How to Hold a Boom Pole Properly (Without Getting Tired)

One of the most important things when filming on set is to get high-quality sound.

The second most important thing in order to achieve this is for your shotgun microphone to be close enough to your subject or action without appearing in the frame.

But sometimes it is hard enough to do so, and that’s where boom poles come into play.

When you operate with a boom pole you suddenly have the freedom to position your mic towards the source of the sound and it’s also easier to stay out of shot.

But I get it, it’s not the easiest thing in the world. Especially when you are boom operating for hours.

There is no one way in which you should hold your boom pole.

But it is true that some rules you could follow would improve your boom operating skills and would make your job more comfortable.

Wanna know how to hold a boom pole properly without getting tired?

Let’s dive in. 

How do you hold a boom pole properly?

In a nutshell, holding a boom pole properly involves staying still and getting close to your subject without getting in the shot.

There are several ways to do so but the most common one is from above.

You want to do so by raising the boom pole above your subject’s head and holding it in an “H” position.

Most professionals prefer for their boom poles to be longer than necessary since it is proven the pole would be less heavy that way.

You should also keep in mind to tilt your shotgun mic from person to person if you are recording a dialogue scene with more than 1 character.

That’s pretty much what’s all about but there are a few tips and steps that will help you hold your boom pole the proper way.

Watch the hazards around you:

First things first, if the environment around you makes it difficult for you to move around you’re not only risking your comfort but also your equipment. 

Make sure there’s nothing you could trip over or hit your mic with around your “set” area before you get into position and the director starts recording. 

If you are recording a scene with a lot of movement involved make sure the director fills you in with the actors blocking in order to know where the action and sound are going.

This will help you stay out of shot and hopefully not break a bone.

Don’t be in anybody’s way:

When operating your boom microphone you want to minimize movement for two reasons.

One, the less movement there is the fewer chances that the tip of your mind ends up showing on the screen. And second the more you move the more your sound signal would fluctuate and the less of a pristine sound you’d get.

For this reason, you want to find a spot to point your microphone that’s not in anybody’s way. 

Watch the actors blocking and directors and make sure you do not cross paths with them.

No rustling, no sound hustling.

Point your mic in the right direction

As mentioned before, you need to get as close as possible and point your shotgun mic towards your subject without compromising the shot. 

The reason for this is because shotgun microphones are extremely directional which means they isolate the background noise coming from their off-axis on the front of the mic.

In a dialogue scene with more than 1 person, you can always roll your wrists to tilt your mic towards the dialogue or sound source.

Still, you should move the mic as little as possible and only if necessary.

Don’t get in the shot

For sure one of the most important tips a sound operator could give you on how to hold a boom pole. 

Of course, it is extremely difficult to stay out of the way sometimes and even the bigger professionals in the industry end up messing up a few shots.

We’re all human after all.

However, there is an easy way to avoid this.

When going for a new take ask the cinematographer to give you directions and position your mic to get it as close as possible to your subject. 

Stop bringing it closer to the actors when the cameraman says the shotgun starts showing.

Get set, hold your mic as comfortably as you can and think you’re a statue until they finished the take.

Later on, I will mention a few positions in which you can hold your boom pole comfortably without getting too tired.

Wrap your XLR cable properly around the boom pole

You absolutely need to warp your XLR cable in a tight spiral method along the length of the pole.

If you are worried the cable would get loose during the shoot you can secure it with some velcro tape.

The XLR cable needs to roll along your boom pole in a very tight way in order to avoid hitting the same during a scene.

A flimsy XLR cable bumping into the boom pole can completely ruin your sound and cause very annoying interferences. 

Beware of handling noise

Apart from keeping your XLR cable tight around your boom pole, you should avoid switching the grip or repositioning a microphone during a scene.

If you do this is it very likely that your shotgun microphone ends up bumping into something and you could also hurt someone along the way.

Once you find your perfect position, stay calm, don’t move, and also try not to be too tense. 

My next section should help you find the perfect position to hold your boom pole depending on the circumstances.

Some boom pole positions

Also, the standardized position in which you can hold a boom pole is the so-called H position, there are many other ways in which you can do so comfortably.

For instance, you can always rest your shotgun microphone on your head or even on your shoulders, depending on how tight your shot is.

There’s really no reason why you should be compromising getting a horrible backache at the end of your shoot.

