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Today's Topics:
1. Re: searching archive? (Laur)
2. Re: Wireless Microphone (Greg McKenzie)
3. Re: searching archive? (Mark Widmer)
4. Re: microphones (Will Loving)
5. Re: microphones (Will Loving)
6. Re: searching archive? (Laur)
7. Re: searching archive? (Greg McKenzie)
8. Re: Wireless Microphone (Lewis Land)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 09:02:09 -0700 (PDT)
From: Laur <[email protected]>
To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Callers] searching archive?
Message-ID:
<[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
?
Thanks Chris - I kept defaulting to the info page and getting to
the archives.
~
________________________________
From: Chris Weiler (home) <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 10:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] searching archive?
Right on the home page is a box on the left that will let you
search the archives:
http://www.sharedweight.net/
Chris
On 7/16/2011 6:17 PM, Laur wrote:
Chris (everyone),
Am I correct in thinking there is not a way to search the archives?
Laurie
Grand Rapids MI
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 09:09:47 -0700
From: Greg McKenzie <[email protected]>
To: "Caller's discussion list" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Callers] Wireless Microphone
Message-ID:
<CAFqkWLvJKv24mvh_cL=f3mp2p-ej3in8yqreqm0kxt27sy+...@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I used a wireless headset mike for a short time. I found it
cumbersome and
limiting. In addition to losing the ability to control my own
volume by
moving away from the mike I don't do a lot of floor demonstration
so it was
really only a "hands free" device I used on stage. I like shifting
to an
off-mike mode while on the floor. It is an attention-getting
technique when
the caller steps down and speaks without amplification.
I know lots of folks on this list do gigs with much more teaching and
demonstrating than I do when calling at open public contra dances.
The
wireless route might be good for that kind of event. But I would
caution
the wireless mike users to consider the effects on dancers when
they look up
on stage and see the caller missing. It can be unnerving to hear a
headless
voice speaking over the PA system. (This is why they invented
follow-spots
for theater performances. The audience always knows where to
look.) I like
to keep the dancers in control and to never make them feel
foolish...even
for a moment.
I suggest that head-mike callers lead the audience with a prompt
whenever
they step down from the stage as in: "Ladies and Gentlemen: Please
direct
your attention to the center of the hall," as the caller steps
down. This
will avoid the feeling that someone with a live mike is "stalking"
around
the hall floor. Keeping the audience oriented will help them to feel
relaxed and confident.
The worst offense of a wireless mike user is to walk down on the
floor,
without prompting, and to begin giving instructions to a single
dancer or a
small group that is confused. The presence of the caller--speaking
to them
over the PA system--can make newcomers very uncomfortable and
distracted,
and undermine any assistance the caller is attempting to offer. When
on-mike, the caller should always speak only to the entire hall.
Directed
comments should always be off-mike.
-Greg McKenzie
*************
On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 2:03 AM, Colin Hume <[email protected]>
wrote:
On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 09:44:39 +0100, John Sweeney wrote:
I find hand-held mikes very strange. Why would you lock yourself
into a fixed position, or tie one of your hands up when you can use
a wireless headset?
I much prefer a hand-held. I find that as soon as I put on a headset
I feel the need to cough, sniff, clear my throat, etc. Also with a
hand-held I can pull my head away from the microphone to call out to
the band "Another B" or "One more time" or "Slower", whereas with a
headset I have to find the switch first, speak, then switch it
back on
again. I've got quite good at transferring the mike from one hand to
the other when I'm dancing, and most people can cope with holding my
elbow rather than my hand if necessary.
Colin Hume
Email [email protected] Web site http://www.colinhume.com
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:31:44 -0400
From: Mark Widmer <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Callers] searching archive?
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
There's always google. Just include site:www.sharedweight.net among
your search terms.
