Unless you’re one of those people that make Friday night karaoke a must-do every week, using a microphone isn’t part of a regular routine.

It’s easy to think of it as a tool to amplify your normal voice – and to an extent, it is. But there are certain techniques that make for effective microphone use and should be considered next time you get up in front of a live audience.

Vary your pitch, intonation, volume and rhythm in order to engage your audience and to give a sense of meaning to your message.

Do a sound check to make sure the mic levels fit the sound of the room and the anticipated size of your audience. Ask someone to stand at various points of the room so they can tell you when something sounds off.

Be familiar with how the mic works. Figure out where the on and off keys are. If you have a tendency to give yourself a pep talk before going on stage, this can be especially crucial.

Stand with good posture when you’re talking and keep a good distance from the mic to prevent your voice from getting muffled. Don’t grab onto the mic and start moving it around all the time unless you’re a well-established stand up comedian.

If you’re using lavaliere wireless microphones or wired – make sure it’s clipped on a good 8-10 inches from your mouth. Try to wear something that’s easy to clip onto and can hide any wires or cords.

Your vocal presence – tone, rhythm, emphasis – and the technical side go hand in hand. You can’t give a successful talk with one and not the other and hard prep work will pay off.