Want to know how to hold your boom pole comfortably?

Keep reading.

The H position

Sourced from Peachpit.com

This is the position I was referring to when mentioning the standard way of holding a boom pole.

You pretty much raise the boom pole straight above your head and point it towards your subject.

The reason why this is the most common practice for boom operators is that it covers you when the actors are slightly tall or there is a wide shot where you can’t be too close to the subjects.

Don’t be too tense and hold the boom too tightly since it will be hard to rotate it if you need to do so.

Shoulder rest

Sourced from Filmdaft

If you are shooting a close-up scene or the take doesn’t require you to be too far back from your subjects, by all means, try to be as comfortable as you can.

Make sure you don’t rest your boom pole on your neck but in your back blades, otherwise you might get a bit of a headache after a while.

You can also rest the boom pole on your head depending on the certain scene to make handling more comfortable.

But remember, if you move you lose. So stand up straight and don’t flinch.

Below your subject

Image sourced from MomoFilmfest.com

This position is another alternative that should only be used when there’s a scene that doesn’t allow you to hold your boom mic above your subject’s head.

Sometimes if the gaffer uses a strong light for the scene, the microphone can cast a shadow on your actor if you hold it from above.

However, the frame would still need to be tight in order to use this position and it might not always work.

The bench press

Image sourced from Proaim.be

In a nutshell, this position requires you to hold your boom pole in an almost cheering pose.

The bench press it’s like holding your mic with the “h” position but instead of lifting your arms in the air, they are slightly tucked or bent against your chest.

You would use this position when your subjects are sitting down or there is not a lot of movement involved. 

It is a very good way to save up some energy and rest your arms between takes.

Essential tips to hold a boom pole without getting tired

-Sit down during a take

If you can do so without comprising a scene or if you’re not needed during one take as many breaks as you can.

While being on set you’ll have to stand and work for hours so your feet will thank you for all these mini-breaks.

-Rest your boom pole on the ground in between takes

You’d want to do so by resting the boom pole vertically and preferably for it to stand on your foot instead of the ground. 

You need to remember to treat your shotgun microphone as a delicate member of your family. 

The more you take care of it and treat it gently the more it will last and the better performance it will give you.

-Keep hydrated

Extreme weather conditions, long hours of physical activity, and low water intake are some of the worst combos you could get.

Thankfully even small indie projects provide their crew with enough snacks and drinks to get through a shoot. 

Take advantage of this and keep hydrated and well-fed.

-Hold your boom pole properly

This fact is essential not only to get high-quality audio during your shoot but also to reduce tiredness during your long hours of boom operation. 

When holding a boom pole properly you need to do it straight up and without force.

Rest it on your arms slightly and don’t hold it too tight.

Bend over your knees a little and move your whole body gently and not just the boom pole when the action is taking place somewhere else.

Rather than using your muscles, try for your bones to take the weight.

If the situation allows it you can always use a boom stand and take that weight off your shoulders. However, in the world of moving image, it is very unlikely one of the scenes is so still that will allow you to use one of these. 

Choosing the right boom pole

When choosing which boom pole could be right for you there are a few variables that should influence your decision.

The budget is a big one but like everything else, it is always possible to find good quality products for very affordable prices.

Since the number 1 factor in tiring you out while holding a boom pole is the weight and length of the pole, this is something you should keep an eye on. 

Lightweight boom poles are easier to handle and longer ones are also more versatile.

Handling noise is also a very important factor you should try to avoid.

You can do so by avoiding plastic boom poles and getting one that holds the XLR cable inside rather than an external one.

Rode is a great brand that offers high-quality boom poles for affordable prices.

If you’d like to have a look to xxxx, head over to my article.

Features to take into account when getting a shotgun microphone

If you’re also looking into getting a shotgun microphone you are mainly looking for boom mics that have high sensitivity, low self-noise, a good directional polar pattern and a well-engineered design.

I have gathered a guide on “The best shotgun microphones for filmmaking” if you want to have a look.

Conclusion

Even though there is no one perfect way to hold a boom pole, there are several tips that could make you become a pro.

But at the end of the day, it shouldn’t be only about operating a boom professionally but also doing it comfortably.

Overall, through the tips and holding positions, I shared with this article you should be able to hold your boom mic like a pro without getting too tired.

Hope this article helped you learn some valuable insights into this subject.

Happy boom operating!