[piratee7]

hi everyone, any tips on dealing with a body microphone? BatB is my first show, and I'm playing Madame de la Grande Bouche this weekend! But I'm having trouble singing because I can't hear myself well, just my echo or whatever its called.

Thank you!

[Luc]

I don't have any tips about microphones, but you might want to try posting this in the MdN Social Club where it will get more views.

Good luck! I know you will have a great time!

[disneybeauty]

Body Mics can be tough if you're not used to them. All I can tell you is get used to hearing your echo. It sounds wierd at first, but after a while you just won't notice it.
Just practice, practice, practice so if you can't hear yourself well, yourbody will do things by wrote memorization. You know your voice, and know how to place it to sound right, so practice till it's second nature.
Oh, and if you sweat a lot, get a latex glove for the mic pack. It will reduce that tweeky feedback you get when the mic pack gets moist from sweat. (That little tidbit is from Beed-There-Done-That-Land, it wasn't fun).

[Celeste_SM]

Maybe this is too obvious, but talk to your sound guy - especially if there are particular times where you have issues with hearing what you need to hear. Sometimes they can compensate in the monitor or whatever.

[DaddyDiesel]

I use to own my own sound company I wasnt big but I did do a couple of shows. First the transmitter (also reffered to as a body pack) you want to secure very well. I suggest getting one of those traveling wallets put it around your chest get one of those tan elastic banages and wrao that around it. You also should wrap the transmitter in plastic before doing all this. A plastic glove works best. It just ensures the longevity of the transmitter. When using the mic sing and act like you normally would. The toughest thing for a sound engineer to deal with is an actor who is aware of there mic. Somtimes us as actors hear louder and shy away from loud lines or are quiet. If you hear yourself just relax you will be fine. Sound check your loudest and softest line. And dont shy away from it. If you scream in a scene scream in sound check. That way it lets the sound engineer set the correct level on there board and/or compressor if they are usuing one. If you dont then the speakers might clip or you will create an insane feedback that breaks the magic of the show.I know they are awkward when you first use them but they bring your show to a whole new level. And since the price of proffesional audio equipment has been coming down gradually. You are going to see these alot more in rich highschools and large community theatres.

[disneybeauty]

DaddyDiesel, I thought you weren't supposed to use plastic gloves because they can cause static electricity. I was told that the static electricity and sweat combining contributed to the feedback tweeks that you can get. I was also told to use the vinyl gloves that you can get at a medical supply store to put the mic pack in, because they can't carry a charge. Could you help me please?

And actually . . . very funny associated story. I was working with a theatre company who was struggling with feedback problems because the mic pacs were getting damp with sweat. We were told that the solution was to put condoms on the mic packs. So, our marketing director went to the local adult store and asked for non-lubricated, non-resevoir tip condoms. I don't know what freaked me out more: the fact that he knew the right lingo, or that he knew exactly where the store was(This guy was very type-A,+the last guy you would think to ask about such things). Anyway, that's how I found out that vinyl surgical gloves work well.

[DaddyDiesel]

[Celeste_SM]

FWIW, we only use condoms for the belt packs.

[Mimi Marquez]