Public Speaking Course:
You Must Have a Good Sound System
If the audience members are having a hard time hearing you or understanding
what your saying, then they will just tune you out. Preparation for having good
sound is a very important lesson from my public speaking course. When you are
going to be presenting you must make sure that you have an excellent sound
system so you can still be heard while your audience is laughing. Stand-up
comics need good sound also, but they are a little different because they will
tell a joke, then people laugh (they hope), then they tell another joke, then
people laugh. A good public speaker will continue right along making points,
showing product features, telling stories, and dropping one-liners and must be
heard the entire time.
Also keep in mind that a funny speech must have a better sound system than a
serious one. During a serious presentation, words can be missed and the main
message will still be understood by the audience. When presenting funny
material, it doesn't work the same way. If key words are missed in a joke or
story, it will ruin the effect of the humor. No one will laugh and you will look
stupid.
The need for a good sound check is another reason to be in the room early.
Check the microphone to make sure it works. You need to check to see how far
your mouth should be from the microphone. You need to know how loudly you should
talk into it.
During your sound check keep the audio level very loud. The audience will
absorb the sound once they get into the room.
Make sure the sound can be heard in every area of the room. If someone is
giving a presentation before you, try to go to the back of the room to see how
they sound. If you have someone at the presentation with you, have them signal
from the back of the room if changes are needed in the public address system
after you have started. Controlling the environment is an essential function you
will gain from a public speaking course.
If the amplifier controls aren't handy after you have started, you can adjust
the sound by changing the distance between your mouth and the microphone and/or
increasing or decreasing the loudness of your voice. Try not to use the latter
method too often so you don't strain your vocal mechanism.
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