“I don’t need to use the mike for my presentation,” bellows our baritone speaker. “I have a strong voice.”
“Yes, of course you do,” I soothe him. “But please don’t be afraid to use our microphone.”
Photo Credit: Jim Bahn
Fear.
Many times, fear is the reason why seemingly polished presenters balk when we request that they use the microphone. With macho bravado, a speaker will claim that he doesn’t need extra help. But deep down, the real reason he’s brushing off microphone support is because he’s scared.
Scared? Chicken? Of what?
Sometimes, it’s fear of the unfamiliar. We’re most accustomed to hearing our voices without amplification. With a mike, our voices can sound loud and imposing to our own ears. If you’re not familiar with the sound of your amplified voice, it can sound intimidating or even too loud.
Also, a speaker may not be familiar with the actual microphone itself. This is why running an audio check prior to the presentation is so important. The sound check isn’t merely to make sure the equipment is working: it’s often even more important to make a speaker comfortable with using the microphone.
When a speaker refuses mike support, I’ve learned to accuse him (oh, it’s usually a ‘him’!) of being chicken. I might say,
“I know the microphone is scary. But if we run a quick mike check, maybe you can get over your fear really quickly. Let me set you up… there’s really no reason for you to be so afraid.”
Why do I accuse seemingly confident men of being afraid?
Two reasons:
1. Most of the time, the man is quick to prove me wrong. “I am NOT afraid!” he’ll exclaim. To prove it, he often lets me mike him immediately. This saves me the lengthy hassle of explaining that no matter how strong his voice is, it’s not going to be heard by many people in the audience without a mike.
2. Rational explanations take too long and usually don’t work. Let’s say I make the usual rational explanations: i.e.: “The people in the back will not hear you well without a mike. We’re recording this, and it will not record properly without a mike. Your voice may be strong, but it will tire over time….” Rational arguments are usually poo-poohed with a delusional “No, it’ll be just fine.”
A macho man wants to prove he’s not scared. And a scared man won’t respond well to rational arguments.
Either way, my goal is to get the speaker miked so that the audience can hear him. In my experience, appealing to emotion works faster and better than appealing to logic.
How else might you get recalcitrant speakers to use the microphone?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Hah, oh Laura – this is a great bit. I must say this one made me smile. I think I’ll just use this when it comes up (as I’m quite sure it will). Thanks for the good humor and advice!
Hah! yea. I’m actually afraid of the mike, as I don’t want to hear my own voice being amplified. I would rather speak out louder, than to miked it, but sometimes we really have to use the mike as the crowd is too huge.
Yea. Like you Laura, I would want to speaker to mike, so that the audience can hear him. That’s a simple enough reason to get him miked!
What a great way to encourage someone to use the mic! Those are bold words worth remembering and repeating when in the same situation!
Thanks for sharing that tip!.
Thanks for your comments!
I’d like to think that we’re all rational, professional adults and that I wouldn’t need to stoop to an emotionally manipulative and juvenile stunt like calling “chicken” — but, man!
It just works so well! (For me, anyway!)
Good points, Laura.
Even though non-verbal communication trumps verbal, the words we say must be heard, and understood by the entire audience.
Good practice for this is for speakers to record their own voice and get used to hearing it.
Here are two Posts that address this:
http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com/written-post-audio-post-better-post/
http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com/what-is-your-verbal-image/
Thanks for you Post!
Well, as a Mike and speaking for all Mike’s everywhere, I’m always relieved when speakers don’t want to “use the Mike.” As a group we are quite tired of being used, and would prefer that instead of continued abuse to the Mikes of the world they instead reach for the closest mic.
Pardon. I should have written,
“Too manly to use the boyink.”
Sorry, Mic.
!!!