Microphone tips for novice and seasoned speakers

The Something Gained Toastmasters club will welcome “Mike” to their April 14 meeting.

That’s mike, as in microphone.

Even the most experienced speakers worry before taking the stage and giving a speech. Many times they practice in front of friends, coworkers, family and mirrors.

However, they rarely rehearse using a microphone.

In fact, for many speakers stepping up to the lectern is their first opportunity to adjust the podium microphone or the
clip mike attached to their collar. Often times their lack of microphone experience becomes apparent to the
audience.

To give a professional speech that engages the audience, speakers should know how to properly use a microphone.

“Don’t let your inability to properly manage a microphone detract from your speech,” stresses Silvia Swigert, co-sponsor of the club. “After all, microphones are tools that take the speech from good to great.”

During the April 14 presentation members and guests will learn:

• the best place to put a lavaliere (clip) mike on a speaker’s clothes,
• the worst place,
• how to evaluate the sound throughout the entire room,
• proper positioning at the lectern,
• how posture helps and hurts the sounds,
• the differences between a podium mike versus alavaliere (clip) mike,
• remembering microphones have on and off buttons (even professionals forget),
• how microphones and hearing aidseffect each other,
• and more!

Members of the Something Gained Club started their Toastmasters journey with the Speechcraft program. They are now moving forward to become a chartered club where members will work toward the Competent Communicator award.

If you’ve procrastinated about improving your communication and public speaking skills, plan to attend this meeting. After all, every time you speak it’s public speaking – all that changes is the size of the audience.

There’s no charge for those who want to meet “Mike” and enjoy the Toastmasters club meeting.

Related articles

• Start the new year by improving your public speaking skills (oc-breeze.com)
• Martha Washington to speak to Cypress Toastmasters (oc-breeze.com)
• Distinguished Toastmaster with progressive hearing loss to speak at Cypress Toastmasters meeting (oc-breeze.com)
• Want to practice public speaking? Join Toastmaster’s! (parasdoshi.com)
• Speech Evaluation – 10 reminders (thestorysolver.wordpress.com)