Microphone and Studio

Year 9 Power of Speech • Game Show • Technical Craft

A classroom game show does not need a television studio, but it does need basic technical care. A microphone that squeals, a cable that trips a contestant or a set that hides the host can ruin a good show. This page covers the essentials.

Microphone basics

Type	Best for	Watch for
Handheld	Host moving around the stage.	Handling noise; inconsistent distance.
Clip-on	Host with free hands.	Clothing rustle; battery life.
Headset	Physical segments.	Fit and comfort.
Desk stand	Fixed host position.	Limited movement.
Floor stand	Contestant answers.	Trip hazard; height.
No microphone	Small, quiet room.	Projection and breath support.

Holding a microphone

Hold the microphone a hand's width from your mouth.
Speak across the top, not directly into it.
Keep your hand away from the grille.
Do not tap or blow on the microphone.
Keep the cable clear of your feet.
Turn the microphone off when you are not using it.

Feedback

Feedback is a high-pitched squeal caused by sound from the speaker re-entering the microphone. It is unpleasant and avoidable.

Cause	Fix
Microphone too close to a speaker	Move away from the speaker.
Volume too high	Lower the gain or the speaker volume.
Microphone pointed at the speaker	Angle the microphone away.
Hands cupping the grille	Hold the body, not the head.
Too many open microphones	Mute the unused ones.
Standing in front of the speaker	Move to the side.

Sound check

Turn the system on in the correct order.
Set the volume low.
Speak at performance volume.
Ask a listener at the back to confirm.
Test the highest and lowest speaking volumes.
Check every microphone and battery.
Label the settings so they can be restored.

Staging

The set should make the show easy to follow. The audience needs to see the host, the contestants and the score. The contestants need to see the host and the judge. The stage needs clear routes for entrances and exits.

Position	Purpose	Watch for
Host mark	Anchor for the show.	Blocking the scoreboard.
Contestant seats	Comfortable and visible.	Hiding faces or microphones.
Judge table	Close enough to consult.	Distracting the audience.
Scoreboard	Visible to the room.	Too small or too high.
Prop table	Easy access.	Clutter and trip hazards.
Exit route	Safe and clear.	Cables or furniture in the way.

Lighting

You do not need stage lighting, but the audience must see faces. Avoid backlighting from a window, which silhouettes the host. If the room is dim, add a lamp or move the show to a brighter space.

Light the faces, not the backdrop.
Avoid a bright window behind the host.
Check that the scoreboard is readable.
Do not shine a light into the audience's eyes.
Have a backup if a light fails.

Cables and safety

Hazard	Fix
Cable across a walkway	Tape it down or route it around.
Loose prop	Clear it before the round.
Unstable chair	Test it; replace it.
Hot light	Keep fabric and paper away.
Water near equipment	Use a lidded bottle away from cables.
Crowded stage	Mark positions; rehearse entrances.

Backups

Spare batteries for every microphone.
A spare microphone or a projection plan.
Printed question cards in case the screen fails.
A written score sheet in case the display fails.
A phone timer in case the main timer fails.
A torch in case the room lights fail.

Working with a sound operator

Agree on cues before the show. The host should not have to ask for a volume change mid-sentence.

Cue	Meaning
Hand flat, palm down	Lower the volume.
Hand up	Raise the volume.
Tap the microphone	Check the microphone is live.
Circle with finger	Start the music.
Flat hand across throat	Cut the sound.
Point to the speaker	Feedback problem.

Activity: technical rehearsal

Set up the stage and the sound system.
Run a sound check with every microphone.
Practise one feedback fix.
Walk the entrances and exits.
Run one round with all cues.
List three things that could fail and plan a backup.

The audience should notice the show, not the technology. Good technical work is invisible.

Common errors

Testing the microphone by blowing on it. It sounds bad and can damage the capsule.
Cupping the microphone. It causes feedback.
No sound check. The first minute is lost.
Cables across the stage. A trip hazard.
No backups. A dead battery stops the show.
Hiding behind the set. The audience cannot see.

Next, study pacing and timing to keep the show moving. The contingency and safety page plans for the unexpected.