Imagine you are an elite athlete, at the peak of your fitness, being paid a quarter of a million dollars a year by the first-place winning team.

You’ve played the game of your career against your local rival in one of the biggest games of the year.

You are exhausted, euphoric and you are asked to go up to the podium to accept the medal for the man of the match.

With a national live television audience watching, including hundreds of thousands of children for whom you are a role model and a hero… you utter the following words in your acceptance speech… “We’re going to have a good year”. “.

It concerns West Coast Eagles midfielder Michael Braun, who was fined $5,000 for dressing in public after receiving the Ross Glendinning Medal after the Perth Western derby recently.

This comment delivered in the midst of the adrenaline rush of sport has caused irreversible damage to the brand and reputation of both the West Coast Eagles Football Club and the Australian Football League (AFL).

That is why the AFL Commission met with the Eagles to address issues related to player behavior off the field.

The Eagles have been notified that if they appear before the Commission again, they will be subject to the full force of rule 1.6 of improper conduct which may lead to a fine, suspension, loss of draft picks or premiership points.

So what’s the point of sharing this story with you, especially if you have no idea what the AFL is, who the Eagles are and who Michael Braun is?

Well, it demonstrates the importance of carefully choosing your words when giving a speech.

It reminded me of the golden rules of microphone technique.

Here are ten tips on microphone technique to maximize your message and not ruin your reputation when giving a speech.

1. Never swear in front of a microphone

I learned this rule of thumb while working as a broadcaster at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Never use it in front of a microphone because you never know when it’s on!

This mistake may cost you money, like $5,000, but your personal or professional reputation is priceless.

Remember that you can never get it back, so it’s best to be disciplined in the first place.

2. Use a microphone if there are more than 30 people

The human voice is a delicate instrument.

Treat it with respect. Do not force it because you can cause long-term and irreversible damage.

Always ask for and use a microphone if there are more than 30 people in the audience.

Explain to the organizers what kind of microphone you want well before you speak.

I usually have a set of VA requirements that I send to a conference organizer at least six weeks before the presentation. This includes my preferred type of microphone, lighting, and how I want the stage set up.

3. Find the best microphone for the situation: impact, peace of mind and no fuss

A podium microphone will give you maximum impact for a presidential-style presentation using the podium as an anchor point.

The benefits of using a podium microphone are peace of mind and hassle-free speech because you can set it and forget it.

4. Find the best microphone for the situation: impact, freedom and mobility

A lavalier microphone is very small and uses a clip to attach it to the presenter’s clothing.

If you want to move away from the podium, it takes the place of a more statically positioned microphone.

The lavalier microphone connects to a console that clips to your belt and can amplify your voice without having to hold it.

They are often wireless and linked to the main public address system.

This is my preferred style of microphone.

As he gains more experience, he learns to ignore the microphone and even uses the tilt and angle of his head to vary his volume, pitch, and timbre into the microphone.

A trap for the people. If you are using a lapel microphone, make sure you have turned it off before going to the bathroom.

I’ve heard of speakers pooping themselves only to find out that the entire audience heard everything because their lavalier mic was still on and broadcasting to the entire auditorium!

The headset mic is a variation, but I’ve found the headset to be a bit cumbersome and intrusive to work with.

5. Find the best microphone for the situation: impact, impact and impact

There is no doubt that a handheld microphone gives you the greatest range and vocal control.

That is why it is so popular with artists and entertainers.

As a professional public speaker, I find that I like to use my whole body to speak kinesthetically and find that holding a handheld microphone interferes with my body movement.

6. Familiarize yourself with the “on and off” switch

Even seasoned professionals can get caught up and it reflects negatively on you as a presenter.

Take time to familiarize yourself with the on/off switch. I’ve lost count of the number of times a speaker looks unprofessional when onstage they say “how do you turn this on?” or some variation.

7. Watch for feedback

Feedback is really annoying for the audience.

Walk around the stage and room looking for feedback points and adjust accordingly.

8. Use the clenched fist rule

Again, I learned this on ABC from legendary broadcaster and speech coach Arch McKirdy.

He taught me that the best way to position the microphone in relation to your mouth and lips is to make a fist and this is the optimal distance between the microphone and your mouth.

9. Speak directly into the microphone

Broadcasters hate being “off the mic” because the sound quality is poor.

Always speak directly into a microphone. Use a windsock if there is external noise or to avoid blowing up with the letter “p”.

10. Always do a sound check

do a sound check prior to you present

Check the entire scenario for feedback points.

Treat the professional sound team with respect, introduce yourself and clearly explain what you want to do, and rehearse especially for a complex presentation.

Thank them later. Once you’re ready to continue, turn on the microphone.

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