For example:
http://www.google.com/
#sclient=psy&hl=en&safe=off&source=hp&q=wireless
+site:www.sharedweight.net&pbx=1&oq=wireless
+site:www.sharedweight.net&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1937l8842l0l9
249l34l26l0l3l3l0l305l3446l5.14.3.1l23&bav=on.
2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=86582d5fedad0c80&biw=1280&bih=587
-- Mark Widmer
From: Laur<[email protected]> wrote:
Chris (everyone),
Am I correct in thinking there is not a way to search the archives??
Laurie
Grand Rapids MI
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:44:43 -0400
From: Will Loving <[email protected]>
To: "Caller's discussion list <[email protected]>"
<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Callers] microphones
Message-ID: <ca4889bb.44a2f%[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
This may be changing. On my new cell phone, an LG Cosmos, I can
hear myself
in the speaker when I talk. It was a little disconcerting at first
because I
was so used to NOT hearing myself and it doesn't exactly sound like
and old
wired phone, but it may be that manufacturers are starting to add this
feature in.
on 7/16/11 11:09 PM, Amy Cann at [email protected] wrote:
There are plenty of people like me out there - and you can spot
them as soon
as they get out their cell phones. Old phones have a speaker in
the ear end
that not only carries the other person but also your own voice --
you have a
monitor, and you get to hear yourself from the outside. Cell
phones don't,
the ear part is dead unless the other person is speaking. Older
folks used
to exterior feedback can get really thrown off by this and start
TALKING
REALLY LOUD;
--
William M. Loving
Dedication Technologies, Inc.
7 Coach Lane
Amherst, MA 01002-3304 USA
[email protected]
Tel: +1 413 253-7223 (GMT ?5)
Fax: +1 206 202-0476
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:53:49 -0400
From: Will Loving <[email protected]>
To: "Caller's discussion list <[email protected]>"
<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Callers] microphones
Message-ID: <ca488bdd.44a33%[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
This is a note I wrote and posted a while back on my experience
with my
headset:
As far as I?m concerned, if you can afford it, the way to go is with a
Countryman E6, and specifically the E6i which is the directional
model vs
the omni-directional one. The E6 is not cheap, generally $300-350
for the
mike and a spare cable, you still have to buy the body pack and
transceiver
(I got a used Shure PGX with carrying case on ebay). These are the
same
mikes that are used in Broadway shows and by many performers,
church pastors
and choir soloists, etc. One or two people I?ve seen use the big Shure
headsets that come with the PGX kits, and I?m sure they are
adequate, but I
like the fact that the Countryman is almost invisible and the
quality is
such that people have literally said to me ?it?s like you are
standing right
next to me?.
I purchased mine from CCI Solutions (http://ccisolutions.com ? Jeff
Brown
was my rep) a place that supplies lots of churches. Their prices on
Countryman mikes are about $50 less than anyone else because they
were the
very first Countryman dealer. They also include an extra cable
which is
normally $50 extra.
I tried both an the Omni (E6) and directional (E6i) versions before
going
with the latter. Jeff at CCI told me that they sell 100 omnis for each
direction they sell, but that he agreed with my reasoning and
experience
that because as caller I would be standing very close to (or
sometimes in
front of) the mains that the directional would be better than the
omni. And,
in fact, experience has found that to be true.
I can be almost directly in front of the mains doing a demo and get no
feedback unless I turn at precisely the wrong angle. With an omni, the
chances of getting feedback from multiple angles is MUCH higher.
The caveat
is that placement of the directional mike at the corner of your
mouth is
critical. You need to follow the detailed directions so the clip
fits your
ear well - both snug and comfortable - and so that the pickup is
right at
the corner of your mouth and not wiggling around. Not hard to do
and once
you've got it set it should stay that way.
Will
on 7/16/11 5:30 PM, JoLaine Jones-Pokorney at [email protected] wrote:
Hi all - I'm considering a wireless headset mic. It sure would be
nice to
have hands free when demonstrating, teaching the introductory
workshop. But
I don't see many callers using them. Is there a downside to this
that I'm
not seeing, or is it just the expense? And if someone could
recommend a
good one, I would appreciate it as I know NOTHING. Our local
sound guy has
recommended the SHURE brand, but doesn't know a specific model
number.
