Sometimes, even 'mixing' DJs may want or even need to get on the microphone.
DJs don’t use microphones, right? That went out in the 70s, yeah? Well, if you’re a mobile or wedding DJ, or a personality jock in a mainstream weekend bar, you of course know different. But for this article, I’m talking to “mixing” DJs, producer / artist DJ types who day-to-day would never dream of “getting on the mic”.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know how to use a microphone – far from it. Because as you are the person in charge of the sound system, there are still times when you may want, need or be required to talk to your audience. Here are just four:
Four microphone moments…
- To introduce a guest DJ – You run a small club night, and have managed to book a guest DJ to come and play with you and your crew. It’s a big deal for you, and you want your guest to have a good time (and go and tell all their other superstar DJ mates how great it is to play at your little club night). The anticipation builds, and it’s time for your guest to come on. Wouldn’t it be good to flick a microphone on, just for a change, and say: “We’ve waited a long time for this moment, so please give a massive cheer to one of our favourite DJs, _________!” You’ll get them off on the right foot, and the fact that you’ve come on the mic will mark tonight as “special” in your audience’s mind
- To announce your next party – This is a silly one to miss up on, in my opinion. You’ve done all the work getting a gig or getting your audience to come and hear you, so why the hell not get on the mic at the end of the set/night and announce when they can next see you play, or where your next event is? I once DJed at a daytime festival (10k+ people) and at the end of my set, got on the mic to announce my club night in the same city later on that evening. We were sold out within an hour. It’s well worth doing…
- To explain technical issues – Technical stuff happens, it’s part of life. In the end something will go wrong when you’re DJing (laptop crash, air conditioning fails in the amp room causing the amps to overheat and cut out, fuse blows, CDJ jams, pure human error – whatever). If it’s serious enough to keep stuff quiet for a few minutes or more, being able to tell the crowd when you’ll be back online can stop a bad situation getting worse
- To pass along management notices – This can be from the serious (bar closing!) to the very serious (there’s a fire upstairs!!). The point is, it’s not your call; if you’re DJing somewhere that has a microphone fitted, even if you think you’re an “artist” and you never, ever want to talk into the microphone as a matter of principle, as soon as the guy paying your wages asks you to announce anything from a lost phone to a police order, it’s over to you: The choice isn’t really yours
Finally…
A pitfall is that as soon as someone sees you with a microphone, you inevitably get the requests for “birthday shout outs” and so on. Just like requests for music, you need to have a strategy for dealing with this.
As soon as someone sees you with a mic, you inevitably get the requests for ‘birthday shout outs’…
Me? I hide the microphone to start with unless I need it, and then just tell people it’s for official use only, and we’re not allowed to use it otherwise. With a smile, of course.
Do you regularly use a microphone? Have you been asked to do so and felt uncomfortable about it? Is this something you’ve conquered, and are glad you did? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Now go to:
10 Types of People Who Make Requests (And How To Handle Them)
How And When Should I Use A Microphone?
What Microphone Should I Get?
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Tags: how to use a microphone, microphone use, microphones for djs
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don’t forget last call!
[ link ]I am a regga/dancehall dj/selector. I am constantly on the mic giving shout outs big ups or intruducong the next tune. Keeping it hype and energy levels high. Otherwise known as toasting. This is very common in the dancehall/reggae world.
[ link ]and you said it before i got a chance. very big for dancehall/reggae djs, selectaz, and sounds crews. i dont think the dance would be lively with out someone on the mic hyping things up(reggae parties that is). it brings out creativity as well, shows that you can interact with your crowd without boring them.
[ link ]Hey! Interesting article I was just considering buying a mic actually. Can anyone recommend a good one for the VCI-300 MK2? It has a 1/4 jack not xlr. I would like to keep it very cheap under $50 USD. I was looking at the audio technica xtr-1300.
[ link ]We’ve actually never tested any mics on here. The mic I always seem to end up using is a Shure SM57/58, you can fit them with 1/4″ or XLR cables. They’re decades old so second hand should be easy to find within your budget.
