Dear PSUW,
This week we look at how you handle the microphone. Have you got a ‘microphone technique’ or not? Let’s hope it’s not this:
Utterly disturbing to watch, isn’t it? One can only hope it’s a joke. Looks like it’s a joke someone made on video…after the fact. Bloopers. Gotta love’em. Except when they’re yours. Careful now…what one fan might do to you…one day (publish one of your gaffs online).
Never mind. Here’s something to settle your churning stomach – a sheer act of genius by jazz guitarist Antonio Forcione who is known for his humor. Here, literally playing with the mic for effect, he’s in top form:
So, what’s he doing right?
He’s using the mic. He’s in control of it. He is manipulating it for vocal effect. Okay, so it’s theatrical. But it begs the question: how comfortable do you feel at the mic? I go through my own set of responses when I’m working with the microphone, in every new setting:
- I set the stand where I want it.
- I tilt the mic the way I want it.
- I make sure it’s not pointing at a speaker (uh, feedback? shocking it is to me when a singer doesn’t know that pointing a microphone at a speaker/monitor will cause an ear-splitting screech).
- I begin to work with the sound engineer to get the right sound (that’s an art all unto its own…see the last link in this article).
- When I sing in the mic, I sometimes hold it, sometimes don’t, sometimes sing right into it, sometimes pull back from it. I think experience is what teaches you best how to handle a microphone – but it helps to consider the entire concept of vocal dynamics. An audience does not always want to be: whispered at, shouted at, sung at in monotones. Think: dynamics, in range, and variety. Practice at home if you have to.
Here’s an excellent article on microphone techniques for vocalists: http://www.vocalist.org.uk/microphone_techniques.html
And a fantastic article that gets into technicalities re. microphone placement, particularly good at the end in breaking down the why’s and wherefore’s for individuals and groups (it’s a downloadable PDF file): http://www.shure.com/idc/groups/public/documents/webcontent/us_pro_mics_for_music_sound_ea.pdf
Knowing how to handle a mic is one thing. Developing a relationship with it that inspires the audience, both visually and in an auditory way – well, that takes talent and gumption. Have fun!
Best,
Founder/Rabble Rouser of PSUW
