STEP BY STEP TO STAND-UP COMEDY
CHAPTER NINE

Microphone Technique:
Dos and Don'ts

Having no experience with a microphone can be an ordeal for the beginner's first few times on stage. At first the mike will seem like this awkward phallus with an annoying cord that's always underfoot, but with a few tips and a little practice using it will become second nature. In fact, you'll soon come to depend on it because controlling an audience is so much easier when you're louder than they can ever be.

Microphone Technique:
Dos and Don'ts

MICROPHONE TECHNIQUE: DOS and DON'TS
When Entering the Stage. . .
If the Microphone Doesn't Work. . .
If it Still Doesn't Work. . .
If the Mike Works but You Can't Hear Yourself . . .
How to Hold a Mike . . .
In Dealing with the Cord . . .
When Gesturing . . .
When Adjusting the Mike Stand . . .
Coping with the Unexpected . . .
When Leaving the Stage . . .

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Microphone Technique:
Dos and Don'ts

WHEN GESTURING . . .
Don't gesture with the hand that's holding the mike. Your hand and the mike will move away from your mouth and the audience won't hear what you're saying.
Do gesture with the non-mike hand. Feel free to transfer the mike from hand to hand as your need to gesture changes.

WHEN ADJUSTING THE MIKE STAND . . .
Don't loosen the center tightener all the way when adjusting the height of the mike stand. If you forget which direction to turn it, you can easily spend a full minute trying to get the stand to tighten up again.
Do loosen the tightener slightly, step on the bottom of the stand to stabilize it, adjust, then tighten. If it doesn't tighten quickly, you're going in the wrong direction.
Don't take time to adjust the stand to just the perfect height and then take the mike out of it and set it behind you.
Do take the mike out immediately and place the stand out of the way.