Wireless Mic & Projector Rental for The Sound of Music

Oct 14

Written By

The Sound of Music: Youth Edition at The Breckenridge Backstage Theatre

Starting point: Most productions of The Sound of Music need 16 to 20 wireless channels. Our starting point is the Standard 20-channel system, which covers Maria, the Captain, all seven children and the nuns with solo lines.

This is our suggested starting configuration, not a requirement of the show or its licensor. Your count depends on your edition, your staging and your crew.

How we got to 20 channels

The Sound of Music has a large principal cast: the von Trapp family alone needs nine channels. A typical plan:

The family (9): Maria, Captain von Trapp, Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta, Gretl
Principals (5): Mother Abbess, Elsa Schraeder, Max Detweiler, Rolf, Frau Schmidt
Featured nuns (3): Sister Berthe, Sister Margaretta, Sister Sophia

Cover the nuns’ chorus and party guests with area or choir mics.

This count assumes: every listed role has its own transmitter; your venue covers big ensemble numbers with area or choir mics; and there are no pack swaps. Doubling roles or swapping packs lowers the count. Miking ensemble members individually raises it.

Doubling, pack swaps and your sound operator

Two actors can share a transmitter only if they are never on stage at the same time and a crew member has time offstage to move the pack, re-fit the mic and check it. Every channel also needs attention at the mixer: one operator following a marked script can run a show this size, but bring them into rehearsals before tech week.

Recommended package

Wireless: Standard, Good (Shure SLXD), 20 channels, with Broadway lavs: $1,995/week. Book this exact system at Broadway Media →
Better microphones: the same 20 channels in Better (Shure QLXD or Sennheiser EW-DX) is $2,995/week, and Best (Shure ULXD) is $3,995/week. Better → Best →
Protection plan (required): choose one at checkout at Broadway Media: a Damage Waiver at 10% of the rental ($199.50 on the Good system for one week), your organization’s certificate of insurance, or a security deposit. Compare the options →
Shipping and longer runs: shipping is charged at checkout at Broadway Media. Each extra week is the same weekly rate, with no multi-week discount.
You provide: a mixer with 20 free mic inputs and a sound system. Economy is the only system that includes a mixer, so a Standard system connects to yours. Check your venue →
Range: add a wireless expansion pack (from $195/week) for each 8 channels if performers work more than about 50 ft from the rack, such as in the house aisles. View expansion pack →
Projector: The Alps, the abbey and the von Trapp villa are among the most requested projection settings. Start with your screen width, then check mounting distance and stage light on the projector page. Compare projectors →

Mic notes for Sound of Music

Habits and wimples: place hairline or earset mics before the wimple goes on.
Seven children: use child-size earsets and small mic belts; give a crew member the job of checking every child’s pack.
“Climb Ev’ry Mountain”: Mother Abbess needs headroom at the end; set her gain with the full song.
Festival concert: if the family sings at stand mics, decide whether to use body mics, stand mics or both.

Projecting the Alps

Scenery is licensed separately from the projector rental. Search Broadway Media’s catalog for your version of the show, then rent a projector to run it. Search scenery at Broadway Media →

Timeline

Pick a start Monday on or before the first rehearsal that needs mics. Broadway Media targets delivery by 5 p.m. local time that Monday, so plan setup and a full test during business hours that week, and book an extra week if you need the gear sooner. Book at least 9 days ahead; orders placed within 4 weeks of the start date may carry a rush charge. How renting works →

Request a quote for your Sound of Music production →

The Sound of Music is a trademark of its owners. Rent Stage Gear is not affiliated with or endorsed by the show’s licensor. Photo: The Sound of Music: Youth Edition at The Breckenridge Backstage Theatre, from Broadway Media’s production gallery.