Micing a person

[John Nantz]

Steve - great description:

Originally Posted by Steve House

Make a fist, place the fist centred on the subject's chest, nails against the chest, middle-joint of the thumb touching the Adam's Apple. Mic goes where the middle-joint of the little finger falls.

So far I've been more or less just winging it but your description helps to zero in on a local really easy.

Yesterday it was really blowing outside and between vehicle traffic and overhead airplane traffic I went with my lavalier and it worked well. Had the mic a few inches higher than your location though.

The rest of your bullets were helpful tips too. Thanks.

Prologue
Okay, I have to edit this post. I just told my wife (she was wearing the lavalier yesterday when we had discussed where the mic should go), anyway, told her what you wrote with the fist. By the way, was that a left or right hand fist???

She asked "What if there is nothing there?"
I asked, "You mean, like if you're naked?"
[Laughter from the talent]
Then she said "Well, if it's a guy he can always clip it to his chest hair."

Oh well. And I guess there is always duct tape option.

[Battle Vaughan]

Well, you might use the vampire clip. OK except for the subject's screaming....:)

[Bill Davis]

Originally Posted by John Nantz

Steve - great description:


She asked "What if there is nothing there?"
I asked, "You mean, like if you're naked?"
[Laughter from the talent]
Then she said "Well, if it's a guy he can always clip it to his chest hair."

Oh well. And I guess there is always duct tape option.

You laugh, but it's not an uncommon situation. Decades ago I saw the touring Broadway cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - and in it, the singer Sam Harris was on stage for most of the first act performing in the Egyptian theme scenes in what was essentially an oversized diaper!

I knew he was mic'd and couldn't figure out how. At NAB the next year I happened to mention it at the booth of one of the major manufactuer's reps - and he lit up and mentioned that their team had supplied all the gear for that touring cast's staging.

The solution?

Transmitter in the diaper. Hair mic middle of the forehead. And the wire between them run directly up the spine, covered in surgical tape and makeup to blend it in.

When it's got to be done - there's a way to get it done. Lesson learned.