Mics and Makeup

[DavidDaMonkey]

What is that around the capsule of the mic? Is that some sort of elastic band? Is it holding it to the hair? Is that comfortable?

[rdagit]

I'd say that your best solution for a quiet singer... is to tell them to sing lounder... Although you can do the boom mike idea, or bring it out over the forehead, I'd say that whatever you do should be the same for all singers (in general, unless you are making a choice with one of the characters, or they have a hat). But most directors will look at you funny if you start bringing the microphones to far out onto the face, especially with a small house. If you have a good director they will listen to the fact that you have a weak singer, and there isn't anything you can do about it... For most of the time I've found a lot of the weaker ones sing softer because they think that they can due to the microphone being on.

[jkowtko]

Originally Posted by DavidDaMonkey

What is that around the capsule of the mic? Is that some sort of elastic band? Is it holding it to the hair? Is that comfortable?

Yes, that's a rubber band. This was covered in an earlier thread somewhere -- evidently it was ok with the actors and holds well.

[Andy_Leviss]

For over-the-ear rigging, you actually want to go a lot further in front of the ear. What Alex (Hughesie) posted a pic of is too far back on the ear. For the best sound (although always a compromise compared to the forehead), you need to extend a bit further down onto the top of the cheekbone. You want to make sure that when the actor hums, you don't feel the spot the mic is mounted on vibrating, as those resonances will kill you with mids.

--Andy

[Terry]

I'm a makeup artist and won't apply makeup around a mic, especially if I'm airbrushing it on. (My son does sound and lighting so I know better!) If the actor has the mic on I take it off, lay it over his shoulder and apply the makeup. Putting a little vaseline on the wire keeps makeup from sticking to it and usually makeup remover will clean off the wire. After I'm done I try to reattach the mic to a wig or hairpiece (hopefully with the soundman's blessing)or bend it enough so it hugs the face and tape it behind the ear. (I always keep surgical tape in my case.) If I have to tape it to the cheek I clean a tiny bit of skin w/Qtip and alcohol, allow it to dry and tape it on.Then I'll repair the makeup by blending over the surgical tape which works pretty good. I never put anything on the wire but sometimes makeup will transfer.