Whatchu say?

I recently attended one of the industry’s largest events. Every city, state, country, venue, and service provider in the hospitality and tourism industry was present. It’s one of the highlights of my year. I can get a lot of practical business done, accomplish mini “site visits” without actually leaving the show floor, attend amazing education, and see old friends all in a few short days. It was at these educational sessions this year that I experienced the subject of this blog…hand-held microphone etiquette.

You can have the most educated, decorated speaker or professor at your session providing the most relevant, important, earth-shattering information to the attendees, but if nobody can hear him because he can’t figure out how to use a standard hand-held microphone, what good is it?

I watched as a panel of speakers couldn’t manage to keep a hand-held microphone anywhere near their mouths. One used it as a magic wand. One must have thought his bellybutton was speaking. One was playing a game with the tech team to see how far away she could hold it and still be picked up by the sound board. Still another tried to see if the tech team could keep up with her acrobatics as she moved the microphone all around her mouth the entire time. And one actually knew what he was doing.

It may feel awkward but this is incredibly important. When using a hand-held microphone, you need to actually hold it up to your mouth. You can even gently brush your lips once in a while. Nobody will think twice about how you hold the mic near your mouth but they will judge you if they can’t hear you. They will most likely start to tune out if you wave the microphone around like a samurai warrior.

I normally get so much out of the educational sessions and I was very much looking forward to this one, but I have to admit, because I couldn’t hear anything and nobody was willing to interrupt the speakers to remind them to keep the microphone up for our benefit, I left at the first break. I was incredibly disappointed. And yes, my experience was reflected in my post-event survey feedback.

Have you experienced a speaker with interesting hand-held microphone antics? I’d love to hear your story! Share it here or email me.

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