There’s a mic-related trend that’s been doing the rounds over the last few years and it’s not one that DJs love; it’s literally dropping the mic. I’ve had this happen to me at weddings and even at corporate events. People think they are being clever when they drop the mic after making an epic toast or roast. But it isn’t funny if the result is damage to an expensive piece of equipment.

I see it everywhere in pop culture; there was even an American reality TV music competition series called Drop the Mic. So it’s hardly surprising that it has transitioned to our world of parties and events. When it happens at gigs the person dropping the mic thinks it’s funny, but I think the majority of us DJs would agree that it’s rude, stupid and overplayed. But microphones can also be dropped unintentionally, they can roll off tables and straight on to the ground. So how do we combat this trend? How do we rescue our microphones from being destroyed? I have some simple solutions and some solutions that might even get you more referrals!

Solution #1
Buy foam covers for all your microphones. I have them for most of my mics as they serve multiple purposes. Firstly, they offer protection if a guest speaker does do the mic drop trick. But even aside from deliberate drops, mics can easily be damaged accidentally. I have other DJs who work for me and sometimes their perfectly spherical mic heads came back dented. A simple foam cover protects the head and also acts as a great wind shield. Lastly, these inexpensive covers pick up all the debris and spit that may come from someone’s mouth when they speak. It might sound gross, but it’s true! You can easily replace a foam cover on a regular basis for just a few pounds, while significantly extending the life of your expensive mic head.

Solution #2
Buy an anti-roll microphone ring. This is a small rubber ring that you place around the top of the microphone that is often square-shaped on the outside. This shape prevents the natural rolling that occurs when a mic is placed on a flat surface which can easily lead to gravity taking over! Even if someone gently places the mic down after their speech, it could still roll off accidentally. I have witnessed this happening too many times. I’ve seen a variety of different types of rings for sale, priced in the region of between £5 and £15. They also tend to be different colors, so can also be used to identify which mic corresponds to which channel on your mixer if you are using more than one.