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Get quick tips and tricks for achieving the best sound
Bridging the Communication Gap between the Worship Team and
Technical Staff
By Michael Hill, Sennheiser
I have traveled on the road for years both in front of the microphone and in a technical capacity, and I have
sometimes witnessed a great divide between techs and performers. Oddly, many times the church staff is the
guiltiest. Once I was traveling with a group as the tech director, and during the show I would come on stage and
sing a song with the band. It was often comical how the pastor/church staff would treat me as a technician before
the concert, compared to how they treated me as performer. Not all were guilty of this, but it happened more often
than not. It's almost as if techs are treated as the second-class citizens of the worship team.
How can worship leaders change this?
Always include technicians in early planning meetings. Many times church leaders will plan a special service
without knowing if they have the equipment capability or the talent to pull it off.
Emphasize the tech team's importance in front of onstage performers. You can show respect and appreciation to them
during rehearsal and after services.
Include tech members in the "green room" meeting before the service. Having knowledge of changes, transitions and
scene changes always make the service run smoother.
Treat the "off-stage" equipment such as mic mixers, lighting consoles, etc., as instruments. If they are not
operated with skill they will cause as much distraction as an out of tune or poorly played guitar.
How can tech staff bridge the communication gap?
Be proficient at operating your equipment. Know its capabilities and limitations. If the staff wants to try
something out of the ordinary, be able to offer solutions or "a work-around" to make it happen.
Communicate with onstage performers before problems arise. As a monitor engineer I made friends with the musicians
because I would leave my console and listen to the floor wedges to hear what they were hearing. If they were using
ear monitors, I would plug in to their body pack and do a quick listen.
Check with stage performers after the service to make sure everything went as rehearsed.
Don't make excuses. Admit mistakes when you make them. It keeps adversarial situations from happening and lets
staff know that you care about a level of excellence.
I have a friend who is a media pastor at a church that has a large volunteer program. He has a slogan that he
prints out and tapes on all sound mixers, computer monitors and lighting boards as a constant reminder to his
team: "We will go unnoticed and count it as a privilege and honor to serve in this role in worship." To me that
just about sums it up.
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Testimonials
What worship ministries are saying about Sennheiser...
"I also would like to thank you and Sennheiser for not only your assistance with the whole TVBD fiasco, but your support of the H.O.W. market in general. It is truly remarkable these days to have a manufacturer of the size of Sennheiser that allows its personnel to interact with the end-user not only through outlets such as CSC, but the rapid personal response to crazy tech guys like me! It is why I can recommend using your products so readily."
"I also would like to thank you and Sennheiser for not only your assistance with the whole TVBD fiasco, but your support of the H.O.W. market in general. It is truly remarkable these days to have a manufacturer of the size of Sennheiser that allows its personnel to interact with the end-user not only through outlets such as CSC, but the rapid personal response to crazy tech guys like me! It is why I can recommend using your products so readily."
Jay Ballard, Director of Technical Ministries, First Baptist Church of Plant City, Florida