2 more newbie questions at DVinfo.net

Jeff Cook · September 23rd, 2013, 09:44 PM

Thanks again for the advice on wedding preps. My next question is regarding micing the groom. Do you guys pull him aside at the church, venue and mic him there? And when the ceremony is done how long do you wait before you go hunting back into the church for your gear? I of course do not want to miss the couple leaving and they may be taking photos right there in the church, so I may have time to gather my gear before I head over to the reception. I am just trying to think all this stuff out before it happens. I like to visualize what I am gonna do. I do know things can change, but it is nice to have a plan. Thanks agian for your input.

Chris Harding · September 23rd, 2013, 10:15 PM

Hi Jeff

I usually put the transmitter and lav on the groom at least 15 minutes before the ceremony and turn it on and also test it on the main camera to make sure he hasn't unplugged the mic etc etc. It may sound silly but I also use some gaffer tape to seal the battery lid and also slip the cable under it too so he can't rip the plug out.

I leave the mic on the groom until after the congratulations (I think you guys call that the processional??)
Then I remove it so it's not in any of the group photos.

Chris

Adrian Tan · September 23rd, 2013, 11:32 PM

Hey Jeff, about micing the groom, I do it as soon as I can when I get to the church. In terms of retrieving it, as soon as I can also, but it's not the end of the world if you forget. Just means you're going to be recording his private conversations for a while! If you forget to pull it off the priest on the other hand...

When to hunt for gear -- I cheat, because I pretty much always work with at least one other person.

On the rare occasions when I'm solo, I don't shoot much at all of the post-ceremony stuff, if any, before hunting for gear. I'm sure everyone will do this differently. But I'm more concerned about getting out of the church before the priest locks my equipment in/before the next wedding starts, and being ready to leave for the photoshoot when the bridal party are. I do normally use quite a lot of gear, though, so I'm not particularly nimble when I'm solo.

Dave Partington · September 24th, 2013, 12:54 AM

I tend to mic the groom anywhere between 15 and 20 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony, basically when ever I can pull him aside. That gives me enough time to check it's working and find a spare if it's not.

In terms of when I un-mic them, it all depends on the venue and how else I am acquiring sound. For example, if the officiant is mic'd then I'll typically remove the groom's mic as soon as they've signed the register but before the photographer takes the register shot. That way I've already got it and it's not in their register photos. However, if the officiant is not mic'd and I'm having to capture the officiant through the groom's mic (not ideal) then I'll leave it on until after the recessional.

If it's a civil ceremony then it's likely I've hidden an extra mic in the flowers on the table, and that captures the registrar (who rarely allows me to mic them), so again I'd remove the mic after the register, but have to grab the flowers mic with the rest of the gear later.

I don't like leaving it on him too long because it's possible to forget it and I've had a groom leave the church with it on and I've had to track him down as soon as possible at the reception. If this had been a "ceremony only" event I'd have lost the microphone!

In terms of going back in to the church to grab the gear, it's one of the reasons I like to have a second. I'm usually outside to capture the couple appearing at the church door while the second is inside getting them coming back down the isle. Once he gets chance he grabs all the gear in the church, or comes out for filming while I go grab the gear, depending on how all the entrances/exits are configured in the church and how hard it is to get down the isle etc.

We like to get everything in to the car before the couple leave so that we can capture the confetti, getting in the car & driving away and be ready to jump in to our car and get to the reception before them to get them arriving. It makes editing and continuity that much easier.

Dave Partington · September 24th, 2013, 12:59 AM

Deleted - double post. Sorry.

Steve Bleasdale · September 24th, 2013, 03:20 AM

As soon as you see the groom mic him up, then 15 minutes before she arrives check him out because grooms have a habit of messing around and switching on and off and general idiot things. After the exit let all run till everything calms down as you will miss things messing around with him. Then during the photo shoot at church take it of him but if they are doing the speeches early before the food at reception you may as well leave it on him and check just before the speeches ( check battery) If the speeches are after the food then take it of during the photo shoot at church..

Roger Gunkel · September 24th, 2013, 03:35 AM

Like the others, I mic the groom about 15 mis before the ceremony and usually remove it in the gaps while they are officially signing the register before the posed shots.

As already mentioned, it is very east to forget a mic, I left a Sony recorder in the flowers on the head table for the speeches two weeks ago and forgot it. I phoned the venue the next morning, who said they had found it and handed it to the Groom the next morning to return it. Unfortunately they went straight off on a 3 week honeymoon. Luckily I have a couple of backups, but it is very easy to do.

