The Full Monty - nude/mic solutions
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3461
Printed Date: 10/18/24 at 11:29am
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Topic: The Full Monty - nude/mic solutions
Posted By: kshel
Subject: The Full Monty - nude/mic solutions
Date Posted: 9/15/08 at 1:00pm
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This is both a technical (sound) and very much a directorial/choreographic question: how to handle the dilema of getting mics on nude/semi-nude actors for the striptease finale as well as the rehearsal scene at Howard's home. Obviously, no place to hide a RF transmitter & lav mic cord. Ironically, the finale might be the easier problem of the two, using handheld RF mics on stands that are preset d.s. in a row, there for each of the six men to come down and grab when their time comes. This would need to be worked into the choreography, of course, particularly as the mics would have to be replaced in their mic holders each time the actor must remove another piece of clothing, then grabbed up again as the singing continues. Not exactly condusive to bold, fluid choreography, but at least somewhat of a solution. Furthering the difficulty is the men don't have down time (only Jeanette's brief intro) to remove their RF transmitters/laveliers before the strip scene--my philosophy is that you mic the entire show, both dialog and musical scenes. Additionally, during the rehearsal scene at Howard's house, the men go down to their shorts, so the same problem there, except this time a handheld, obviously, won't solve it. We do use a combination of hanging mics & floor mics (flat, boundary mics at stage edge), but these are only somewhat useful, such as to fill out the chorus during musical numbers or the occasional, spoken line from a chorus member (who would not be wearing a body mic). I've found reliance on these none-body mics to be unsaticefactory, the sound quality vague and not condusive to getting the words out. And this is a bawdy, loud, rock 'n roll musical! It's vital that quality be maintained. Solutions? Rental of 6 handheld wireless mics would be expensive enough, but I keep wishing for some ultra-compact, not obscenely obvious, behind-the-ear (transmitter) / lav mic over-the-ear (ala Britney Spears, but adhered to the upper cheek with TopStick tape), and oh did I mention it not be rediculously expensive? (I don't even know if such a around-the ear mic arrangement exists.) What have other theaters done? You might gather that we try to do up the sound for our musicals BIG, or as much as we can afford. Thanks for opinions.
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Replies:
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 9/15/08 at 2:01pm
I'm sorry.. I'm Sorry.. I'm Sorry, but I cant help myself (I know you really need them and this is, in reality, no help at all) but the evil part of me says to tell them they have to sing loud enough not to need them or your going to super clue them to a place they really wouldnt appreciate.,, that would make me sing out... Sorry..
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Marty W
"Till next we trod the boards.."
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Posted By: RoseColored Gla
Date Posted: 9/26/08 at 10:12pm
The mics that you are dreaming of KINDA partially exist..... http://www.zzounds.com/cat--Headset-Microphones--2837 - the mic part is no problem .... for my choir, i rented six of them for soloists for $25 each from my local sound store. They came with the transmitter/reciever that you need. The problem with your dream microphone is the http://www.lectrosonics.com/hybrid/sm/sm.htm - transmitter/battery pack . I don't know what the pro's use, but you will have to find a way to hide the pack.... my thoughts, maybe talk to your local store, let them know your problem and see if they have any mics with enough extra cord to hide the pack in the actor's socks? or maybe you could attach it on their side under their arm? If i have to, I could draw ya what i'm thinking of... lol
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Dennis Dippary
Artistic Director
Songs for a New World http://rosecoloredglassestheater.com - RoseColored Glasses
May Dionysus smile upon your every performance!
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Posted By: skoehler
Date Posted: 9/27/08 at 3:20pm
The ove the ear mics can be purchased for a couple hundred dollars (not the transmitters just the mics and booms). That is assuming you alread have transmitters. You could probably rent the whole package for the six guys for 1,500 for three weeks (I have no idea where exactly you live ans what rates are there, or how long your run is, or any other details.
When I lit a production, we had two micing solutions for the guys. During the majority of the show they wore the transmitters under their boxers. mics hidden in their hair, or over the ear, depending on the actor. By the final scene each of the guys lost that mic, most have plenty of time. The sound engineer rigged the hats they wear with a transmitter and a small mic head on the brim of the hat. Next to impossible to see, even in a very intimate space. They kept the hats on through the final moment and by that time they singing is done.
It worked very well.
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Steven Koehler
Managing Director
Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette
www.lafayettecivic.org
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Posted By: skyguy
Date Posted: 10/21/08 at 1:28pm
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Wow! I like the hat idea.
My girlfried played Georgie Buckatinski in that show. I am a soundguy (but didn't do that show) and I think they used mic pouches for the transmitters. The pouch stayed around the small of the back and then tied (with fairly thin ties) around the front. Can't really see it beyond the first few rows!
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Can I have some more talent in the monitors please?
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