[ link ]Agreed with Phil, not to mention they’re really cheap when new. In the US you can still get them for under $100. They are bulletproof, damn-near indestructable microphones. Shure also makes wireless SM58s as well, but they’re not cheap. I also recommend the Audix OM5 mic…great mic for around $150 US.
Best of luck!
[ link ]Howdy Christopher,
Getting a good mic (even used) for around the 50,00 US mark might prove harder than my dear friends here seem to think. I would be hard pressed to find you a shure SM58 (forget the 57, it is primarily aimed at instruments) for that kind of money. Or you get one that looks like it has been through 30+ years of hell on the road and probably has.
Personally I think the only two things the SM58 has going for it are: indestructable build and noone will ever question your choice as it is by far the most used mic in live sound situations. Like noone will ever bitch about a DJ booth with CDJ’s in it
Having said that, I think the SM58 is really not a very nice sounding mic. Very sensitive to proximity effect (the closer to your mouth the bassier the sound) and, in my opinion far more serious, not very much clarity in the speech area (presence = around 4KHz). And if you ARE going to use a mic, you really want people to have a very clear understanding of the message you try to get across right?
The Beta58 (more or less the successor of the SM58) would already be a much better choice. Not too much chance of finding one of those for 50 bucks either though.
I don’t have any experience with the particular model AT you mention, but on average I would say AT mics do pretty good in the speech region and do so at a good price. If you are looking at used mics, you could also look at mics like Sennheiser MD431 for example, or AKG D330BT (it has two tone control settings, one controls bass, which is nice but even better is the presence boost, which acts exactly in the speech part of the frequency spectrum). These are roadworthy mics too, but they are becoming a bit scarce second hand, so you may have to shop around for one.
Last thing to look for, is the directional pattern. I won’t get into the nitty gritty of it, but it pretty much sums up like this: cardioid and super cardioid are the usual options. The SM58 is of the first type, D330BT is of the second. The supers are most sensitive right in front of the microphone and reject almost all sounds coming at it from the side, cardioids pick up more sound from the side. This CAN increase the chance of feed back (you know that nice whistling sounds microphones can make).
So, I wish you good luck on finding something for 50 bucks. I would like to leave you with the thought that IF you are going to use a mic at all, make sure you sound GOOD and can be clearly heard and understood. So, perhaps consider getting a good used mic at a slightly higher price tag and be confident that your mic is up to standard for public performance.
Greetinx & happy spinning!
[ link ]Chuck “DJ Vintage” van Eekelen
Ta for thread! Got our first DDS club night coming very soon so a mic may actually be handy after all.
Keep it hidden of course…
[ link ]When I first started my Friday/Sunday rotation I got a request from management for “talkies”. The initial request was for every 20 minutes! I thought that was insane. Really? Do you really feel so insecure about your venue that you have to remind your peeps that they are in Club X every 20 minutes?
I came up with a compromise: I created some spots using a computer-generated voice that I passed through Audacity for echo/bass and throw them in when the tunes allow (a slow spot, every hour or so which to me is a tad more acceptable) and I only talk when I first take over (“Hello Cleveland!!” moment) and when I’m off (“Hope you all enjoyed tonight’s mix!! See you all next time!!”) so while the mic is still present it’s less frequently used that the constant blabber that I felt it was generating.
[ link ]This must be a totally cultural thing……I dont think you ‘ll ever find a DJ using a mic in a Greek pub, bar, club – Id go far enough to say that even in the event of fire, the word will be spread by shouting from the staff rather than the DJ announcing it with a mic lol
However though, it is true that for such cases, if I was directed to, Id also comply and use it.
[ link ]Shure’s beta 58 is a great Mic.. I MC all the time as a mobile/wedding DJ.
