Thought I'd Say "Hi!" and THEN Ask a Question

Max Warasila

Max Warasila

Graduate
Feb 20, 2013
1,217
73
48
Richmond, VA
Hi! I'm new.

There, that is all. Not going to patronize you with an actual introduction.

In terms of the question, I'd like to ask for some opinions for a production I am working on at a local school. The show we are doing is Willy Wonka... Junior. Don't judge. It's not all that bad. But because it's a musical, naturally the director wants to mic people. Only problem is that I have been given (naturally) a budget of near zero and a single wireless lavaliere to mic them with, as well as a sound system with the mixer placed in a portable box designed to be used backstage. Not really optimal for mixing. Finally, there are 16 different parts with solos, in the numbers. I don't have anywhere near enough mics for that, even when I start calling in favors from the other county techs and schools, as well as not enough channels to support them even if I could.

The question here, or at least the one I do want to ask, is where I should draw the line for who gets miked and who doesn't, as well as suggestions and personal preferences for the stage mics if I need them. At the moment I am thinking of running 8 headests for Wonka, Grandpa Joe, the kids and someone else (probably someone who can't project), and then filling in the rest with stage mics.

Thanks!


(If you are interested, I have a budget of 400 dollars maximum, and that's for both sound and lights. I was thrust into charge of both, and lighting at this school is like... using several iPhones as your lighting... oh this is going to be a fun tech week.)
 
Re: Thought I'd Say "Hi!" and THEN Ask a Question

That call should come from the director.. tell them the resources that you have, and then it's up to them to decide who needs mics and who doesn't (or how much work they're willing to put in to transfer mics between actors)
The real gotcha is that even if a couple of them can project well enough to not need mics they'll sound flat next to those who have mics.. typical catch 22

Jason
 
Re: Thought I'd Say "Hi!" and THEN Ask a Question

Thanks Jason, I appreciate that. It's of course the director's choice, but I am trying to put together possible solutions to suggest ahead of time so that when we create the plan, I already have a possible answer. Perhaps lavaliere mics would be a better choice for one or two of the channels to try and transfer between the actors?
 
With appropriate staging, a person can act as a mic stand for other actors. The mic is placed on one actor and the others deliver their lines towards him.
 
Re: Thought I'd Say "Hi!" and THEN Ask a Question

Faced similar situation. I donated 2 inexpensive shotgun mics to the school, put them a few feet in from the corners of the stage pointed to the middle. Coached the kids to try to talk toward the mics as much as practical. With limited equipment and no budget it was a good solution. A little careful eq and most everything was audible.....enough. School and parents were happy.
 
Re: Thought I'd Say "Hi!" and THEN Ask a Question

Stage is too wide for that- 46 foot proscenium. I have Crown floor mics anyway, I'll just float those and that'll work.
 
Re: Thought I'd Say "Hi!" and THEN Ask a Question

Definitely put the decision onto the directorial staff -you would be surprised how often they might be able to drum-up more budget -or favors from their connections!

Also, try to avoid excessive amplification (usually NOT a problem with lavs) but if you mic the weaker ones and just get them so they are clearly audible in the back rows, the contrast between the mic'd ones and the un-mic'd ones won't be so dramatic.

Been exactly where you are many times and have done some crazy things to get shows like yours functioning on no-budget.
 
Re: Thought I'd Say "Hi!" and THEN Ask a Question

Thank you once again. We may or may not have... abused... our connections so far. :lol: We're practically redoing the entire lighting rig and we've been able to secure enough mics and channels for this to work.

Crag: I'd like to hear some stories sometime, if you don't mind.
 
Re: Thought I'd Say "Hi!" and THEN Ask a Question

Musicals present a problem that is much more acute than with straight plays. Because the music and singing gets amplified, the spoken parts need to be (much) louder than what is needed for a play. When you can hear the actors adequately even from the back rows, it will still be way to quiet compared to the level the audience's ears are getting used to from the musical parts, and one finds that the level needs to be brought up as much as 10 dB or indeed lots more to get a good balance between the musical and the non-musical parts. There are very few ways around this, reducing the level of the musical parts is often a poor solution because it compromises that part of the performance.
 
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