Every time someone wants to use a mic, I tell them to hold the mic to their mouth and speak clearly, I will do the rest. Why oh why do they not get the bloody message time after time?


They always seem to hold the mic 12" away.

Are they so nervous they don't actually listen? Or are they just stoooopid?

What's your way of telling them so they listen?

Same as mine..... Only mines BIGGER !!!! Lol

OK another coffee all over the screen incident for me to clear up!

give them a headset mic ! knowing some they would put it on there bottoms! lol

I'm sorry, but I have no idea why they do it, and I have no effective cure.

I know it happens with carry oakey, and it happens when someone wants to make an announcement over the mic, or do the draw.

One theory, which I've just this moment thought of, is that maybe as soon as they hear their own voice through the speakers they get spooked and move the mic further way to 'cure' it.

Are they copying what they see on telly. I wonder? There you often see people making news reports into a distanced mic, but of course they are only recording, not using a PA system.

Doesn't address the reason why they continue to do it despite benig told.
Silly buggers.

AHH HAA. I can help here!!

I get the now famous clipboard out (again) and show them the A4 picture of a face with a microphone pasted on it. I then explain nicely to the user of the mic, that 2" away is perfect for my equalisation - amplification system.

It works EVERY time.

They also like to stand in front of the Speakers and then when it does scream they then point the mic at the speaker even more.

I have had it with Karaoke people saying there mic is not loud enough compared to there friend (friend has the mic close to there mouth). So i turn the mic up then they do the point above and then scream down it

No one likes the sound of their own voice...that's why..

They either hold it so far away from their mouths that you can't hear them (thankfully) OR they grab the end of the mic and cover it up and hold it to the side as if they think they are Eminem or something. I don't tend to do that much karaoke anymore and source out the work but when I did I would tell them either to listen to what I am saying or don't bother.

The thing that gets my goat is when they hold it so far away they don't think it's on so, to test it, they bang it against the nearest available hard surface or thump the top of it

In a local pub arena and if you have confidence you can have fun with this sort of thing
when a bloke taps his mic to check it out i quip " If he does that with the mic imagine what he does to his di~K! hey girls"
When a woman taps it i usually say " she used to something that shape but with batterys in it..or ...no matter how hard you hit it ,it aint going to vibrate love!"

once shown up they dont tend to tap the mic.

Part of the skill of a KJ is to take control ,dealing with drunks and screamers is part of the show ,having in jokes with the regulars,biging up performances that are average but the drunk crowd think are brilliant and also as bad as it sounds having a laugh at the expense of poor singers.

I am always near the singer when they are singing at karaoke if they are not loud enough at the begining i stop the track say "shall we start that again "as i cue it back up i tell them to hold the mic closer or i turn the mic level right down if they are in the middle of the song and lean over and tell them to hold the mic closer..this sends a clear message to them and anyone else wanting to hold it at arms length. Harsh i know but you can get away with this sort of customer abuse in the right enviroment!


I couldnt do wedding functions etc i would lose control as you have to be so polite and nice to everyone in trying to please everyone i would lose control of the gig,I really do take my hat off to you guys i just couldnt do it.

Now you can get away with this sort of banter if you are experienced and its the right venue BUT if its not a good idea to get lippy for example at a wake for a ex gangland enforcer ! well not if you like you knee caps..lol

My Misses does lol


Nik

Snap!!!!!

I'm thinking of fixing an A4 sheet just under the monitor for karaoke with a sign that says hold the mic close to your mouth. That way, every time they look at the screen for the words, they might get reminded.

Even if you tell them, and they start off right, as someone earlier said, when they hear their own voice through the speakers, they pull it away.

I usually tell the ladies to pretend it's a lollypop.

I don't think abusing them to the crowd is very professional.

One way I might do it is to courteously step up alongside the mic user and gently clamp my hand over his/hers and ease it into correct position with a smile and a nod of encouragement, maybe even adding the thumbs up.

They either get the message or they really are no-hopers anyway.

I find that what works really well is to tell them to lightly rest the end of the mic on the tip of their chin and speak normally.


Bob

great reading guys, been laughing for the last 10 mins


i've had them all as i do a karaoke disc in 2 pubs on the weekend
nobody gets up until the sambuca singing tonic has taken effect then you get

this mic ain't on (even though you and everyone else can clearly hear them)
this is followed by the ritual of banging the mic on there head or thumping it with the free hand
you explain the mics are sensitive and require a distance of about 1-2 inch from the mouth
they do this for a mo and you unduly adjust the volume down
give them a minute to realize their voice can be heard around the pub tidy and the arm starts to stretch out again.

you cant win

i love the knock em back approach by robster, classic