Se Connecter:     

Forum: General Discussion

Sujet: Holding The Mic Closer

Ce topic est ancien et peut contenir des informations obselètes ou incorrectes.

What is your experience with getting guests to remember to hold the mic closer?

I believe we all experience guests at our gigs who never seem to hold the mic close enough, even after you remind them to.... or they start ok then the mic eventually drifts toward their hips as they get into their speech, toasts etc. So we resort to boosting the gain on the mixer and risk the old feedback point.

Hoping wedding reception djs especially have some good tips on what to do.
 
Posté Wed 07 Jul 10 @ 6:52 am
If it is a toast, you quickly whisper in their ear to hold the mic up to their mouth when they get the mic from you to start the speech. If they forget and the audience cannot hear, you can often rely upon a member of the audience to yell out "Louder!". Or you can gracefully walk over to the side nearest where they are holding the mic and subtly get their attention and motion them to bring the mic up.

 
If there is an MC I always coach them ahead of time on proper mic technique because they are the first to speak and they will set the bar for other speakers. That way no one will think that the DJ hasn't turned the mic up enough. Then I don't touch the gain at all because guests will already know that the mic is loud enough and that subsequent speakers are not speaking loud enough or close enough to the mic and someone will yell "speak up". It's so funny when someone is speaking into the mic and then they turn their head to look at the bride and groom to address them and their voice disappears.

On a side not it always makes me laugh when people think a wireless mic has 'magical powers' and can be heard anywhere. For example, the MC comes up to me and asks for the wireless mic and then walks out of the room out into the foyer and asks everyone to make their way inside and then wonders why no one heard him. That's because there aren't any speakers out there!!!!

Also, there is the some sort of misconception that a wireless mic is somehow superior to a wired one. I use a Shure SM58 wireless and a Shure SM58 wired which both sound exactly the same but clients always request a wireless mic not because they need to move around the room, but because they think the wireless is somehow going to be better for some reason.
 
I have read studies asking people what their greatest fears are. Right at the top of the list is speaking in front of a large group of people. All you can do is a gentle reminder, and hope they learn without prompting too much. If you get too aggressive with reminding them you will get a bad rep for being a pain...
 
Good replies. Thanks.

Sometimes its not convenient to get over to the speaker to remind them, especially if they are in the middle of a large floor, when the room is crowded or they are not close to where you are set up. But I like the suggestion to just let their voice disappear and let the audience work it out with them. I find that even the MCs sometimes forget how to hold the mic. I guess they shouldn't be MCs huh?

At the end of the day, its not a good showing when too many of the speakers are not heard.... and ppl seldom focus on the technicalities. They just know they can't hear uncle John at the moment. Hey DJ, turn up the mic!!
 
A few years ago, I did a Christmas party for a large corporation. They seemed like a good group, very fun bunch. The CEO was giving a speech, with my wireless mic. He kept wandering around, in front of my speakers. Every time he got feedback he would turn and look at me. The guests laughed. After the fourth time I took two pieces of stage tape and made a big "X" on the floor. The fifth time he walked in front of the speaker and got feedback he turned to me. I walked over to him, placed both hands on his shoulders, and walked him to the "X". I said, loud enough for the mic to pick up, "This is the sweet spot, sir. Please keep your remarks within the boundaries of the sweet spot. Or, I will double my fee." Everyone in the crowd fell out. The CEO never strayed again.
 
Good for you! It's annoying when they walk in front of the speakers, especially after you tell them not to.
 
 
before passing the mic, tell them to talk very closely to the mic, and do a quick announcement about the next speaker, then pass the mic..
 
marksmolinski wrote :
before passing the mic, tell them to talk very closely to the mic, and do a quick announcement about the next speaker, then pass the mic..


you can try but It always seems to be a problem
here's what I do

fighting Feedback:

Setup your speaks in front of staging/speaking area and as far away /close to the crowd as possible
use monitor facing the speaker/away from the crowd (towards the back of the mic.. I good mic will not feedback)
people like to hear them selves.. this is for you also when you start to mix:

Fighting people afraid of the mic:

Only thing that has worked for me was a condencer mic.
regular mic are less focus and will not pic up from far away.
Ever wonder how a preacher at church can be so far away from the mic and you
still hear him loud and clear... Condensers do the trick.


mic check/room eqing:

After you setup, perform a good mic heck from different area in your allowed speaking area, eq the room as needed to fight feedback.
eq the mics.. perform this with your host/main speaker if possible. if big changes are needed for a main speakers write it down or give him/her their own mic.

While most of problem is the clients fault weather lack of knowledge or brain...
it's still your responsibility to make sure your performance is 100%.. performing a good sound setup before you start your gig
will give you the peace of mind that you did your job and them gratification when they write your payment check.
 
A few years ago, I did a Christmas party for a large corporation. They seemed like a good group, very fun bunch. The CEO was giving a speech, with my wireless mic. He kept wandering around, in front of my speakers. Every time he got feedback he would turn and look at me. The guests laughed. After the fourth time I took two pieces of stage tape and made a big "X" on the floor. The fifth time he walked in front of the speaker and got feedback he turned to me. I walked over to him, placed both hands on his shoulders, and walked him to the "X". I said, loud enough for the mic to pick up, "This is the sweet spot, sir. Please keep your remarks within the boundaries of the sweet spot. Or, I will double my fee." Everyone in the crowd fell out. The CEO never strayed again.

That is one way of doing it.

Generally, I would just tell them what to do, and if they don't listen, they're the one's ruining the party...
 


(Les anciens sujets et forums sont automatiquement fermés)