So far this year I’ve been to a few church services that are more traditional- piano, organ, choir, hymnals, etc. In a way, it’s been a little nostalgic for me, as I grew up in small churches that only sang hymns with piano accompaniment. It occurred to me how a lot of traditional churches on the surface appear to not suffer from the frustrations of audio problems because they aren’t trying to amplify drums, electric guitars, etherial keyboards, pop-style vocals, etc. The reality though is that there are still issues that need addressed and sometimes, the simplicity of the mix can make problems even more noticeable.

I want to discuss a technique that appears to be fairly simple, yet can lead to frustration. The basic concept is to create a mix that allows you to hear everything you see on stage. The concept is simple enough- Look at each input on your console and ask yourself if you can hear it in the mix. If the answer is ‘yes,’ then move on to the next channel. If the answer is ‘no,’ then the fun begins! Rather than just push the fader up until you can hear that specific input, I’d quickly ask yourself a few questions to help you determine how to best address the issue.

One of my core principles for being a volunteer on the audio crew, is having the right attitude. I like to call this the customer service approach. In short, you are there to help facilitate the service, supporting the band, the singers, and bridging the connection between the stage and the congregation, all with a spiritual focus!

Have you ever been to a restaurant though, where the waiter would not just leave you alone?! I’ve experienced that, and it’s very frustrating. You can’t take 2 bites of food, or get more than 3 sentences into a conversation with your company before he’s back again asking how the food is, if you need anything, and what your plans are for the weekend. How in the world does this apply to your Sunday morning service?

Today I got to help my father since he volunteers his time running sound at his church. The first service was straight forward- piano, organ, choir and worship leader. 3 hymns were sung. The pastor started his sermon a little later than scheduled, and ate into the 15-minute set change time. Having to set up and check the second service music in 15 minutes is tough. Today we had less time than that, PLUS added a southern gospel quartet! Panic insued.