[ link ]if you have a personality, the mic is the fastest/best way to show it. when did the dj become afraid to talk??? starring at your laptop all night does not speak well of you. announce drink specials, and other weekly events of the venue you are working for (the least u can do)
[ link ]Good use for informative info
“To get back to the warning that I received. You may take it with however many grains of salt that you wish. That the brown acid that is circulating around us isn’t too good. It is suggested that you stay away from that. Of course it’s your own trip. So be my guest, but please be advised that there is a warning on that one, ok?”
[ link ]There’s a classic use of the microphone, well remembered…
[ link ]It should be mentioned that if one really needs mic on the fly and forgot to pack his/her own, to go ahead and USE YOUR HEADPHONES! Yeah, it’s a nifty trick that people forget sometimes. I don’t usually have a need for the mic too, but when there are shout outs and what not, just unplug from cue and plug into the 1/4″ mic. Sure it looks uncouth speaking into your headphones, but it get’s your voice across just fine.
[ link ]A DJ that can’t/won’t use a mic is a DJ who isn’t covering all of his bases. Pick the thing up and use it, people love shouts and big ups, it makes you more accessible and ultimately more popular. I’m not suggesting talk radio here, just some vocal punctuation for the evenings entertainment.
[ link ]Ok this is from a tour guide, part time karaoke host, who takes up the odd dj gig: microphone is power. if used rightly you can attract someones attention on the other side of the road and ask him to do something and guess what, because everyone will turn around and look at him, eventually he will do it lol.
Phil you re right, shure are a good brand to go by. i must admit i dont use it much when djing, but its always there.
Oh and a fifth reason you can use it for: to announce the clubs next gig, weather you re djing or not they will appreciate. or, to announce a special promotion they do for that night (if they got two for ones on a certain drink or a specific brand are doing a promotion or so on)
I hate it when djs overdo it with the mike tho. some seem to say something every two three songs.
[ link ]Why wouldn’t a DJ want to be a personality on a mic? Now a days, any fool can run up to guitar center buy some speakers and a mixer and bam, you’re a DJ!
Anyone can hit a sync button and beat match now a days. What you can’t buy is a big personality on the mic!
We hire DJs all the time, we don’t look for mixing skills (we can teach a monkey to mix) we look for a fun, dynamic personality that are not afraid of the mic.
[ link ]I use a VCI-300 MkII with a Shure 57, connected with a 1/4″ male to XLR female cord on the mic, works perfectly for me, and like Phil, I tend to keep it hidden, until I need it!
Gabriel
“DJ Rated G”
Southern California, U.S.A.
… In fact I used last week at a birthday gig, where a talented Spanish singer showed up, and I politely asked (maybe pleaded) with him to sing a song over an instrumental for the birthday girl, … very memorable!
[ link ]I’m a radio DJ so naturally having a mic anywhere near me is like crack. We love to hear ourselves talk. That being said, while I have a readily available mic in my bag for emergencies, I keep that bitch packed away at all times.
I play at a local restaurant/sports bar on the weekends. If I indulged birthday shoutouts from every person who asked I’d lose my voice halfway through my first song. It’s insane. Even worse the drunken monkeys who presume to grab the mic themselves and do what they wish. It’s a headache I don’t want or need.
[ link ]I’m more of a mix DJ, like like my own voice and really don’t wanna come across as corny on the mic. I’m confident with happy birthdays, last orders, shout outs on requests but find if I have nothing specific to say I don’t say anything. Sometimes at weddings, which sometimes I do I thinking talking is the key, but I struggle to just say random comments.
[ link ]Really? Drink specials on the mic? You must work in some cheap venues – there’s nothing worse than having your dance interrupted by someone trying to sell you something, you’ve done the selling by getting people in your venue in the first place!
Surely drinks specials get promoted on flyers, screens and the bar staff tend to plug cheaper options (in cheap venues), fancy places tend to up sell and avoid drinks promos like the plague.
[ link ]I spent 20 years of djing without using a mic and I was proud of that. Because using a mic was for the wedding-jocks.
Than I started doing a regular radio-show ant it turned out that it’s big fun for me to work with a mic.
Always good to be surprised by life and of course: by yourself.
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