Roger

Don Bloom · September 24th, 2013, 05:37 AM

Like everyone else I mic him 15-20 minutes prior to the ceremony. I UNmic him as soon after the ceremony as I can usually after the recessional while they (the B&G) are talking to family and BP before they start pictures. I also tell him that I will remove the mic pak and mic since it is a very sensitive piece of gear. Not really but I had a groom a number of years ago that literally ripped the mic connection off the transmitter when he took the unit off and I wound up buying a new transmitter and mic. I really hate it when other people touch my gear but that's another post for another thread. :-)

Jeff Cook · September 24th, 2013, 09:51 PM

Thanks to all who responded. It gives me more of an idea what to do now. Thanks again for your input.

Warren Kawamoto · September 26th, 2013, 05:15 PM

If your mic is wireless, you'll want to do it early enough to test that it doesn't interfere with the church's system. The minister will have a habit of turning on the church's wireless system 30 seconds before the ceremony starts, and you won't have enough time to troubleshoot the problem with the ceremony starting and the house system hissing!

Art Varga · September 27th, 2013, 08:16 AM

yes be careful of this. It's only happened to me once but I had a situation where when the church turned on their wireless, the groom and groomsman conversations in the back rooms got piped into the church. Fortunately nothing offensive was being said but it could have been an embarrassing situation. Also when you mic up the groom remind him that everything said from that point on is being recorded. Sometimes they forget then they'll come up to you later and ask that you make sure you edit stuff out!

Art

James Hobert · September 27th, 2013, 01:22 PM

I use this time when mic'ing him to remind him that he doesn't have to worry about anything he says. That its for the camera ONLY and NOT projected for everyone to hear (some guys get confused and think it's the mic for the church). I tell them not to worry about anything they say because I end up editing out everything that's "not meant to be heard" and that I'm really only using it for vows. This is just my style. My way of doing things. Some videographers include all that audio, not us. Sure I may use it for more than just vows, but I do this so that they can relax and be themselves and not self-conscious of the fact that they are mic'd up. I then grab it after the Ceremony before the pics and that's a chance to say "CONGRATULATIONS!" :)

September 23rd, 2013, 09:44 PM	#1
Jeff Cook Major Player Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Fresno, Ca Posts: 214	2 more newbie questions Thanks again for the advice on wedding preps. My next question is regarding micing the groom. Do you guys pull him aside at the church, venue and mic him there? And when the ceremony is done how long do you wait before you go hunting back into the church for your gear? I of course do not want to miss the couple leaving and they may be taking photos right there in the church, so I may have time to gather my gear before I head over to the reception. I am just trying to think all this stuff out before it happens. I like to visualize what I am gonna do. I do know things can change, but it is nice to have a plan. Thanks agian for your input.

September 23rd, 2013, 10:15 PM	#2
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: 2 more newbie questions Hi Jeff I usually put the transmitter and lav on the groom at least 15 minutes before the ceremony and turn it on and also test it on the main camera to make sure he hasn't unplugged the mic etc etc. It may sound silly but I also use some gaffer tape to seal the battery lid and also slip the cable under it too so he can't rip the plug out. I leave the mic on the groom until after the congratulations (I think you guys call that the processional??) Then I remove it so it's not in any of the group photos. Chris

September 23rd, 2013, 11:32 PM	#3
Adrian Tan Trustee Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 1,149	Re: 2 more newbie questions Hey Jeff, about micing the groom, I do it as soon as I can when I get to the church. In terms of retrieving it, as soon as I can also, but it's not the end of the world if you forget. Just means you're going to be recording his private conversations for a while! If you forget to pull it off the priest on the other hand... When to hunt for gear -- I cheat, because I pretty much always work with at least one other person. On the rare occasions when I'm solo, I don't shoot much at all of the post-ceremony stuff, if any, before hunting for gear. I'm sure everyone will do this differently. But I'm more concerned about getting out of the church before the priest locks my equipment in/before the next wedding starts, and being ready to leave for the photoshoot when the bridal party are. I do normally use quite a lot of gear, though, so I'm not particularly nimble when I'm solo.

September 24th, 2013, 12:54 AM	#4
Dave Partington Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: York, England Posts: 1,323	Re: 2 more newbie questions I tend to mic the groom anywhere between 15 and 20 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony, basically when ever I can pull him aside. That gives me enough time to check it's working and find a spare if it's not. In terms of when I un-mic them, it all depends on the venue and how else I am acquiring sound. For example, if the officiant is mic'd then I'll typically remove the groom's mic as soon as they've signed the register but before the photographer takes the register shot. That way I've already got it and it's not in their register photos. However, if the officiant is not mic'd and I'm having to capture the officiant through the groom's mic (not ideal) then I'll leave it on until after the recessional. If it's a civil ceremony then it's likely I've hidden an extra mic in the flowers on the table, and that captures the registrar (who rarely allows me to mic them), so again I'd remove the mic after the register, but have to grab the flowers mic with the rest of the gear later. I don't like leaving it on him too long because it's possible to forget it and I've had a groom leave the church with it on and I've had to track him down as soon as possible at the reception. If this had been a "ceremony only" event I'd have lost the microphone! In terms of going back in to the church to grab the gear, it's one of the reasons I like to have a second. I'm usually outside to capture the couple appearing at the church door while the second is inside getting them coming back down the isle. Once he gets chance he grabs all the gear in the church, or comes out for filming while I go grab the gear, depending on how all the entrances/exits are configured in the church and how hard it is to get down the isle etc. We like to get everything in to the car before the couple leave so that we can capture the confetti, getting in the car & driving away and be ready to jump in to our car and get to the reception before them to get them arriving. It makes editing and continuity that much easier. __________________ Qualified UAV Pilot with CAA PFAW Aerial Photo / Aerial Video \| Corporate Video Production Last edited by Dave Partington; September 24th, 2013 at 11:58 AM.

