Camera vs. Crowd: Adapting Your Promo for YouTube vs. Live Shows

Cutting a great wrestling promo is one thing.
Cutting a great live promo in front of a crowd? Or a taped promo for YouTube?

That’s a whole different skill set.

If you want to thrive in indie wrestling—especially on the Michigan scene or in a storytelling-heavy promotion like Planet Wrestling—you’ve got to know the difference between playing to the lens and working the room.

Let’s break it down.

🎥 Promo Style 1: Camera Promos (YouTube, Instagram, Pre-Tapes)

These are promos fans watch online, often days or weeks before the show. They’re your first impression, your character reel, and your digital audition all at once.

✅ What Works:

• Direct eye contact with the lens

• Controlled intensity (no yelling needed)

• Tight framing on your face—emotion sells

• Clear audio and lighting

• Keep it short (30–90 seconds)

🧠 Tip:

Imagine you’re talking to one person—the viewer. Get in their head. Be personal, not theatrical.

🎤 Promo Style 2: Live Promos (In-Ring, Mic in Hand)

This is where you control the room.
You’re not cutting a promo at people—you’re cutting it with them.

✅ What Works:

• Project your voice—use your diaphragm, not your throat

• Big gestures, strong body language

• Pause for reactions (boos, cheers, chants)

• Make eye contact with the crowd

• Work the room, not just one side

🧠 Tip:

Your energy has to match the venue. In a 200-person indie crowd, you're face-to-face with the audience. That intimacy = power.

🪐 Planet Wrestling Example

At Planet Wrestling, most feuds build with BOTH:

• A YouTube pre-tape where a wrestler lays out their plan

• A live promo where they double down, call someone out, or get interrupted

Wrestlers who can switch gears between the two? They’re the ones who get over—and stay over.

💡 Final Thought

Don’t treat all promos the same.
Know your setting. Adjust your style.
Mastering both = more fan connection, more bookings, and more buzz.