So after hosting the Willow Creek Leadership Summit, Pedro says to me, “You should write a post about talking to the sound guy during a service.” Great idea. Apparently some guy wanted to talk shop while the event was running.
There are a few types of people we meet by the sound booth.
One type is the clueless, socially oblivious carbon unit. I really believe this person feels like they’re watching a life-long TV show; taking it all in and providing a running commentary. You hear them walk into the auditorium talking out loud and loudly twenty minutes into a sermon. I half expect to see them to pull out a Brawndo (it’s got electrolytes!) and a bag of chips after grabbing a comfortable seat. Beyond training your ushers to shush people there’s not much you can do about that. These are the guys who will come up behind you during a service and ask questions about the console. It happens rarely but one time is one too many.
Another type is just as dangerous. This is the person who waves cars through intersections out of turn because they’re so polite and nice. By the way, people get hurt, cars get broken, and it takes a lot of folks to help you be that nice so please, don’t. Ironically, this person has something critical to say like “there’s no sound in the parents’ room” but they don’t want to interrupt you. They’ll stand behind you, make you wonder who and why, and wait till a transition to speak up. I’ve missed announcement mic cues over these folks – my back to the stage, the announcement lady yelling so the room can hear her…
After the jump – a few tips on how to talk to your sound engineer when they’re working. Read the rest of this entry »
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