03-19-2016, 09:55 AM
I telecommute full time these days. I prefer to have my webcam background to be out the window behind me, looking into the forest. The far end will regularly hear birds over my headset. That, coupled with seeing the jungle behind, me evidently makes for quite a unique experience for them. I have to answer many questions about where I live, but that provides a good opportunity to build the personal bonds that are so difficult to cultivate when working remotely. It allows us to be personal, without having to display my personal life on camera. I would say that allowing clients and colleagues to see the goings on of the house happening behind you is not a good plan.
Other background noises, such as my wife's activity or our pets, are easier to control in my situation. I have a dedicated office and I can close the door. However, in the past I have had to work from a shared space like you will be doing. The key was to have a signal that indicated that I was on a call, like an improvised 'On Air' sign. I liked to use the stereo and a white noise MP3 track; which is dual purpose, as it would also wash out some of the background noise. If worse came to worse - for instance, if my darling were lying on the couch while ill and wanted to watch the TV - I would go out on the lanai with my laptop. In fact, that type of flexibility is a must. You can only flex your environment so much. And, sometimes it is easier to just be flexible yourself. Such as as the earlier suggestion of using the car as a quiet soundbooth.
Room dividers can work really well to create a neutral backdrop. I have a colleague who has a roll around style clothes rack, which has some sort of a thick black cloth draped over it, which he uses as a backdrop. He states that it has the additional benefit of absorbing sound so that his voice does sound like he is in a box. It also seems to cut down the background noise. I have talked to him without it in place and definity noticed the sound of children more.
Other background noises, such as my wife's activity or our pets, are easier to control in my situation. I have a dedicated office and I can close the door. However, in the past I have had to work from a shared space like you will be doing. The key was to have a signal that indicated that I was on a call, like an improvised 'On Air' sign. I liked to use the stereo and a white noise MP3 track; which is dual purpose, as it would also wash out some of the background noise. If worse came to worse - for instance, if my darling were lying on the couch while ill and wanted to watch the TV - I would go out on the lanai with my laptop. In fact, that type of flexibility is a must. You can only flex your environment so much. And, sometimes it is easier to just be flexible yourself. Such as as the earlier suggestion of using the car as a quiet soundbooth.
Room dividers can work really well to create a neutral backdrop. I have a colleague who has a roll around style clothes rack, which has some sort of a thick black cloth draped over it, which he uses as a backdrop. He states that it has the additional benefit of absorbing sound so that his voice does sound like he is in a box. It also seems to cut down the background noise. I have talked to him without it in place and definity noticed the sound of children more.