or out of shot. Oh, there we go. That's okay. You can do that. You did really well. That you did really well. That was 11. You got 11. I don't know.

[30:50] I'll have to check, but I think you might be in the lead with this. So you are

[30:55] Nanna: I got a little bit caught up in the beginning. I was like, okay, what are we doing? Quick, No, not this long answer.

[31:00] Ian: No, I know. I know. And some of them are it depends, you want to say, it depends on this, but no, we want quick. thank you so much. Yeah. Thanks so much for

[31:12] Nanna: how acoustic,

[31:15] Ian: yeah, absolutely. I'm excited to have you back on the show. thank you so much for coming on.

[31:21] How can people find out more about you? You have, I assume, scattered yourself across the socials on the interwebs. where's the best place for people to find out about you?

[31:31] Nanna: obviously, LinkedIn. benefit of being LinkedIn content queen, it is in that is my game. I do write in Danish though, however, other people said that the translation button works perfectly. I can't say for myself if that's true or not, but it's other people's recommendation. And, no matter what language you speak, you are welcome to follow and contact, connect with me.

[31:56] Ian: Yeah, these, translate options are fabulous and there's only any getting better with AI, but do follow Nana because she's great. She's awesome. As you have already found out, with this podcast. Thank you so much. I'm looking forward to having you back on the show in the next season.

[32:13] but, yeah, thank you so much. Awesome.

[32:16] Nanna: you again.

[32:17] Ian: So that is the end of this episode. Thank you so much for plugging us into your ears, or watching or reading in fact, because this is also a blog post that you can find out more at iag. me forward slash 216. I think I've got that right. Always get confused with these numbers.

[32:31] But until next time, I encourage you to level up your impact, authority, and profits through the power of confident live video. See you soon. Bye.

[32:38] Thanks for listening to the Confident Live Marketing Podcast with Ian Anderson Gray. Make sure you subscribe at iag.me/podcast so you can continue to level up your impact, authority and profits through the power of live video. And until next time, Toodle