Worship pastors, you know what your worship teams need in order to do a good job. Now take it a step further and give your production crew a chance to do a good soundcheck. As I consult and work with churches, I’m surprised how many worship leaders/pastors don’t give much thought to the non-musical aspects of the worship service, not because they are malevolently going “muwa ha ha ha,” but because they don’t understand what the production team needs to do its job well.
A few quick pointers… Saying “Check One Two” is not a soundcheck – all that does is show that the mic is, in fact, on. Vocalists need to actually sing at full volume while checking their mics.
This can be a bit embarrassing, at first, but it’s critical for the sound person, and for other team members if they are setting their mix themselves on personal stage monitor systems.
Instrumentalists, you need to play with the actual intensity and volume (and effects) that you intend to use. Don’t mess with your top volume level once it’s set (ie any volume pedal/knob swells should top out at that level). And please, please, please… Do NOT noodle while other instrumentalists or vocalists are soundchecking.
Preaching Pastors, to make sure that things are well-prepared, the team need you to speak for at least 30 seconds at the volume that you will be preaching. Let me emphasize that last part again: “at the volume that you will be preaching.”
I’ll hit more in the days to come, but these are a good start…
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