Mic Check Moments

The show doesn’t start when the lights come up, it starts at the mic check.

There’s a moment before every show that sets the tone, and it starts long before the spotlight hits.

When I walk into a venue, the first thing I notice isn’t the stage. It’s the setup. The staff. The way people treat each other. At corporate events, I can usually read the culture within the first few minutes. You can feel when a team wants to be together, when there’s actual camaraderie behind the company mission.

Then it’s all about layout. No surprises here is the best for both of us. A dance floor between the audience and the stage? Not ideal. (See also: The Dance Floor of Death.) I’m scanning for sight lines, checking sound and lighting, tracking any distractions, and confirming the rundown so everyone’s on the same page. The details matter. They don’t just make the show smoother. They make the audience feel taken care of.

When it comes to soundcheck, I’ve got a rhythm. I run a monologue from my show to check clarity, then pace the room to make sure there’s no mic interference or audio dead zones. I’ve had moments where tech issues threatened to derail everything: a receiver in the floor under a guest table (true story), or a venue where the power cut mid-show. These moments remind you how important flexibility is. The show always goes on, but only if you’re ready to adapt.

I also listen for more than just sound. I listen for the room’s pulse. How close are the guests seated? What’s the mood? Are people chatting, laughing, disengaged, tense? Every crowd is different. And the energy they bring isn't just part of the show, it's the most unique part.

At the end of the day, the goal is simple: to make the person who booked me look like a rock star, and to give their people an unforgettable experience. That starts before the first word, the first trick, the first laugh. It starts at the mic check.

Because if you want to create magic, you have to tune in early.