It’s an incredibly long time before the next presidential election, but the coverage has already started.
Even just sweeping through some channels, I catch a snippet of a speech or two from a presidential hopeful.
Politicians hold a mic a specific way, and its completely on purpose.
Politicians know that their face is an important part of the speech. Their mouth, as a visual, is important to gain trust.
So they hold the microphone in ways that, 99% of the time, everyone in the room can see 100% of their face.
That’s what people are connecting with. They don’t hold the mic right up to their mouth. They’re hand isn’t holding the top of the mic as to block part of the face. Politicians usually hold the mic at the bottom and then position the top of the mic just below their chin.
It’s well known in phycology that covering up your mouth is a sign of deception, lying and uncomfortableness.
Great lead singers know that the way you hold the mic is saying something. And usually throughout a show, the greats will use lots of different positions.
Do you have what it takes to let people see your face while you sing?
Or does feel better to hide by letting your hand cling to the top of the mic while you basically eat it?
What if you held the mic delicately at times, like it was about to break if you squeezed too hard?
What if you held it above your head pointing down? What would that say?
What if you sang over the top of the mic instead of into it?
Is your arm out in front of you blocking your face?
Like I said, lead singers use all sorts of positions, but I think you’ll find that the easiest ones are the ones that block parts of the face and mouth, and the other ones where you’re more exposed make you feel a bit uncomfortable or resistant.
There are no rules, but the phycology is real. Don’t be afraid. Relax. Let the people see you, see your lips and your mouth move.
p.s. I know I know, you don’t have vocal compressors and reverbs and delays at your live gigs, and so you have to just eat the mic all night. You could let yourself of the hook with those excuses…or you could dig in, face your discomfort and get better.
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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com