Tips for stage shoes?

Sihaya

I'm doing more and more speaking on a stage with a microphone attached to me. And I'm looking for shoe brands or any other tips on how to have quiet yet elegant and non-casual shoes.

At my TEDx talk, I took an old pair of Franco Sarto shoes to the cobbler and they replaced the plastic bottom of the heel with rubber bottoms. However, the shoe was still pretty noisy. Fortunately they had the red TEDx carpet so the sound was taken care of. I can't wear these shoes to a non-carpeted stage as they're too loud even with the rubber heel bottoms.

Any suggestions or help on quiet shoe "bottoms" much appreciated. My next talk is on the 1st.

Thank you!

9 years ago

Dressing

9 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow. Great question. Do you have go to brands for fit and comfort? I agree that rubber on the sole should help. Also, flats or wedges with that quality might be quieter. Or block heels?

9 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sihaya, you can have rubber bottoms put onto any shoe actually. And some shoes transfer into quiet shoes.

The problem with rubber shoes is that they are too casual for your keynote speeches. Or am I mistaken?

9 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

Thank you Suz and Angie. Rubber bottoms on just the heels aren't too visible. However, that didn't work with the Franco Sarto - they were just as noisy. That's why I was curious if anyone had other recommendations or tips. Suz - comfort is a huge factor for me - but also has to look non-casual and nice for stage work.

9 years ago

Jane

Veteran

Try Reppetto shoes. It is a brand that originated win designing shoes for the stage. The Reppetto shoes I've had have been quiet (leather soled) and super elegant, but comfortable.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ooh! Interesting idea, Jane!

Also, you can have a thin (non visible) rubber piece put on the bottom of any sole, not just the heel -- I did that with some booties that were slippery (and also noisy). It isn't cheap, but it does the job. So that might be a solution? Then you could simply purchase whatever shoe you like.

If I am not mistaken, Munro shoes often have a quiet sole. Another brand that might work is Sofft.

9 years ago

Ginger

Veteran

I'm surprised the rubber heels were still loud. Were they softer, sticky-ish rubber like hiking boot soles, or hard rubber? Hard rubber can clack just as much as plastic.

You can get rubber half-soles added to the shoe itself. Those should be of the soft sound-dampening variety. Another approach is suede. Suede soles are usually done for dance shoes (ballroom or musical theater) and aren't intended to be used for street wear, but it is also a thin but softening approach.

9 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

These are wonderful suggestions. Thank you and I will check them out. Ginger, the rubber was on the harder side. Thank you all again.

9 years ago

Beth Ann

Veteran

I'm guessing that the stage was suspended. It's very hard to move quietly on a platform like that. Character shoes, worn in theater, are sueded soles, much like dance shoes. You might try a dance shoe supplier. Although they're rarely dressy enough for stage, I find that wedges are quieter. Also, usually, when we're walking out and back, the audience is applauding and settling in -- that makes a big difference. (

Good luck!

9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I find you have to watch out for what's underneath the covering material on a heel. It's not just the sole of the shoe. Hard plastic makes a terrible bang.

9 years ago

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