How can I stop forgetting to take off my mic?
November 20, 2019 5:29 PM Subscribe
I need to wear a FM mic in my classroom that is hooked up to an amplifier. The problem is that the new system will pick up the mic even at a great distance (i.e. including the Men's room down the hall). It is only a matter of time before I forget to take off or turn off the mic when I leave the room and broadcast something that I don't intend to.
I'm wondering if there is some type of device similar to the tags that retailers put in clothes that will give me an alert if I walk out of the room. It would need to be inexpensive and also small enough that I could attach it to the lanyard for the mic.
Any additional suggestions for fixing this disaster before it happens would be appreciated. Yes, I have a sign on the door that says "take off the mic," but I don't even see it anymore.
I'm wondering if there is some type of device similar to the tags that retailers put in clothes that will give me an alert if I walk out of the room. It would need to be inexpensive and also small enough that I could attach it to the lanyard for the mic.
Any additional suggestions for fixing this disaster before it happens would be appreciated. Yes, I have a sign on the door that says "take off the mic," but I don't even see it anymore.
Is there someplace near the exit where you can stash the mic? Put an eyecatching sign there:
PUT MIC HERE
posted by porpoise at 6:16 PM on November 20, 2019
PUT MIC HERE
posted by porpoise at 6:16 PM on November 20, 2019
Parent proximity alarm. Not sure if there's a better or cheaper version, but this is the kind of product you want.
posted by gideonfrog at 6:18 PM on November 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by gideonfrog at 6:18 PM on November 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
pointing and calling
Force yourself to point at the sign and say out loud, "take off the mic" every time you walk by it.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 6:50 PM on November 20, 2019 [9 favorites]
Force yourself to point at the sign and say out loud, "take off the mic" every time you walk by it.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 6:50 PM on November 20, 2019 [9 favorites]
Can you carry a mic instead of using a lapel mic?
posted by oceanjesse at 7:38 PM on November 20, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by oceanjesse at 7:38 PM on November 20, 2019 [6 favorites]
Yeah, when I worked in TV the wireless mic in the bathroom was a "classic"goof anyone wearing a mic made.
Some ideas were to have the transmitter in your hand instead of in your pocket of on your belt. That only worked if you didn't need your hands free (or in TV, were in a closeup shot with hands out of frame). Others would tie a bright piece of tape with MIC in sharpie on the tip of the index finger. Signs at the studio doors with "Where is your mic?" or "Is your mic on?" were tried. Depending on wardrobe, they would clip the transmitter to the front of their pants.
Still people would forget.
posted by Zedcaster at 8:10 PM on November 20, 2019
Some ideas were to have the transmitter in your hand instead of in your pocket of on your belt. That only worked if you didn't need your hands free (or in TV, were in a closeup shot with hands out of frame). Others would tie a bright piece of tape with MIC in sharpie on the tip of the index finger. Signs at the studio doors with "Where is your mic?" or "Is your mic on?" were tried. Depending on wardrobe, they would clip the transmitter to the front of their pants.
Still people would forget.
posted by Zedcaster at 8:10 PM on November 20, 2019
Tie a piece of string around your hand and then around the podium or something similar?
posted by xammerboy at 9:22 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by xammerboy at 9:22 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]
This is in the classroom, you say? What if you told your students to tell you to take off the mic at the end of each class? They’d probably love reminding you.
posted by Knowyournuts at 9:22 PM on November 20, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by Knowyournuts at 9:22 PM on November 20, 2019 [9 favorites]
Make a vivid “memory” of the mic exploding in a huge fireball that has such force that it blows all the windows out and a hole straight up through the roof and this happens if you open that door with your mic still attached. Really spend some time at the start of class putting your mind to it. Imagine the flames of the huge kaboom, all the alarms for other buildings going off at once. Door, click, KABOOM. Doesn’t happen if you leave the mic on the desk. Also, have a spot for the mic. A tiny little tray in the podium that you bring with you. You can have a little ritual: Tray goes here. Mic goes on while imagining the big kaboom. Mic goes back in tray, no kaboom.
posted by amanda at 10:01 PM on November 20, 2019
posted by amanda at 10:01 PM on November 20, 2019
Would it be easier for whatever reason to remember to turn off the amp after each session?
posted by kapers at 10:13 PM on November 20, 2019
posted by kapers at 10:13 PM on November 20, 2019
Set an alarm (on your watch or phone) for one minute after your class ends. When the alarm sounds, take off the mic.
