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MichaelKent Special user 560 Posts |
Hey everyone!
I've released my new lecture, "Microphone Management for Magicians," which is a 90-minute download teaching the use of a handheld microphone in our acts. Whether you're currently using a headworn or lavalier microphone and want to switch to a handheld, or you're currently using a handheld and want to make your show better, you will definitely benefit from the wealth of information in this lecture! You can download it at http://gum.co/microphone |
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rockbrunnen Elite user 431 Posts |
I am so intrigued. The topic itself is very original.
But for 50 bucks, I would like to know a little more about the contents. Can you show us just an example or a hint of what the video teaches? Just give us an idea what we will buy. |
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The Unmasked Magician Inner circle If only I didn't have a wife and a kid I would have MUCH more than 2644 Posts |
Personally I’m very happy using good quality headworn mics like DPA, Countryman and Sennheiser. I see no reason to go back to using handheld mikes, the proximity effect being the only thing I can’t achieve as well with a headset. But I don’t use that very often and it can sort of be accomplished in another way. I also feel it gives a performer a much bigger scope of non-verbal expression to have two hands “talking”. So I’m curious; why use a handheld?
Please check regularly if you are becoming the type of magician Jerry Seinfeld jokes about. (This applies to mentalists as well.)
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MichaelKent Special user 560 Posts |
Absolutely, I can expand a little. And thanks for the comments. I used to use a headworn mic and then a lavalier mic. After talking with Alain Nu and Ken Weber something like 10 years ago, I switched to using a handheld and I'll never go back. I've done thousands of shows this way and I'm absolutely convinced it's better. I don't want to give away too much of the juicy info that others have paid for, but here are a few of the many benefits:
- Prevalance. "If you can learn to do your show with a hand held mic on a stand, you can work any room in the world." It's really true. Sure, it's easy to bring a mic and plug it in. But if you're a professional worker, sooner or later, you're going to run into a situation that requires you to use a handheld mic. I even bring my own microphone to shows. But it's a handheld! - Sound quality. Of course today's countryman E6 style mics and other small microphones sound good. But they'll never compete with a handheld mic. I explain why in the lecture, down to the engineering and mixing of the mic. I talk about WHY a smaller mic worn further from your mouth can introduce problems and why a handheld mic will always make your voice sound better. - The ability to interview onstage volunteers. This is important. If you have someone onstage and you're asking them questions and their answers are off mic, you're missing out on a goldmine of good content for your audience. I use video examples in this lecture and talk about how I use the handheld mic to control the rhythm/pacing of interviews. - The ability to stage whisper, cough, etc. without muting. - I actually use the mic a lot to control the audience's attention. When you bring a mic to your mouth, our audiences are trained/conditioned to listen. They know form every banquet/event they've ever been to that when the mic comes to the mouth, to lean in and listen. Conversely, bringing the mic away from your mouth can be an applause/laughter cue. I demonstrate this in the lecture. Here's a note I just got from Ran D' Shine, who just finished watching the lecture: I don't publicly endorse any magic product. But will publicly endorse this lecture on microphone management. The information Michael shares is not limited to magicians, it's for anyone that speaks for a living. Microphone management skills is what separates the amateurs from the professionals and Michael will teach you everything you need to know to make you a pro when using a microphone. He even shares very important and useful information on why you should record every show beyond evaluating your act. To any pro or aspiring professional this not a "go buy" lecture this is a "MUST BUY" lecture. - So Sayeth Ran Shine, Two Time APCA Magician of the Year." |
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MichaelKent Special user 560 Posts |
Also, here's a trailer that may attest to the video quality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg1PYMGUec0
A couple more testimonials: “Michael Kent is one of the busiest magicians in America. And he is a master at using the handheld microphone. Those two facts are related.” -Ken Weber, Author of Maximum Entertainment "Using a handheld microphone is an art, and Michael Kent is an artist." -Brent Braun, The Magic Firm |
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MadisonH Inner circle 1752 Posts |
I was fortunate enough to be there in person for the lecture.
It was full of information, and the highest praise I can give it is that I am currently in the processes of re-evaluating my show and re-blocking it to make it hand-held friendly. Using a hand held mic actually solved some problems I was having trouble finding solutions for. Madison |
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rockbrunnen Elite user 431 Posts |
Michael, thank you very much for the expanded info. I think I got the idea. I will buy it when I be home tonight.
