Forehead microphones- Page 2
Forehead microphones
maybethistime
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/3/04
#25re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:32pm
Thats what I was about to say
If you look in the CABARET book, at the end when there's a picture of Alan getting dressed for "I Don't Care Much" you can see it over his ear, but when I was in the theatre I didn't notice it at all and it never crossed my mind. I think when you don't even notice you cant see it, they did a good job. and it sounded GREAT.
carlobarlo
Chorus Member Joined: 4/17/05
#26re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:44pmI've worn it over my ear, and on my forehead. I absolutely vote for over the ear... If there was a way to wear a mic well without mic tape I would be all over it!
trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#27re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:47pmthere is a way...it's called spirit gum and patience. that's how to properly stick a mic to your forehead. over the ear is nice because you can use flesh-colored med. tape to tape a bobby pin the the cable and bend it to stay aorund your ear. That way, nothing is actually taped to your skin, so nothing will get sweaty and fall off. But the forehead is the best place for it.
#28re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:52pmThe tape is VERY annoying at times, I admit. Although I have seen the need for it. In a production of West Side Story (community theatre) that I was in, Action did tumbling during the Mambo scene and his mic and cord were flailing around and were almost ruined. Luckily this was during an early dress rehearsal...
"That Sondheim kid has a big future."-Nathan Lane
carlobarlo
Chorus Member Joined: 4/17/05
#29re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:55pmThanks for the info Trpguyy... I'll keep that In Mind next time I'm slappin on the tape:)
MusicMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#30re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:07am
Anyone with a serious interest in the topic should read THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BROADWAY MUSICAL by Mark D. Grant, which has a chapter devoted to the plague of amplification, its causes and consequences. As an overview, it is surely the most compellingly argued and important book on contemporary musical theatre currently on the market. A must-read.
#31re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:17amMy high school just did Grease, and we only body miked Sandy, the T-Birds, and the Pink Ladies. It worked well, except for the tape. We used white medical tape to tape the mic packs to our backs, so we had tape wrapped around our abdomen. It was comfortable and all, but getting it off hurt. I was so sweaty, but it still didn't come off, which I guess is a good thing. The show was 2 weeks ago...I'm still bruised from the tape. We used clear med tape to tape the mic to our chests, and it wasnt seen on anyone really.
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trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#32re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:32amMic packs can be "stored" a few different ways. One is in the underwear. Hey it works, as long as you don't have to sit down. Another, better way, is called a "beltpack." It's basically a sock with an elatic band that goes around your waste. Mic pack in sock, stays put no problem. Either way, top-of-the-line mic packs are put IN a condom, to protect from sweat. Bet a lot of you didn't know that. Believe me, I know. After working a few road shows and getting used to it, it was interesting to see the look on the kids' faces when I was doing sound for our community theater. hahaha
#33re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:44amAs a classical musician, over-miking is what bothers me about Broadway most. In some of its worst forms, it's sending me running back to the opera house. Opera houses are often considerably larger than Broadway theaters (the Met seats 3,800) and filling that space is absolutely necessary for professional singers. If you think it can't be done, go to the Met sometime. And a fair amount opera music is much more technically difficult than any musical, and the stage requirements aren't that different (though there is less dancing).
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trpguyy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
#34re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 12:52amBroadway and Opera are like apples and oranges. today's broadway stars can't handle opera, and today's opera stars can't pull off broadway. there are exceptions, but you're either good at one or the other. pros aren't even interested in trying to "cross over." opera houses are designed and built to amplify what comes from the stage. for example, it's not an opera house, but from the very back row of radio city, you can hear whispers from on the stage. the reason fro micing (yes, miCing) Broadway shows so much is to get a good mix (with the orchestra and the sound effects). since live sound effects aren't used anymore (and why would they be, there's so much more felxibilty now), the sound effects and voices need to be coming from the same source. it messes with the audience to hear a voice from the stage and effects from a speaker. there are many other reasons, but mics are now vital to broadway.
eslgr8
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/04
#35re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 3:28amWhen did people start spelling "mike" "mic"...? There's no way I can see the word "mic" and hear it in my mind's ear as anything but "mic." I was always "mike" until when exactly???
carlobarlo
Chorus Member Joined: 4/17/05
#36re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 3:51amI think it has something to do with the spelling of the whole word... microphone. We just shorten it to mic.(And take out the -rophone) I don't think I've ever seen anyone spell it "mike" before, but Hey you see something knew everyday!