And yes, give your students the opportunity to prompt you. Tell them that any day that nobody prompts you, the next class will start with a quiz. ;-)
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 10:45 PM on November 20, 2019 [11 favorites]
And yes, give your students the opportunity to prompt you. Tell them that any day that nobody prompts you, the next class will start with a quiz. ;-)
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 10:45 PM on November 20, 2019 [11 favorites]
Seconding pointing and calling. It will take some time (a few weeks) to get in the habit of saying, doing, and looking, but the behaviors reinforce each other. This has been repeatedly shown by research.
posted by wnissen at 9:35 AM on November 21, 2019
posted by wnissen at 9:35 AM on November 21, 2019
What age students do you teach? I agree that asking your students to remind you could be very effective depending on their age. A young, teacher-pleasing/busy-body type student might like having this very important job.
Other than that, I think setting a timer on your phone for when class is over would help (assuming you don't go during class or have to wear the mic all day).
Could you attach something big/bulky/brightly colored to the microphone/wire? Something like a feather boa, a neon colored paper plate, etc. You might need to attach different things throughout the course of the semester so you don't get too used to it
When I taught older (college-age) students, I was paranoid that my pants were unzipped. It became a ridiculous mental preoccupation where I would constantly check as I stood behind the podium. Finally after I got comfortable with the class I told them it was my nightmare in a lighthearted way. It actually made me less anxious about it because it was out in the open.
Also, I don't know if this will deepen your worry or relieve your fears, but your question reminded me of this (youtube video).
posted by kochenta at 2:57 PM on November 21, 2019
Other than that, I think setting a timer on your phone for when class is over would help (assuming you don't go during class or have to wear the mic all day).
Could you attach something big/bulky/brightly colored to the microphone/wire? Something like a feather boa, a neon colored paper plate, etc. You might need to attach different things throughout the course of the semester so you don't get too used to it
When I taught older (college-age) students, I was paranoid that my pants were unzipped. It became a ridiculous mental preoccupation where I would constantly check as I stood behind the podium. Finally after I got comfortable with the class I told them it was my nightmare in a lighthearted way. It actually made me less anxious about it because it was out in the open.
Also, I don't know if this will deepen your worry or relieve your fears, but your question reminded me of this (youtube video).
posted by kochenta at 2:57 PM on November 21, 2019
Seconding some kind of parent proximity alarm. something like this is probably your cheapest bet. It alarms at the base and the 'kid' unit. Its probably small enough to clip on your transmitters pack. You'd have to experiment to see what range/placement of the base unit would work best in your classroom to prevent accidental lessons being taught to the child on the receiving end. And yes, you're absolutely right to worry about this!
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 4:54 PM on November 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Northbysomewhatcrazy at 4:54 PM on November 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
Depending on whether or not you have access to the electric plug of the amplifier - with additional possible complexities if you share the room/equipment with other teachers and what your schedule is like - could you use an electric timer to turn off the amp after a certain time?
There are simple ones (like this) where you just set the outlet to turn off after a certain time, or more complex ones that allow for all sorts of daily programming.
posted by soundguy99 at 6:22 AM on November 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
There are simple ones (like this) where you just set the outlet to turn off after a certain time, or more complex ones that allow for all sorts of daily programming.
posted by soundguy99 at 6:22 AM on November 22, 2019 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:39 PM on November 20, 2019 [1 favorite]