September 24th, 2013, 12:59 AM	#5
Dave Partington Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: York, England Posts: 1,323	Re: 2 more newbie questions Deleted - double post. Sorry. __________________ Qualified UAV Pilot with CAA PFAW Aerial Photo / Aerial Video \| Corporate Video Production

September 24th, 2013, 03:20 AM	#6
Steve Bleasdale Trustee Join Date: May 2010 Location: England liverpool Posts: 1,343	Re: 2 more newbie questions As soon as you see the groom mic him up, then 15 minutes before she arrives check him out because grooms have a habit of messing around and switching on and off and general idiot things. After the exit let all run till everything calms down as you will miss things messing around with him. Then during the photo shoot at church take it of him but if they are doing the speeches early before the food at reception you may as well leave it on him and check just before the speeches ( check battery) If the speeches are after the food then take it of during the photo shoot at church..

September 24th, 2013, 03:35 AM	#7
Roger Gunkel Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: LIncolnshire, UK Posts: 2,213	Re: 2 more newbie questions Like the others, I mic the groom about 15 mis before the ceremony and usually remove it in the gaps while they are officially signing the register before the posed shots. As already mentioned, it is very east to forget a mic, I left a Sony recorder in the flowers on the head table for the speeches two weeks ago and forgot it. I phoned the venue the next morning, who said they had found it and handed it to the Groom the next morning to return it. Unfortunately they went straight off on a 3 week honeymoon. Luckily I have a couple of backups, but it is very easy to do. Roger

September 24th, 2013, 05:37 AM	#8
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: 2 more newbie questions Like everyone else I mic him 15-20 minutes prior to the ceremony. I UNmic him as soon after the ceremony as I can usually after the recessional while they (the B&G) are talking to family and BP before they start pictures. I also tell him that I will remove the mic pak and mic since it is a very sensitive piece of gear. Not really but I had a groom a number of years ago that literally ripped the mic connection off the transmitter when he took the unit off and I wound up buying a new transmitter and mic. I really hate it when other people touch my gear but that's another post for another thread. :-) __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

September 24th, 2013, 09:51 PM	#9
Jeff Cook Major Player Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Fresno, Ca Posts: 214	Re: 2 more newbie questions Thanks to all who responded. It gives me more of an idea what to do now. Thanks again for your input.

September 26th, 2013, 05:15 PM	#10
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: 2 more newbie questions If your mic is wireless, you'll want to do it early enough to test that it doesn't interfere with the church's system. The minister will have a habit of turning on the church's wireless system 30 seconds before the ceremony starts, and you won't have enough time to troubleshoot the problem with the ceremony starting and the house system hissing!

September 27th, 2013, 08:16 AM	#11
Art Varga Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 552	Re: 2 more newbie questions yes be careful of this. It's only happened to me once but I had a situation where when the church turned on their wireless, the groom and groomsman conversations in the back rooms got piped into the church. Fortunately nothing offensive was being said but it could have been an embarrassing situation. Also when you mic up the groom remind him that everything said from that point on is being recorded. Sometimes they forget then they'll come up to you later and ask that you make sure you edit stuff out! Art __________________ __________________________________ - Art Varga www.vargaproductions.com

September 27th, 2013, 01:22 PM	#12
James Hobert Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 67	Re: 2 more newbie questions I use this time when mic'ing him to remind him that he doesn't have to worry about anything he says. That its for the camera ONLY and NOT projected for everyone to hear (some guys get confused and think it's the mic for the church). I tell them not to worry about anything they say because I end up editing out everything that's "not meant to be heard" and that I'm really only using it for vows. This is just my style. My way of doing things. Some videographers include all that audio, not us. Sure I may use it for more than just vows, but I do this so that they can relax and be themselves and not self-conscious of the fact that they are mic'd up. I then grab it after the Ceremony before the pics and that's a chance to say "CONGRATULATIONS!" :)