I am trying to conceal the source of sounds since I use routines with sound effects.

My speaker/system is approx. 12"w x 24"t. Mostly shows are in small areas such as homes.

Any ideas?

Mike

Make it into a table and cover the front with lighter fabric to allow clearer sound?

Do you have a picture of your system. That could help.

The table idea sounds good. I'm just not good with a hammer and saw.

I use a Showtech connected to the Explorer Pro and here is a picture of it:

http://www.anchoraudioclub.com/explorer.html

I probably should ask: How do you make the source of the sound effects unknown. For example, a cow moo-ing. The audience obvously knows there is not a real cow in the room. I just want to prevent the occasional kid who points and shouts "It's coming from over there! there's a speaker in there! "

Have you had that happen? It's been my experience that kids don't really pay attention to speakers and the younger ones don't even know what they are.

I'm just wondering if you're trying to fix something that may not be a problem. If you've run into it before, then disregard this post!

Michael

Another idea is to make scenery props. Rocks for example (I don't expect this would fit the decor for a living room show, but just for an example). Make them large enough to fit over your speakers, but make the front out of a material that will blend in with the object, or use a screen from a window to let the sound escape. Let your imagination run wild with things to hide them behind, in, under, etc. Good luck!

Mike,
I doubt that this will be useable, but it may be of note that our brains are able to discern the source of a sound. In other words, even if our eyes are closed, you know whether most sounds are coming from in front or you, behind you, to your right, etc... But, a sound coming from directly above you is much more difficult to locate. Also, a sine wave (a pure, mostly-non-musical tone) is also very difficult for you to locate.

As I said, I doubt that info will be useable, but someone may have an idea.
Dan.

I'm not sure you need to hide them at all. I'm a vent as well as a magician and although I'm doing the talking, everyone swears that's its the dummy who's talking.

When you do what's known as the "distant voice" people will think the voice is coming from nowhere near you.

Doug - I never had a problem with my vent routine either. Just with other types of sound effects, such as telephone ring gags.

Michael - You may be right, it may not be much of a problem. It happened once and almost another time, but I was able to re-direct their attention.
I think both times it was an awkward performing area with obstructions and open doorways all around and behind me. I was forced to put the speaker right out in the open near the audience.
Maybe in this situation, I could just place the sound system in a different room since I control everthing with the remote anyway.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions!

Mike

I use a sound system for every show and I use sound effects throughout my act. I just place the speakers where they will be heard the best. I don't try to conceal them and have never had a problem with someone shouting out "The sound is coming from those speakers". Unless you are doing something completely unique, I really don't see any issues that would arise from the audience to see and know you are using speakers.

I suppose that if you're really concerned about whether the kids will notice the source of the sound, why not slap a tray or cutting board on top of the speaker, and drape a lightweight cloth over it, using it as a side table? Kids tend to notice things that serve a purpose in the foreground, but they wouldn't pinpoint the source, if the sound is being bounced off of a wall, in the background. I think the only thing that might give it away is the power cord - it would be best to run it on DC.

I also don't think that kids are concerned where the sound is coming from unless you cue those thoughts in your dialogue.