What is Excellence?

What is 'excellence' in what we do?

by Kevin Watts

Over the years I've had the opportunity and privilege to visit and work with many churches with a myriad of different styles of music, worship, preaching and congregational involvement. However even with the wide variation in church 'style' they all share in a similar intended outcome, to reach people with the gospel, and to 'nurture' their congregation.

As somebody involved in a local church in lighting, sound or video, how often do you place yourself as the 'new' person just walking in the door? Do you really consider others, or do you just keep doing what you have always done? In the end you must have a conscious regard for people if you are going to have any true impact on their lives.

Excellence is about doing our best with what we have - not making excuses to others or ourselves that "if I only had better gear or more time or better people" or “I could do it better myself”. If we aren't using what we already have to its maximum potential, then we should not be trusted with more equipment, team, responsibility or congregation.

"The most important mic on the stage"... the pastors mic. If it really is the most important, then give some time to making it great from the start. It takes a whole 3-4 minutes to check that the pastors mic has batteries in it and sounds good in front of house and monitor speakers before the band rehearses, yet this simple thing can make or break you when the pastor gets up to talk - does it sound as great as it can from the start or only after 5 minutes of the message after the sound has been too loud, too soft and squealed violently to introduce the key speaker?

Again, put yourself in the pastors shoes, imagine spending hours on your sermon, getting everything put together just right. You're fully prepared and then when you get up to preach... the mics not on, it feeds back or sounds like a tinny telephone speaker. Not only does it put you on the back foot confidence wise, but how frustrating it must be to feel that all your preparation work has been compromised by poor sound.

Does it sound bad because we haven't truly taken the time to make it sound great? Do we miss a cue because we have our eyes closed, or are distracted? Who said you have to worship with your eyes closed anyway? You can worship with your eyes closed at home in your own time...or in the car...(well, maybe not the car - ed)

Or maybe the lapel mic really is of poor quality and needs replacing.

Here's a few ideas to take you towards excellence in what you do as a sound person in your church;

Talk to the Pastor.

First off, they'll be amazed you take the time, ask them about how it feels to preach, what they need to be comfortable and to preach confidently. Ask them about what they see as the vision for the music in the church, what sort of mix they like for the congregation. Do what you can to achieve that wish.

Leave any negativity at the door.

Often the production team are the first to arrive at church, by greeting incoming musicians with a genuine smile, you affect their mood positively. They in turn will play and worship better, resulting in the congregation also worshipping stronger. This will give the pastor a great place to start from, with a positive worshipping church, all affected by the first in the door early in the morning. Ultimately, the whole process can lead to more salvations and responses from newcomers. The reverse is true too, so choose how you want to affect your church before you take your "late night" or "had an argument this morning" in to the church with you. If you can’t honestly be a part of the team willingly and happily, take a break, and come back when you can. Its better than dragging everybody down with you.

Join in with Church.

Don't let the fact that you are 'working' separate you from being a part of the worship and message. It’s easy to sit there and let it all float by but enter in to the service and get as much as you can from it. You can do a production role and still be a part of the church service.

Ask questions.

Talk to the worship leader or music director about the songs, how they start, what feel they are after, who to feature. You'd be amazed at the difference it makes when you have some mix notes to follow, and the worship team will work more closely with you if they know you care.

Be detailed.

Have you thought ahead and listened to all CD, video and DVD replays prior to when they are needed and made notes about fader levels, or do you 'hope for the best' when you press play? Look at the runsheet, or make one up based on what you know and have all replays cued and ready to go before they are needed, preferably when the last one finishes. Always be ready for the order to change though ☺

Listen actively.

If you use a sound meter in your church (there's another article in itself…) a 'nice' meter reading doesn't mean it sounds good - Listen to the mix and be critical of yourself. Walk all around the church, don't just stand behind the desk, hear what everyone else is hearing.

Enjoy yourself.

It’s a privileged position to be trusted with the worship team and pastors message. Never forget that it’s a great opportunity, not a right, to serve your church, love it, enjoy it and when negative stuff happens, be big enough to let it go and move on.

Have a great weekend at church, contact us, let us know how you're going.

Kev