Mic technique: handheld, lectern and head mic

By Alastair Greener, presenter of Present Yourself in a Minute · Updated 5 November 2026

The same voice can sound thin, boomy or clear, depending on where the microphone sits. Most problems come from holding the mic too high or too close, bending to a lectern mic, or leaving a head mic to rub against your hair. Put the mic in the right place for the way you will move, then soundcheck it.

Handheld: just below the chin

Hold a handheld mic just below your chin, angled towards your mouth. Keep the distance the same as you speak. Do not swing it up to your face when you turn, and do not let it drop to your waist when you look at your notes. Hold it steadily rather than moving it with every word.

Lectern mic: leave it where it is

A lectern mic is fixed, so the place to speak is the place where the mic is. Do not bend towards it. Bending changes your voice and drops the level. Speak straight at the room, at a steady distance from the mic, and keep your notes in front of you rather than under the lectern.

Head mic: the one that frees you

Present Yourself's advice is that a head mic is the best choice for a speaker who moves. It sits near the mouth, along the cheek. Check that it does not rub against your hair, a collar or a scarf, because the rustle carries. Keep the cable and any pack clipped out of the way so it does not catch on clothing when you turn.

Do you need one?

Present Yourself's advice is that a microphone depends on three things: how far your voice needs to carry, how big the audience is, and how the room sounds. In a small room with good acoustics, you may not need one. In a large room, or a room with a hard floor and hard walls, you almost certainly do. If you are not sure, use one and test it.

Soundcheck, every time

Always soundcheck. Speak the first two minutes of your talk into the mic, at your talking volume, and make one of the moves you plan to make on stage. Ask the person running the sound whether the level is right at the back of the room. Check the mic again if you change the position of your head or your hand.

Common mistakes

• Holding the handheld too close. A mic that is too close pops on the hard sounds and sounds harsh.
• Holding it too high or too low. The sound gets thin or the level drops.
• Moving the mic while you speak. Constant movement adds noise and changes the level.
• Skipping the soundcheck with the moves. A cable that is fine standing still can catch when you walk.

For moving on stage, read using the whole stage and staying in your light. If you are handing your introduction to the host, write the introduction the MC will read covers that part.

Related guides

• Stay in your light
• Using the whole stage, moving with purpose
• Write the introduction the MC will read
• Handling interruptions and the elephant in the room
• Q&A without losing the ending
• All guides and tools

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