How to Give a Great Speech: Microphone Technique 101
Imagine you are an elite athlete, at the peak of your fitness, and you are paid a quarter of a million dollars a year by the first-place winning team.
You’ve played the game of your career against your local rival in one of the biggest games of the year.
You are exhausted, euphoric and are asked to step on the podium to accept the man of the match medal.
With a nationwide live television audience watching, including hundreds of thousands of children for whom you are a role model and hero… you utter the following words in your acceptance speech… “We’re going to have a good year”. “.
This is West Coast Eagles midfielder Michael Braun, who was fined $5,000 for dressing in public after receiving the Ross Glendinning Medal after the Perth western derby recently.
This comment delivered in the midst of the adrenaline rush of the sport has caused irreversible damage to the brand and reputation of both West Coast Eagles Football Club and the Australian Football League (AFL).
That’s why the AFL Commission met with the Eagles to discuss issues surrounding player behavior off the pitch.
The Eagles have been notified that if they appear before the Commission again, they will be subject to the full force of rule 1.6 for improper conduct which can lead to a fine, suspension, loss of draft picks or premiership points.
So what’s the point of sharing this story with you, especially if you have no idea what the AFL is, who the Eagles are, and who Michael Braun is?
Well, it shows the importance of choosing your words carefully when giving a speech.
It reminded me of the golden rules of microphone technique.
Here are ten tips on microphone technique to maximize your message and not ruin your reputation when giving a speech.
1. Never swear in front of a microphone.
I learned this rule of thumb while working as a broadcaster at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Never use it in front of a microphone because you never know when it’s on!
This mistake may cost you money, like $5,000, but your personal or professional reputation is priceless.
Remember that you can never get it back, so it’s best to be disciplined in the first place.
2. Use a microphone if there are more than 30 people
The human voice is a delicate instrument.
Treat it with respect. Do not force it because you can cause long-term and irreversible damage.
Always ask for and use a microphone if there are more than 30 people in the audience.
Explain to the organizers what kind of microphone you want well before you speak.
I usually have a set of AV requirements that I send to a conference organizer at least six weeks before the presentation. This includes my preferred type of microphone, lighting, and how I want the stage set up.
3. Find the best microphone for the situation: shock, quiet and hassle-free
A podium microphone will give you maximum impact for a presidential-style presentation where you use the podium as your anchor point.
The benefits of using a podium microphone are peace of mind and hassle-free speaking because you can set it and forget it.
4. Find the best microphone for the situation: impact, freedom and mobility
A lavalier microphone is very small and uses a clip to attach it to the presenter’s clothing.
If you want to move away from the podium, it takes the place of a more statically positioned microphone.
The lapel microphone connects to a console that clips to your belt and can amplify your voice without having to hold it.
They are often wireless and linked to the main public address system.
This is my preferred style of microphone.
As he becomes more experienced, he learns to ignore the microphone and even uses the tilt and angle of his head to vary his volume, pitch, and timbre on the microphone.
A trap for people. If you are using a lavalier microphone, make sure you have turned it off before going to the bathroom.
I have heard of speakers who relieve themselves only to find out that the entire audience heard everything because their lavalier microphone was still on and broadcasting to the entire auditorium!
The headset microphone is a variation, but I’ve found the headset to be a bit cumbersome and intrusive to work with.
5. Find the best microphone for the situation: shock, shock, shock
There’s no question that a handheld microphone gives you the most range and vocal control.
That is why it is so popular among artists and artists.
As a professional public speaker, I find that I like to use my entire body to speak kinesthetically and find that holding a handheld microphone interferes with my body movement.
6. Familiarize yourself with the “on and off” switch
Even seasoned professionals can get caught up and it reflects badly on you as a presenter.
Take time to familiarize yourself with the on/off switch. I’ve lost count of the number of times a speaker looks unprofessional when on stage they say “how do you turn this on?” or some variation.
7. Keep an eye on feedback
Feedback is really annoying to the audience.
Walk around the stage and room looking for feedback points and adjust accordingly.
8. Use the clenched fist rule
Again, I learned this on ABC from legendary broadcaster and public speaking coach Arch McKirdy.
He taught me that the best way to position the microphone in relation to the mouth and lips is to make a fist and this is the optimal distance between the microphone and the mouth.
9. Speak directly into the microphone
Hosts hate being “off the mic” because the sound quality is bad.
Always speak directly into a microphone. Wear a windsock if there is external noise or to avoid blowing out with the letter “p”.
10. Always do a sound check
do a sound check before you present
Check the entire scenario for feedback points.
Treat the professional sound crew with respect, introduce yourself and clearly explain what you want to do, and rehearse especially for a complex presentation.
Thank them later. Once you are ready to proceed, turn on the microphone.