RE the OP
A good speaker makes the sound guy their friend, not a scapegoat or court jester. This one sounds like another pompous knob drunk on his own self importance. He should have a countryman gaff taped to his skull...
Rule of thumb for mic distance; 4 to 6 inches away just under the chin when yer head is up is standard practise.
Closer will get you more gain and a low end boost with directional dynamic mics due to proximity effect.
Condenser mics are more sensitive and are susceptible to plosives, the popping of Ps and Ts. Back off a bit if it happens.
In either case, a properly placed and tuned system is more key than any mic etiquette foibles
It really comes down to the timbre of the voice and how well the speaker projects.