Question #4: What are Some Good Microphone Tips for Public Speakers?
I shrank in my chair and tried to hide. It felt like half the audience was staring at me. My job was to run the sound at a wedding.
Simple job–except the soloist did not know how to use a microphone. He treated like it had a contagious disease and stood about three feet away! This standard sub par microphone was picking up nothing.
As the sound man, I had the microphone volume turned all the way up to catch any waves of sound. During the chorus, the soloist decided the mike was cured of it’s contagious disease. His face and voice came within inches of the mike. A sharp, high pitched shriek blasted out the loudspeakers.
Everyone was instantly on high alert and looking around for someone to blame.
I wanted to hold up a sign which said, “It was his fault–not mine!”
Too many people fail to properly use a mike. The result? Their excellent speeches are either barely heard or other sounds distract the audience. Here are several good microphone tips:
Microphone Tip #1: Test right before the event
One time I spoke at an event where the microphone was working 20 minutes before it started. Sometime between sound check and speech kickoff, the sound system was shut off. To make matters worse, there was no sound person in sight!
What did I do? I spoke a little louder for a few minutes, until the sound person returned. Now, I like to check the microphone 20 minutes before a presentation and again right before the presentation.
Get on the same page with the sound person and run through a live check for volume, etc. This is especially important with hand held microphones. You need to know how far to hold them from your mouth.
Microphone Tip #2: Stand close to the microphone
Have you noticed how most people have microphone phobia? They stand too far back or don’t speak directly into it. Do you do this?
Many microphones have limited pick up distance. You almost have to eat the microphone. Have you heard the squealing feedback that sometimes comes across a sound system? That actually means you are too far away from the microphone. Move closer so the sound guy can turn down the microphone and reduce the feedback.
Microphone Tip #3: Turn it on and off
I love lapel mikes. They free up my hands and give me freedom of movement. However, they have two drawbacks:
First, we have to remember to turn them on.
Second, it can make for some interesting and embarrassing moments if we forget to turn them off.
At college their was a professor who forget to shut off the lapel mike when he went to take a restroom break. Imagine his surprise when he walked back in the room and wondered why everyone was snickering and trying to act normal!
The microphone is a speakers best friend. It helps save our voice and helps the audience listen to our message. Apply these public speaking microphone tips and your message will be heard.
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