Simon Brooks © 2018

This autumn (September 2018) I watched a non-storytelling performer do his act. He had a portable system and was thrilled with it. However, out in the audience it was painful to hear. The sound was tinny, thin and not clear. “It only cost…” I was told by my friend. The equipment was new, they have been performing for as a long as me (maybe more) and they had no idea about sound.

Some people feel sound systems and microphones are intimidating, but in truth, they are just a tool and are easy to use once you are familiar with them. If you can plug a kettle into a wall socket and make a cup of tea, or use in a DVD player, or play your favourite podcast on your phone, you can handle a sound system. Honest. And I get your fear of mics and speakers. My fear is sewing machines!

Here are some points I have learned and figured out over my years of playing in bands and performing as a storyteller.

• There is no magic microphone or single sound system that will do what everyone wants or needs. If there were, all the other microphones and speakers would no longer sell and companies would go out of business.
• You shouldn’t buy a microphone without trying it out, just like you shouldn’t buy a brand of shoes you have never bought or worn before without trying them on first. Your voice will sound different through different microphones.
• Sound travels in waves, similar to ripples in a pond. Once the ripples hit the bank they bounce back. Sound stops when it hits a mass. It does not travel through a body, so someone behind said body will not benefit from a low placed speaker as much as the person in front. The speaker ideally needs to be above head-height so the sound can travel to the audience.
• Cheap cables should be avoided at all costs. They are most often un-balanced cables, which can pick up a lot of interference from other sources. If you are of my generation or older, you might remember going to listen to bands and hearing a lot of buzzing coming through the speakers! A balanced cable will cut out most, if not all of that. And you can run a longer cable if it is balanced without losing power (and volume).

I know this is not much, but I hope it helps.

All I need to do now is find someone to get me over my fear of sewing machines!

Want to learn more about microphones? Take Simon Brook’s workshop.  Due to limited space registration is required for this workshop.  After registering, email Deb Roe at nestorytelling@gmail.com.  

(Saturday, March 30  from 3:30 – 5 pm) – part of Sharing the Fire 2019.  Visit the STF Conference Details page to register for the conference.  Want to share your own experiences on this topic?  Leave a comment.

About Simon Brooks: Simon Brooks investigates, educates & fascinates with story. Growing up close to Wales, Simon is imbued with story. Beginning his career in 1991 and becoming a professional in 2003, Simon combines the intensity of solo performance with the intimacy of face-to-face conversations. He entrances young and old, delighting all. www.SimonBrooksStoryteller.com