Three years ago I ran my first paid online workshop from my dining table. I had notes taped to the monitor, dog barking in the background, and a coffee mug that sloshed every time I gestured. The recording was a mess. Participants emailed afterward saying they could not focus on my content because I seemed distracted. They were right. I was trying to do three things at once: check slides, mute the dog, and remember the next point. That experience forced me to rethink my setup. I realized that the minutes before going live mattered more than the equipment or the slides. What I needed was a transition space—a place to reset my mind before stepping on camera.
I started searching for a simple way to create that buffer. That is when I found the iroo room. It offered exactly what I was trying to build: a calm, dedicated area to prepare before any virtual event. I tested it for my next workshop, and the difference was immediate. I felt less rushed, more centered, and the audience noticed. This article shares the lessons I learned from that change, broken into three practical areas.
Why a pre-show ritual matters more than your lighting
I used to spend twenty minutes adjusting lights and camera angles before each session. I thought technical perfection would make me look professional. It did not. My voice still sounded nervous because my mind was still racing from the last email or the dinner chaos. The best presenters I have watched do not obsess over gear. They show up calm. They have a short routine that tells their brain: it is showtime now.
I developed my own five-minute ritual. I close all browser tabs except the workshop dashboard. I take three slow breaths. I stand up and stretch my shoulders. Then I read a short written reminder of the single value I want the audience to walk away with. That is all. It takes less time than fiddling with a ring light, and it has improved my delivery more than any microphone upgrade.
If you run online meetings or webinars, try this:
- Turn off notifications on your phone and computer ten minutes before start time.
- Sit in a chair without swiveling or fidgeting. Plant your feet flat on the floor.
- Say one sentence aloud that summarizes your opening point. Hearing your own voice warms up your confidence.
The goal is not to memorize a script. The goal is to arrive mentally before the event begins. A green room, whether physical or virtual, gives you that locked window of calm. Without it, you are just reacting to the environment.
How I accidentally turned my closet into a production studio
My home office doubles as my kids’ playroom when I am not working. I could not keep the toys out of frame. So I relocated to a small walk-in closet in our hallway. It is six feet by four feet. No natural light. I hung a plain beige curtain behind my chair. I added a small table that folds down from the wall. That closet became my sanctuary.
I learned that the space itself does not have to be impressive. It just has to be separate from your living zone. The act of walking into that closet, closing the door, and sitting down became my brain’s trigger for focus. I experimented with different elements to make it work better:
- A single warm desk lamp instead of overhead glare.
- A small glass of water placed exactly where I would not knock it over.
- A printed sign taped to the door that says “In session” so family knows not to knock.
That closet has hosted over forty workshops now. I have never hit record without sitting there for at least three minutes first. The routine is simple, but it holds the same function as a backstage green room in a theater. You step off the noisy floor of life, review your opening, and then walk onto the stage of the screen.
“The difference between a good online session and a great one is not the script. It is the silence you bring into the room before you speak.”
I wrote that down after a particularly smooth session where everything clicked. I had forgotten a slide halfway through, but I stayed calm because I had already settled my nervous system before starting. The mistake did not rattle me.
Choosing the right buffer for your own personality
Not everyone needs a physical closet. Some people I coach use a corner of their living room with a folding screen. Others stand in a hallway and stare out a window for two minutes. One client opens a specific notebook and writes a single bullet point before each client call. The common thread is intentional separation, not fancy setup.
What matters is that you design a transition that matches your energy level. If you are naturally high-energy, your green room routine should include a quieting activity, like deep breathing or closing your eyes. If you tend to feel low energy before a presentation, use your buffer to do a few jumping jacks or read a motivating quote. I learned this after trying a meditation app before a workshop. It made me sleepy. I needed something more grounding, not more relaxing.
Here is the real lesson I want you to take away: your audience does not care if you use a closet, a dedicated online tool, or a park bench. They care about whether you feel present when you speak to them. A pre-show buffer is the simplest way to become present.
