05-25-2006, 10:47 PM
This actually happened a few weeks ago, but I was asked to MC a big open tournament at the Santa Clara Convention Center. My boss told me to suit and tie it, which I actually enjoy since I have a decent collection of Jerry Garcia ties that I seldom get to wear (and much to my chagrin, not a single person noticed my tie). Of course, given my present lion mane and diabolic goatee, if I suit up, I look like a HK gangster (that Hong Kong, not Haggis Killer, don't let it go to your head, you unemployed bum you). "This is exacerbated by the fact that I wear a black shirt, sports jacket and slacks. No tux I'm afraid (sorry queen) just a black suit and a psychedelic Jerry tie.
Anyway, I thought my responsibilities were over with the opening ceremonies, but things were so chaotic, they finally gave me a remote mic to do whatever I pleased with. It was great fun. I discovered that I could make these Hendrixian feedbacks if I pointed the mic at a speaker. Mostly, I was annoucing who was on deck and at what ring, but on the last syllable, I could drop into my baritone voice and hold it like a reggae dub effect, then as the note faded, turn the mic towards the feedback generator and get these really funny sounds. People were pretty engaged with the competition, so just as they'd turn their heads sideways like puppies hearing weird sounds, I'd cut the mic. No one every caught on.
I'm always happy when I can add to the surreality of some one else's experience.
Anyway, I thought my responsibilities were over with the opening ceremonies, but things were so chaotic, they finally gave me a remote mic to do whatever I pleased with. It was great fun. I discovered that I could make these Hendrixian feedbacks if I pointed the mic at a speaker. Mostly, I was annoucing who was on deck and at what ring, but on the last syllable, I could drop into my baritone voice and hold it like a reggae dub effect, then as the note faded, turn the mic towards the feedback generator and get these really funny sounds. People were pretty engaged with the competition, so just as they'd turn their heads sideways like puppies hearing weird sounds, I'd cut the mic. No one every caught on.
I'm always happy when I can add to the surreality of some one else's experience.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse