What makes for "good" or "bad" mic skills?

[Thriller Ant]

We hear about mic skills all the time. Miz has great mic skills or Evan Bourne has none or AJ Styles is getting better, etc. But how is this decided?

What makes this:

[YOUTUBE]B_62-8LsVFE&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

better than this?

[YOUTUBE]qvZTWzM0lpw[/YOUTUBE]

Why is this man considered awesome

[YOUTUBE]-SH7bnElWyY[/YOUTUBE]

when this one is considered corny?

[YOUTUBE]fNA4MPpeIC8[/YOUTUBE]


There are guys that use catchphrases and build their promos around them, there are guys who go straight to the point and say little to nothing else, there are guys who try to be funny, and guys who try to be serious.

So my question for all of you, what makes someone good or bad on the mic? How do you define it? You can use examples from Youtube, you can name drop, whatever you need to get the point across. So what say you?

 

[Ferbian]

There's a lot of things that makes good microphone skills. The primary thing would be confidence I would say. Confidence in what you're saying, as well as being able to hold a face around an entertaining guy. In the manner that it will not interrupt your ability to continue at the level of which you've been cutting your promo.

A guy like Chris Jericho has been great at holding a straight face, and it's obvious that he's confident in himself to the extend that he knows what, and how to say it. He's been in the business for so long that he knows how to make the crowd react. This gives him a confidence advantage because he knows what to expect from the crowd.

Another key point is improvising abilities, if the crowd gets too loud or gets offensive (You suck - Chris Jericho's rebuttal "I do not suck"). The Rock is also a guy with great improvisational skills.

Many of the great promo cutters has been at a point in their career where it doesn't matter what they say. They're trusted with their promos and therefore are unscripted. Ric Flair and Roddy Piper was unscripted, the original D-Generation X had it's unscripted moments. All in all they are trusted by the promotion to deliver. It boosts the confidence in yourself as well as the improvising abilities.

And of course one of the final things. Do you make the crowd care? Does people really care about what John Cena says as opposed to The Rock, which one would they much rather listen to? This also steps a bit into the interesting point.

But of course that's merely my examples, there's so many other things that defines what great microphone skills is. And it is all about the individual looking at the wrestler. Someone might think highly of Jeff Hardy's abilities to cut a promo because he draws interest as well as you can relate. Some might find him awful and prefer a guy like Stone Cold Steve Austin for the same specific things but in another variation.

 

[LascoX]

I would say Ferbian nailed it straight out of the gate , Confidence! The great promos are always delivered by the more confident workers that are not hampered by stage fright. Beyond that is the content that draws you in. There is many different delivery styles...The enraged person set to kick anyones and everyones ass ,the cool calm professional that is going to simply take you apart inthe ring when he steps in there with you, the comedic jabber that is set to out wit his opponant and an infinate combination of componants that make the promo revelant. A great promo is one that draws you in and is beliveable. The person giving it needs to sell it like they personally belive what they are saying.. because if they don't , why should we! Great promos are broadcasting emotion in spades, keeping you captivated with humor and horror, have you hanging on every word and caring about the parties being discussed. A good promo is all about projecting emotions and delivering a message in a coherant , confident manner. It's way tougher then it looks and when it is done properly has you hanging on and beliving every word.