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emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
Michael is a true pro and when he says he's done thousands of shows, he's not kidding. He's won multiple entertainer of the year awards and I've seen his show several times. Even though I'm old and set in my ways and generally too lazy to change, I've done my last two shows using a handheld mic because of his ideas on the topic.
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MichaelKent Special user 560 Posts |
Thank you guys. I put my heart into this lecture and it’s something I’m passionate about. I’m happy to answer any other questions.
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Sashac Inner circle 1041 Posts |
This is so up my alley. Will post a review once I've listened to the whole thing! Thanks Michael!!!
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The Unmasked Magician Inner circle If only I didn't have a wife and a kid I would have MUCH more than 2644 Posts |
I can see your points. I have a sound a sound technician at just about all of my gigs and they always deliver with the headworns these days, so I'm perfectly happy when it comes to their sound. I'm VERY picky regarding sound quality (because I also often sing at gigs) but for about five years now technicians can make headworns sound awesome consistently. I've toured as a singer for years so I know the differences between handhelds and headworns very well. In a band I'd still use a handheld. But solo I prefer headworns by a mile. But hey, they are just a tool. To each his own. The quality of your video looks excellent.
Please check regularly if you are becoming the type of magician Jerry Seinfeld jokes about. (This applies to mentalists as well.)
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MichaelKent Special user 560 Posts |
I think if you’re in a situation where everything is 100% consistent every night, it’s awesome that you can use a head worn and have it EQ’d correctly for the room each time. Most entertainers don’t have that luxury. This still leaves much to be desired in terms of the “utility” part of my lecture, which covers the actual use of the mic for interviewing, stage whispering, etc. Thanks for the compliment on video quality. One of the “pro-tips” in the video talks about capturing shows on camera and why.
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Mark_Chandaue Inner circle Essex UK 4187 Posts |
I may have to pick this up, I suck with a handheld and I have been in the situation where that is all that is available more times than I’d like.
Mark |
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John Gerard Loyal user Guam 283 Posts |
I was in the process of picking this up, but my paypal cart had a message that made it look like it's a subscription. I'd be more willing to purchase if the "automatic payments" message wasn't there.
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MichaelKent Special user 560 Posts |
That’s really strange. It’s not any sort of subscription service. It’s a one-time payment
Via Gumroad, a trusted third-party system. I’ve emailed gumroad to ask them why it shows up this way. I assure you there is absolutely no recurring payment. |
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John Gerard Loyal user Guam 283 Posts |
Thanks. Will check again in a couple of days. To be more specific the message popped up when I tried paying with paypal.
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MichaelKent Special user 560 Posts |
John Gerard, I got this reply back from Gumroad:
"IF you buy a product on Gumroad using PayPal... AND you create an account on Gumroad after that purchase... AND you save your PayPal information in Gumroad... AND you later log into your Gumroad account and go to buy another product on Gumroad... THEN You would not have to log into PayPal to buy this product. It would basically be a one-click purchase." So really, it's the same thing as creating an account on Amazon and saving your payment information on there. There are no unauthorized recurring payments, the only "recurring" payment would be if you were to buy more things on Gumroad using your PayPal. Hope that helps! Best, Cheryl, Manager of Support Gumroad |
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John Gerard Loyal user Guam 283 Posts |
Thanks. Due to your quick response I took the plunge and ordered. Less than 15 minutes into the lecture I felt I already got my money's worth. Within that amount of time, some problem areas I had with sound-amplified performances were now given solutions.
For anyone who is truly reflective of their sound-amplified performance, this lecture is worth your investment. |
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MichaelKent Special user 560 Posts |
Thank you for the rave review! I'm happy the lecture could solve some problems for you! That's really awesome to hear. Without giving away too much insider info, what problems did it solve?
Denny Corby suggested that I release a buyers guide for the equipment mentioned throughout the lecture. Would this be something that would be beneficial to anyone else? |
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John Gerard Loyal user Guam 283 Posts |
From the first 15 minutes alone it helped me understand that the handheld can help with sound fx -- which when created in the moment is tons more entertaining than pre-recorded fx. I've recently switched to a headset for my kidshow gigs and have not been happy with the sound quality. I had convinced myself that the trade-off to free up a hand was worth it, but the utility of the handheld that you speak about was not part of my mental paradigm. Now that I'm aware of the handheld's potential, I'm actually going to save money. My original idea had been to upgrade my gear.
What I appreciate the most though is that as my different acts change and evolve with new pieces replacing some older ones, the techniques in the lecture will be like a useful tool bag to go into as I'm scripting the shows. |
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