Kevin Hart Travels with TELEFUNKEN and Showtime Sound
As a Connecticut native, Showtime Sound Director of Technical Operations Marc Chauvin has developed a strong association with nearby TELEFUNKEN microphones. Chauvin says that the longtime pairing of the TELEFUNKEN M80 dynamic microphone with Showtime’s VIP client, Kevin Hart, has resulted in flawless performances for more than a decade.
Kevin Hart in concert with his gold TELEFUNKEN M80. Photo by Kevin Kwan.
Comedian and actor Kevin Hart began his career as a stand-up comedian, and has since also starred in major films, television programs, and has released several well-received comedy albums.
Scott Tydings, Production Manager and Front of House Engineer for the current 2022 “Reality Check Tour,” has been touring with Hart since the “Let Me Explain” tour of 2012. “On his last tour ‘Irresponsible’ in 2017-2019,” Chauvin said, “we switched to a wireless nickel-plated Telefunken M80 with a Shure Axient ADX2FD transmitter. For his current tour, ‘Reality Check,’ we kept the M80’s, but this time in a hardwired configuration for Kevin’s gold-plated Telefunken M80.”
Chauvin explained, “Kevin has a very dynamic personality. Sometimes he is very quiet and sometimes he is very loud. Scott and I were trying to find the right mic for his tours when we discovered the M80 – it gave him more control of his delivery and had a more even response.”
Connor Rowen, Artist Relations Manager at TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik, explained, “The most important thing comedians need with their microphones is clarity for the audience. The M80 offers optimum clarity for a handheld microphone. The extra headroom helps with the vocal dynamics of the comedian so they can be as loud with their vocal performance as they’d like without distorting the sound. It helps that these mics are built to take a beating too.”
Chauvin said, “It’s become the go-to mic for the ‘Reality Check Tour.'” Rowen added, “And the gold works great with the vibrant colors that Kevin shows during his performances. We have plenty of custom colors in our custom shop, so we’ve always been able to manage whatever requests are made.”
Chauvin elaborated, “It’s essential to have the same quality in a microphone that we have coming out of our L-Acoustics monitors and speakers. We aim to fully capture the entire show as it was meant to be seen and heard – the essence of a performer in his natural environment, and that’s what the Telefunken M80 provides. From day one, the support and service we have gotten from Telefunken has been outstanding.”
ABOUT SHOWTIME SOUND LLC
Showtime Sound LLC is a full-service event production company located in Frederick, Maryland that provides a wide range of audio, lighting, video, staging, and backline for any size event or venue. The Showtime team specializes in production integration. They design, build, and move events from large clubs to touring arenas to outdoor stadiums. From start to finish, Showtime Sound LLC provides turn-key event production. https://www.showtimesoundllc.com/
ABOUT TELEFUNKEN
TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik strives for absolute perfection. By offering historic recreations of classic microphones alongside their own proprietary designs based around the distinctive tube mic sound, TELEFUNKEN has established a product line that expertly combines vintage style and sound with the reliability of a modern-day microphone design. TELEFUNKEN’s commitment to both the sonic excellence and quality of all of their products is rivaled only by their dedication to provide the best possible service to their customers. http://www.telefunken-elektroakustik.com