For a speaker, nothing could be worse than audience members looking at each other with puzzled expressions and asking "What did he say?" That's why overcoming sound problems before they happen is important.
A speaker may have the best information possible but it will be of little value to his listeners if they can't hear or understand what is being shared.
Overcoming sound problems begins with first testing the microphone a speaker will be using.
Subsequently, finding the right technical person immediately if there are any problems with a microphone or caused by it that may include squelching, placement of the microphone, problems with wiring, etc.
is important.
Second, overcoming sound problems also demands that a speaker ask if battery-operated devices he will be wearing are using fresh batteries.
He should also request detailed information about operating the device.
Even after all possible problems with sound equipment have been checked, a speaker still needs to make sure his comments will be heard throughout the room.
An assistant should listen to his comments while standing in different parts of a room where he will be speaking, that's because even the most efficient sound speakers may not be properly tuned to guarantee everyone in an audience can hear what is being said.
Speakers should also be warned that overcoming sound problems involves avoiding any that they may create themselves.
Among the considerations that a speaker should remember to guarantee that he doesn't make himself hard to hear are: · Not stepping away from the microphone · Turning his back to the audience, which may cause audience members difficulty in understanding what is being said (This is not something a speaker should normally do it in the first place, but might be intended to emphasize a point) · Mumbling or speaking too softly As with everything else involving preparation as part of public speaking, the final two points are something that should be considered as a speaker rehearses his remarks.
He should also avoid any movements that might cause squelching as a result of a hand-held microphone that is placed too close to a sound speaker.
A speaker should also remember one final tip when it comes to overcoming sound problems: make sure everyone hears questions that are asked.
That's because nothing is more annoying to audiences than a speaker responding to a question unless everyone understands what his response is about.
Therefore responding to questions demands that a speaker first repeat the question to assure both that all audience members have heard and comprehended what was asked.