It happens again and again: a speaker is asked to use a microphone, and they say, “Oh, I don’t need it. I have a [teacher/pastor/camp counselor/fill-in-the-blank supposedly loud profession] voice.”  (I even had a clergy member at my own parent’s funeral try to pull this!)

But guess what? It has nothing to do with how loud you (supposedly) are, and everything to do with your audience’s comfort and access. Some people can hear high sounds, some low, and some need you to use the microphone to help drown out background noise. And just because people can hear you when you shout “Can you hear me?” at the top of your voice, that doesn’t mean that they can comfortably listen to you for five or ten or sixty minutes when your voice, tone, and pitch go up and down in the course of normal speaking.

Why, oh why, do hearing people resist microphones so very much? It’s the equivalent of writing a book and then blacking out three-quarters of the text. Presumably, if you are standing in front of people saying something, you think it’s important enough for people to access and understand—so make it easy for them to do so. Just use the microphone, already!

And take a moment to think about the message you are sending when you try to weasel out of using the microphone: you are saying that your comfort is more important than someone else’s access. Is that the message you want to send?

There are many easy-to-use and inexpensive microphone options out there. I’m often asked for my microphone recommendations for schools, libraries, and community groups, so I thought I would share them here. These are all microphone products I have personally used and found to be a great deal for the money:

Large portable speaker with Bluetooth and wireless handheld mic – perfect for storytimes and other large group gatherings: Pyle Wireless Portable PA System-400W Bluetooth Compatible Rechargeable Battery Powered Outdoor Sound Stereo Speaker Microphone Set w/Handle, Wheels-1/4 to AUX, RCA Cable (PWMA230BT) 

This system comes with a wireless handheld microphone. If you would like hands-free microphone access, then I recommend:

Headset and lapel microphone set: Bietrun UHF Wireless Lavalier Lapel Microphone System/Headset Mic/Stand Mic, 165ft Range, Rechargeable Transmitter Receiver, 1/4″ Output 

Voice Amplifier with Headset: ZOWEETEK Voice Amplifier. I use this when a larger sound system is not practical. It includes both wired and wireless headsets, and is a great option for classrooms or moving programs such as tours.

For Webinars and Online Recording:

• Wired headset microphone: Cyber Acoustics Stereo Headset
• Wireless headset microphone: EKSA Bluetooth Headset

Again, there are lots of great options out there, but these are the products I personally use and recommend. Do you have others that have worked well for you? Let us know about them in the comments.

And remember, when in doubt, just use the microphone!