I used to think it was a (bad) joke when I heard presenters checking the microphone was turned on by asking if it was. If it is, or course, the whole audience can hear you asking and your credibility takes a tumble before you even start. If it isn’t, no one knows you’re asking in the first place.
Microphones seem to panic people, but every professional (or anyone wanting to look professional!) will do a few simple checks before the audience arrive…. not while they’re filing in. Doing that has got to list amongst the highest crimes against presentation skills!
- Check what kind of a mic you’re expected to use. Lectern Mics are probably the most robust but also the most limiting. Radio mics can be hand-held (a nightmare if you’re not used to it) or lavalier (button). The latter is preferable unless you’ve practiced with microphones… and even then it’s probably the better option as a speaker.
- Check if you need to use a Mic. Some times it’s just not worth the angst. Do that checking before your audience arrive though, and remember that when people come into a room they’ll absorb sound, so what might have been loud enough in rehearsal isn’t loud enough in performance.
- Check the batteries. Amongst theatre professionals, microphones are notorious for eating up batteries and most places will change batteries between shows – every show. It might be wasteful but at least it’s secure: I mean no disrespect to your venues here to suggest that they might not have the same protocol. If in doubt, take your own batteries with you; if you’re worried about the environmental impact, take re-chargeable ones (remembering they go flat faster, so charge them fully!)
- Check where the loud-speakers are. Don’t walk in front of them with your microphone or you’ll get that horrible howling sound called ‘feedback’. (Seriously – I’ve seen professionals do this!)
- Check you know how to turn it on and off and that you’ve agreed with whoever is running things who is going to control the on/off – you or the person on the sound desk! You’d be surprised at how much chaos you can create simply by turning a microphone off at the wrong moment!
- Check if you’re going to be recorded. If you are, you’ll have to wear a microphone, obviously, but that doesn’t automatically mean that you must have your voice fed through the speakers: it’s perfectly possible for your voice to be recorded without being broadcast! If you don’t want to be broadcast over the speakers, make sure you’re not, whether you’re being recorded or not.
Okay, so none of that is exactly rocket science…it’s the most basic of presentation skills… but believe me, it’s important. How do I know? Well you’ve no idea how many presentations I’ve cringed through! :)
