Megaphone recommendation! (+4 to saving throws)

Allow me to introduce you to the Radioshack 10W Powerhorn:



RadioShack.com - Home & Office: PA systems & power horns: 10-Watt Handheld Powerhorn with Detachable Microphone

I heartily recommend this after having used it at three different protests in Los Angeles. It's powerful enough to be heard half a mile away in the regular ambient noise of city streets, and even held its ground against the Church of Scientology's Super Mega Stadium Speaker and Jumbotron Array.

Megaphones in general are great for quickly informing everyone about directions to secondary protest sites and clarification on protesting laws. Also, you can draw attention to Scientology failures, awesome Anon wins (in March in LA I announced the banner plane every time it circled around) and crack jokes (we played Mystery Science Theater with the Scientology videos on their jumbotron, and also played "this is a cop, this is a cult").

However, the Radioshack Powerhorn has a couple nifty extra features:

It has a shoulder strap, which I'd never heard of on a megaphone, but now I consider this to be an indispensable feature. Having this hanging on your shoulders frees your hands up when you're not immediately using it, and you never have to worry about dropping it.

It has a detachable microphone, which I'd also never heard of on a megaphone, but this is also something I consider a must-have feature after having used it. The detachable microphone allows you to put the microphone up to a boombox and keep it far enough away from the speaker to prevent feedback. At the March protest in LA, I stood holding my picket sign and carrying the megaphone over my shoulder while someone behind me was sitting down and holding the microphone up to his boombox, which gave us an impromptu dance setup and generally energized people during the long hot protests. See, most boomboxes by themselves aren't loud enough for noisy crowds, but with the ghetto amplification of a megaphone, it creates an awesome portable dance party. In LA when the Scientologists brought out their stadium speaks and jumbotron, we sat on the other side of the street and put on some dance music, and at that distance the megaphone was more audible than the stadium speakers. Also, in a pinch you can use an iPhone instead of a boombox, which is what I did at the April protest.

The detachable microphone also allows you to continue carrying the megaphone while someone else talks into it. Much easier and more portable than lugging along a microphone+amp+speakers+generator setup. See for yourself here (2 mins 52 seconds in):

YouTube - Anonymous 4.12.08 Protest, Hollywood

Also, I put 8 C batteries into it when I bought it, and after 3 protests it's still going strong!

We had one of these at our protest! I can tell you it works fantastically.
However, keep in mind about the noise ordinance laws in your area.
Some areas may deem a bullhorn to be unreasonably loud and you may get a fine.

We nearly got a fine on the 12th.
$450+ it would have been.

I purchased a 50-watt megaphone off of e-bay for 34.99. The megaphone had a strap as well as the detachable microphone. In the end it was more powerful for a cheaper price. Shop around.

Sounds like a bargain!

At any rate, get one with a shoulder strap and a detachable mike, they make a huge difference.