At a wedding rehearsal plagued by warring family undercurrents, Hardi turned on his lapel mic and called for everyone's attention after normal-voice leadership failed to get the rehearsal on track. Not overly loud, the amp, just.... clear.

"Thank you.... I'm sure there are a lot of good ideas here. This is the [number] wedding I've led and it is, first and foremost, a solemn sacrament in our Church. I know you can all appreciate that with the invitations out and about, you want to be SURE I'll be here tomorrow. [pause...] So I will appreciate your 'cooperation' in this rehearsal. And for [names]' wedding tomorrow to be the happy day we all want it to be, I will need your full attention this evening."

All went off without a hitch. :~) Nowadays, it's "I'm just going to use my mic so I don't lose my voice for tomorrow, and so you can hear me all the way in the back when I cue the the wedding party."

He's right. The sound as it goes back gets very muddy, and why shout? I've often used mine in rehearsal to gather band members up when it's time to get organized. Schmoozing is nioce, and we have time for some-- but there is a published service time, after all, and the people will be coming....

~Susan