If your group can not hear the entertainment
clearly, your event WILL fail. There are several
options you have for
selecting sound: Venue/house, band/DJ, entertainer-provided or
rented systems. The same system may not be
appropriate for all forms of entertainment. Learning the
differences and limitations of systems will
definitely help
you in planning.
House
Systems:
If
you intend to use a house system check it out in
advance. Bring someone with you to sit in the
audience and
listen to the clarity of the sound. Is your speaking voice
distorted, fuzzy or muffled and hard to understand?
If so,
there will be problems the night of your event. Any sound
distortion will magnify once the room fills with
people.
It should be crystal clear when you talk into the microphone.
Can you increase the volume so your voice echoes off
the empty room? If not, there may be volume
problems
when the room fills with people. Bodies and ambient noises tend to
“deaden” sound. Make certain the system
you intend to use has the power to fill the room as needed.
Band Or DJ Systems:
If you intend to use a system provided by a band or
a DJ, keep in mind their systems are usually
appropriate for
music, but not always equipped to provide a clear speaking voice.
The bass thumping through these systems
wears out speakers after years of use. This can distort the sound
of a voice.
DJs and bands also tend to set up behind their
speakers. If you try to put an entertainer in front
of the setup, the
microphone can feed back creating a squelch that will be painful to
the ears. This can be overcome by lowering
the gain of the microphone’s pick up, and limiting the performer’s
area of movement. Both will create an impact
on the clarity of voice and the performance.
Entertainer Systems:
Most entertainers have their own sound systems. If
an act offers to provide sound, make certain he/she
knows
how many guests you have and the dimensions of the room. A
professional will know if his/her system will
handle the area.
Rented Systems:
When entertainers are flying in to perform, carrying
their own sound is impossible. If a house system is
inadequate or a band/DJ set up will not work, rented sound is the
way to go. Your venue manager will probably
be able to recommend a suitable sound company with experience in
their rooms. It is important to get a technical
rider from each entertainer or speaker and provide this information
to the rental company so you are certain all
sound needs are met.
Remember:
It is important to discuss sound with your
entertainers early in the planning stages. You can
also avoid potential
problems by arranging for someone with experience running the
system to be on premises for sound checks and
the program.
A Final Word On Sound:
If anyone is using or providing wireless
microphones, make certain they insert fresh
batteries during the sound
check! Also make sure whoever provides sound has someone on site
that knows exactly how to operate the
system.