Also, what are your thoughts about using a monitor? We have a
visiting
caller that SCREAMS into the mic and it was suggested that if he
had a
monitor, he might not do that.
Any help is appreciated!
JoLaine
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
--
William M. Loving
Dedication Technologies, Inc.
7 Coach Lane
Amherst, MA 01002-3304 USA
[email protected]
Tel: +1 413 253-7223 (GMT ?5)
Fax: +1 206 202-0476
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:58:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Laur <[email protected]>
To: Caller's discussion list <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Callers] searching archive?
Message-ID:
<[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
?
I love it!? thanks Mark.
________________________________
From: Mark Widmer <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 12:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Callers] searching archive?
There's always google.? Just include site:www.sharedweight.net among
your search terms.
For example:
http://www.google.com/
#sclient=psy&hl=en&safe=off&source=hp&q=wireless
+site:www.sharedweight.net&pbx=1&oq=wireless
+site:www.sharedweight.net&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1937l8842l0l
9249l34l26l0l3l3l0l305l3446l5.14.3.1l23&bav=on.
2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=86582d5fedad0c80&biw=1280&bih=587
-- Mark Widmer
From: Laur<[email protected]>? wrote:
Chris (everyone),
Am I correct in thinking there is not a way to search the archives??
Laurie
Grand Rapids MI
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:08:04 -0700
From: Greg McKenzie <[email protected]>
To: "Caller's discussion list" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Callers] searching archive?
Message-ID:
<cafqkwlvdv3qvwss+mtj2rmccap6xsrmtsgik9ty0hzhyqjj...@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Mark,
This is a great tip! I am viewing the list through the google web
interface. I see no "search archive" options anywhere. Google
works well.
- Greg McKenzie
**********
On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 9:31 AM, Mark Widmer <[email protected]>
wrote:
There's always google. Just include site:www.sharedweight.net
among your
search terms.
For example:
http://www.google.com/#**sclient=psy&hl=en&safe=off&**
source=hp&q=wireless+site:www.**sharedweight.net&pbx=1&oq=**
wireless
+site:www.**sharedweight.net&aq=f&aqi=&**aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=**
1937l8842l0l9249l34l26l0l3l3l0**l305l3446l5.14.3.1l23&bav=on.**
2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=**86582d5fedad0c80&biw=1280&bih=**587<http://
www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&safe=off&source=hp&q=wireless
+site:www.sharedweight.net&pbx=1&oq=wireless
+site:www.sharedweight.net&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1937l8842l0l
9249l34l26l0l3l3l0l305l3446l5.14.3.1l23&bav=on.
2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=86582d5fedad0c80&biw=1280&bih=587>
-- Mark Widmer
From: Laur<[email protected]> wrote:
Chris (everyone),
Am I correct in thinking there is not a way to search the archives??
Laurie
Grand Rapids MI
______________________________**_________________
Callers mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.sharedweight.net/**mailman/listinfo/callers<http://
www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers>
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:59:52 -0600
From: Lewis Land <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Callers] Wireless Microphone
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I have only occasionally used a cordless headset mike, but I found
it to
be quite liberating. I really enjoyed the opportunity to step down
from
the stage and walk between the lines of dancers. Apart from
participating more directly in the excitement of the dance, it gave
me a
chance to see if there were any problems in one of the lines that
required me to continue calling a couple more sets. I'm sure we
have all
had that experience of one line "getting the dance" very quickly while
another line, usually populated by novices dancing with each other, is
on the verge of falling apart. Very often that second line is the one
farther from me on the stage and more difficult to observe. If I
have a
headset mike I will wait until the dance gets going before I
venture out
onto the floor, at a point where I don't feel the need to call
specific
moves very much.
