Help with Element and Water

[tm1000]

Ok, So this year we have decided to do Singing in the Rain, and if any of you have seen the play you know that in one part it rains on one person. The problem I am seeing is how do I keep the mic element dry or what should I do about that scene with water and the Mic (and yes, we are making it really rain).

Using Shure U series, DPA element.

[Jo-JotheSoundDog]

Okay first off where is the element located on the actor? How many performances do you have to do?
I would recomend placing the element center of the forehead right below the hairline pointing towards the mouth. That way the water will not naturally flow into the element. Second I would take a pair of panty hose, spray them down with scotch guard or a shoe waterproofing spray, cut a small piece and attach it over the element. If the show is running for more than a dozen performances I would look into a countryman isomax b-6. Hope that helps.
Or you could try and talk the director into letting the actor wear a hat for the scene and water proof that.

I did Singing in the Rain way back when I was in high school. And sad to say we did real rain on stage and it never read in the house. Hope you have better luck.

[dvsDave]

In the movies, when they "make rain" they add a milk-like liquid to the water to make it show up more.

[Jo-JotheSoundDog]

Hey Dave I thought they did that for the cameras to able to pick it up. I might be wrong. I would definitely stay away from real milk unless you want to deal with that smell.

[dvsDave]

Note: that was "milk-like" substance... NOT REAL MILK.

I point I was making is that water doesn't show up well under stage lights... you need to add something to the water to make it reflect the light more.

[Jo-JotheSoundDog]

Sorry about that, now I've been racking my brain for a day tryiing to come up with a milk-like substance that might work. And I'm lost. You want something that isn't going to smell, isn't going to be sticky, isn't going to make the floor slick, won't hurt the scenery, and won't stain the costume, not to mention non-toxic. I've got nothing. Anyone want to take a shot at this?

[ship]

perhaps a bit of powdered starch for making it show up? Don't know how clear it gets when disolved however.

I don't know anything about sound (hooray!) but read on another forum about using unlubricated condoms over the mic element. Might be interesting or at least fun.

[Jo-JotheSoundDog]

Ship careful there the condom goes over the transmitter pack not the element. That is a very quick way to destroy sound quality.

[ship]

Interesting. I could see that. Thanks for the info.

[Jo-JotheSoundDog]

There is now a company out there that started making latex transmitter covers. The product name is something like "Sheathes". In case anybody has a problem getting a school to put together a purchase order for 200 non-lubricated condoms.