Public speaking can be one of the scariest activities in a person's life, so
using a microphone is sometimes a rare event for people. There may come
a time, though, when you're asked to step up and say something in public
using a microphone, such as making announcements, or introducing
dancers at a showcase or hafla. Below are a few tips, but the main things to
remember are not to point the mike at a speaker, or puff at the mike.
- Dave Goodman
using a microphone is sometimes a rare event for people. There may come
a time, though, when you're asked to step up and say something in public
using a microphone, such as making announcements, or introducing
dancers at a showcase or hafla. Below are a few tips, but the main things to
remember are not to point the mike at a speaker, or puff at the mike.
 | Hold the microphone vertically, straight up and down, about an inch in | |
| front of your chin. You want it just below your lips and your airstream, so that you're not blowing on the mike when saying words with P in them. This avoids that popping sound. |
| If your voice is too loud in the speakers, move the mike away from your | |
| mouth a little bit. If it's too soft, move it closer. If you don't hear anything, see if there's a switch on the mike you can flip to ON. If it was off, flip it back to OFF when you're done speaking. |
| Don't stand in front of a speaker, or point the mike at a speaker. Doing | |
| so can result in that loud, annoying feedback tone. If you do get feedback, turn the mike off or point it away from a speaker. Don't cover it with your hand. |
| It's okay to take a moment before you start speaking. Speak slowly | |
| and clearly. If you can, look at the audience as you speak, and take turns with each part of the room. It's okay to pause a moment at any time instead of saying, "um, uh, like, you know". Just pretend you're doing it for effect. If you say something that can inspire laughter or applause, pause a moment to allow the audience to do so. |
| Don't plug in or unplug the microphone while the amplifier is on and the | |
| volume is up. This can result in a loud boom sound, can damage equipment and will disturb the audience. The sound man will glare at you. |
| Microphones are fragile. Don't bang them on anything. Not even your | |
| head. Don't swing the mike by its cable. The sound man will glare at you. |
| Most importantly, don't try public speaking if you're inebriated. heh. |
- Dave Goodman
| Microphone Technique |
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