I honestly don't think the dancers would find it that unnerving to
hear
calls over the PA system when the caller isn't visible on the stage,
unless they are very old and haven't had any experience with modern
public address systems in other venues. And I think it would be
extremely distracting to specifically advise the dancers to direct
their
attention to the floor when the caller is out there. I mean, the whole
point is to get the dancers to focus on each other and forget that the
caller is even present, so why go out of your way to remind them?
Last weekend I called a dance where I was offered a handheld cordless
mike, and it worked wonderfully. I was later told that several dancers
enjoyed seeing me on the floor while they were dancing. Certainly
no one
suggested that I was stalking them.
Finally, even though I have a voice that carries pretty well, I
find it
physically very stressful to call without a mike unless I'm calling
in a
very small room to a very small group. Calling without amplification
just leads to shouting at the dancers, something I believe they would
find far more irritating and distracting than listening to amplified
calls while the caller is absent from the stage. Again, I have to say
that our main purpose is to cause the dancers to lose themselves in
the
moment and forget that the caller is there. I admit that it's possible
that Greg is used to calling at a very different, and perhaps smaller
venue than I'm used to.
Finally, I certainly agree that we should avoid giving specific
instructions to a single dancer or small group during the dance,
regardless of the kind of amplification available. I will occasionally
do this during the walk-through, but by the time the dance has
started I
deal with problems like that by trying to call more clearly and
consistently. -Lewis Land
On 7/17/2011 10:09 AM, Greg McKenzie wrote:
I used a wireless headset mike for a short time. I found it
cumbersome and
limiting. In addition to losing the ability to control my own
volume by
moving away from the mike I don't do a lot of floor demonstration
so it was
really only a "hands free" device I used on stage. I like
shifting to an
off-mike mode while on the floor. It is an attention-getting
technique when
the caller steps down and speaks without amplification.
I know lots of folks on this list do gigs with much more teaching and
demonstrating than I do when calling at open public contra
dances. The
wireless route might be good for that kind of event. But I would
caution
the wireless mike users to consider the effects on dancers when
they look up
on stage and see the caller missing. It can be unnerving to hear
a headless
voice speaking over the PA system. (This is why they invented
follow-spots
for theater performances. The audience always knows where to
look.) I like
to keep the dancers in control and to never make them feel
foolish...even
for a moment.
I suggest that head-mike callers lead the audience with a prompt
whenever
they step down from the stage as in: "Ladies and Gentlemen: Please
direct
your attention to the center of the hall," as the caller steps
down. This
will avoid the feeling that someone with a live mike is "stalking"
around
the hall floor. Keeping the audience oriented will help them to feel
relaxed and confident.
The worst offense of a wireless mike user is to walk down on the
floor,
without prompting, and to begin giving instructions to a single
dancer or a
small group that is confused. The presence of the caller--
speaking to them
over the PA system--can make newcomers very uncomfortable and
distracted,
and undermine any assistance the caller is attempting to offer. When
on-mike, the caller should always speak only to the entire hall.
Directed
comments should always be off-mike.
-Greg McKenzie
*************
On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 2:03 AM, Colin Hume<[email protected]>
wrote:
On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 09:44:39 +0100, John Sweeney wrote:
I find hand-held mikes very strange. Why would you lock yourself
into a fixed position, or tie one of your hands up when you can use
a wireless headset?
I much prefer a hand-held. I find that as soon as I put on a
headset
I feel the need to cough, sniff, clear my throat, etc. Also with a
hand-held I can pull my head away from the microphone to call out to
the band "Another B" or "One more time" or "Slower", whereas with a
headset I have to find the switch first, speak, then switch it
back on
again. I've got quite good at transferring the mike from one
hand to
the other when I'm dancing, and most people can cope with holding my
elbow rather than my hand if necessary.
Colin Hume
Email [email protected] Web site http://www.colinhume.com
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers
End of Callers Digest, Vol 83, Issue 16
***************************************
