Best Microphone Techniques For Your Best Man’s Toast or Any Speech
Here are some great tips to know about microphone techniques when giving your speech at the wedding.
Microphone Handling:
When you are told to eat the microphone, you might be surprised to learn that this does not mean you should literally eat it. Keep your hunger in check with cocktail food and keep the microphone about one or two inches from your mouth. In the world of microphones, this really is “eating it” and is how you will talk live, generally speaking. Don’t let the mic touch your lips.
When speaking live, the microphone should sit at about chin level and be tilted up towards your mouth and nose. It should not be at a 90 degree angle with the mic coming straight at your mouth. When you talk, you talk at a slightly downward diagonal angle — a microphone coming straight for you will not only be somewhat uncomfortable, but it’ll miss plenty of signal.
Most microphones are designed to be held in a specific way. With dynamic microphone, you will need to keep your hand away from the grille part of the microphone (as this is where the sound will enter your microphone) and hold the stem firmly. If you hold the grille part of your microphone, you will find that this can cause an increased chance of leading to feedback (that horrible screeching sound from your speakers).
You should aim to hold your microphone horizontally towards your mouth, rather than holding it vertically, where the sound can actually skim over the top of your microphone. If you turn your head when talking, move your arm and take the microphone with you, otherwise you will find the microphone fails to pick you up when you move out of its pick-up pattern.
Speak to the back of the room – What is your job is to project your voice as best as possible. Just because there is a microphone in front of you doesn’t mean you can speak in a normal conversational voice. While on stage, make believe you are speaking to someone in the back of the room. This will keep you at a consistent volume.
Know the speaker placement – Another example of being aware of your surroundings is to know where the speakers are placed. This is normally only a concern on the outer edges of a stage or if you intend on walking into the crowd. When you enter and exit a stage avoid walking directly in front of a speaker with a live microphone. Stand where we tell you to stand – next to the bride and groom so that the photographer can capture you together.
Keep the microphone about 1″ away from your mouth at all times. If you keep moving the microphone, the volume of your voice will keep changing. Holding it down by your chest will not work.
The microphone will already be ON. All you need to do is pick it up. It will be stationed at the BRIDE/GROOM’s table. Do not walk up to the DJ booth after we’ve told you that it’s with the BRIDE/GROOM.
We will not turn up the volume until we introduce you. Smacking the microphone will not cause us to turn it on any sooner. Smacking the microphone is also not a good way to test a microphone. Try saying “HELLO”. “Is This On” just makes you look like you don’t know what you are doing.
When you are done with your toast/speech, simply put the microphone back down where you found it. DO NOT PRESS ANY BUTTONS. We might have someone else using it after you. We’ll take care of the rest.
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