#37re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 9:32amMy personal favorite is when the mic chord is bandaided to your back. I always loved taking it off at night. Didn't hurt one bit. I see nothing wrong with the forhead mic. As long as its small enough, I don't see why seeing it is such a big deal. Almost every show I have worked on, I've used a forehead mic, and I haven't had any problems. Its those damn clip on the shirt mics that drive me crazy.
another_day_2day
Understudy Joined: 11/24/04
#38re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 9:47amI definatly dont think mic's are neccessary. I did pippin about a year ago in a very small theatre with a LOUD band. I was Lewis and the director had me do alot of intersting movements that were very hard on my body. There were mic's for everyone but when tech came i just couldnt wear one because of my movements. We worked for 7 days from the crack of dawn till dust on my projection and it definatly worked. From looking at the tape you woudlnt even be able to notice i wasnt wearing a mic. I guess some actors would rather be stars and not have to worry about projection training as long as the mic does the work.
BEKA531
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#39re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 10:03am
they tried... i'm sure from farther away you really can't see it unless you look.
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#40re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 1:38pmmics ARE a neccessity and NOT because singers can nnot project - true, they level the playing field between belters and meeker voices, but their purpose lies in big, elaborate production design.... now we have all of these show with huge automated lighting and effects that run on MOTORS.. motors make sound... no matter how quiet one motor is, when 50 of them are going at once, there IS noise.... like kids whispering in a classroom... actors are miced and the sound is balanced to not only aid the audience in hearinga nd integrating voices and sound effects, but to also cover the sound of the machinery involved in the show.
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#41re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:13pmWha? No way the motors are louder than a 40s-style full pit orchestra.
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#42re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:22pm
plumn,
it's about taking all of teh sound - singing, music, effects, dialougue, and mixing it to cover that. they don't care if you can hear the singer unmiced even with the motors... they don't want the sound of the motors heard period... and with 50 running, they would be heard without the proper micing and sound mix.
study sound design and you will see what i mean.
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#43re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:28pmYes Opera singers are trained to sing without a microphone but they NEVER sing two days in a row...let alone several days.
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#44re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:31pm
"Before microphones, performers belted out those scores without any aid, and they did it over the sound of orchestras that were larger than today's."
The orchestrations written before microphones were very different from today's orchestrations. Those performers from long ago, no matter how talented, could never sing over today's orchestrations.
Di2
Broadway Star Joined: 11/18/04
#45re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:33pm
I am a professional and I do 8 shows a week and there is no way in HELL I would ever do a show without a mic. My orchestra is loud and I am not going to injure myself trying to sing over them.
I am a very well trained singer and can hit the back of the wall belting with ease but a human being cannot sing over a 32 piece orchestra. I don't care how treained or good you are.
Di2
Broadway Star Joined: 11/18/04
#46re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:37pm
I wear my mic under my wig cap and under my wig and it sits just below my wigline on my forehead. It can barely be seen.
I put the mic and mic pack (on the small of my back) on first then my pantaloons, petticoat, corset and then the rest of my costume. No one sees my mic chord or mic. Why would you see the cord? Wear it under your costume.
My mic is inside a condom to protect it from sweat...Our sound crew calls it "Safe Singing."
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#47re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:38pm
amen Di2.
and yes, orchestrations nowadays are VERY different... not even mentioning the use of electronic instruments and amps that were not used decades ago.
Joshua488
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#48re: Forehead microphones
Posted: 4/29/05 at 3:01pm
The orchestrations written before microphones were very different from today's orchestrations. Those performers from long ago, no matter how talented, could never sing over today's orchestrations.
Yes, I know. This is part of the problem. Is there really a need to have a damn rock band x3 as the orchestra?
sassypanz
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/05
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