A fresh update to Gallup’s annual “Confidence in Institutions” survey reveals that only 44 percent of Americans today have “a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in ‘the church or organized religion.'” Americans ranked organized religion at the top of their confidence list almost every year from 1973 to 1985. Now it is tied with the medical system. Continue reading.
An Example of Why Churches are Stuck
Tony Morgan on reaching Millennials:
There’s a reason why churches and denominations are in decline. We continue to be religious about using the same methods hoping and praying they’ll somehow generate different results. That’s a recipe for decline and ultimately death. Continue reading.
Loading ...In Ear Monitoring 101
Confused about in ear monitors? Want to start with click tracks and multitracks but don’t know where to begin? My friend Will Johnson is a Belmont grad who traveled with Country and Pop stars as a soundman before settling down in a local megachurch. He’s told me about a very inexpensive way to get started with in ear monitors. I thought it would be perfect for those of you who want to take the next step in production but have tight budgets, so I asked him to write an article about it:
A popular movement today is to move away from traditional floor wedge monitors and use small in-ear monitors, referred to as IEMs by industry professionals. There are many advantages to IEMs over wedges. The first and most popular reason is to reduce stage volume so everyone can hear better, at a lower volume, and the sound guy has better control over the mix. Another big reason is if you plan to play to a click track.
In the past, when a band played to a click, the drummer would have a metronome next to him, wear headphones or earbuds, and then click the band in with his sticks. This works well when the whole band sticks with the drummer but causes problems when the band drops out for an a-cappella chorus or when someone other than the drummer starts the song because the other members can’t hear the correct tempo. We’ve all been there when the worship leader starts the song with his acoustic guitar super slow and then the song takes off like a rocket once the drummer comes in.
Making the move to IEMs might seem like a daunting task but don’t worry, I’ll give you some pointers to get you started.
The first thing you need to do is decide how many people you will have on stage with IEMs. A typical band would be drums, bass guitar, keyboard, two electric guitars, an acoustic guitar, maybe a piano, and two to three singers. The next thing to do is take a look at your sound system, specifically the mixer or sound board, and see how many pre-fader aux sends it has that you are currently not using or eventually won’t be using once you transition away from wedges. These aux sends will be used to feed your IEM system. Remember, though, that a stereo IEM mix will use two aux sends. You might need to start out sending a mono mix to your IEMs and then transition to stereo at a later date.
The next step is to decide which system is right for your specific application because no two scenarios are exactly alike. There isn’t a “one size fits all” solution when it comes to IEMs.
One of the simplest systems that I have used incorporates the use of Rolls Personal Monitor boxes that have pass-through connections for both microphones and instruments, and a 1/4″ input for the monitor feed from the aux send on the sound board. This can work incredibly well for smaller churches or where there are limited aux sends for monitor mixes. These units are easy to use and employ a “more me” dial.
Let’s say, for instance, that the worship leader sings and plays guitar. The cable from his microphone would go into the Rolls PM351 and then pass-through onto the sound board. His guitar cable would plug into the instrument input, with the PM351 acting as the direct box. A basic monitor mix is then created on one of the aux sends of the sound board that has a little bit of everything in it. This mix is then distributed to all the Rolls units and connected via the 1/4″ monitor input on the PM351.
On the front of the Rolls PM351 are three knobs; microphone, instrument, and monitor. The worship leader would start by turning up the monitor knob to the desired volume level. If he wants to hear more of his voice or guitar, all he would have to do is turn up the microphone or instrument knob. More me! This system would cost you under $100 per box. The downside, though, to this type of system is that there is a lot of cabling involved but it can be an inexpensive way to test the waters of IEMs.
This is just a mere glimpse at a very simple system setup. For more information contact me or consult your local sound professional.
Will Johnson is an audio, video, and lighting professional who currently serves as Production Manager for Brookwood Church in Simpsonville, SC. He is also available for consulting, system design, and installation. For more information visit his website at willjohnson.com or email him at will@willjohnson.com.
[fbalbum url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150900684277653.400982.176060742652&type=3]9 Common Church Change Mistakes
Q: It seems to me that I’ve seen more churches damaged when a pastor attempts to lead change than I have churches made stronger and effective. Why is this? What are some of the common mistakes that derail a positive transition?
A: It’s true. The church world is littered with and haunted by failed attempts at transition and change. Though attempted by well-meaning pastors and leaders, the changes were approached in the wrong way and/or for the wrong reasons. Beyond the hurts experienced by both leaders and people, these failures have left us with an even larger problem: the widely embraced belief that change isn’t possible or worth it. These failures have entrenched many churches against the very point of following Christ—change.
Worship Excellence vs Worship Ministry – Which One Are You?
Is your worship based on excellence or ministry? Dan Navarra discusses both.
Since basically the introduction of contemporary music to the Church some fifty years ago, the worship team has become a central part of how the church goes about its ministry. Pastors all over the world aspire to have people in their congregations participating in powerful worship that attracts new people, and yet ministers to the faithful on a deep and meaningful level week in and week out. In an effort to help accomplish this goal, many churches have made the shift towards having a “worship leader” on their payroll.
Unfortunately, the worship leader is only one person – which makes for a pretty lame worship team – after all, there is no ‘I’ in team. Because the worship leader is only one person, most churches have opted to have volunteers from the congregation join the “worship team,” and have created an entire department of people who volunteer and help serve the church. The “Worship & Arts” department has become a revolution. The mantra of recruitment for serving in the worship team is basically, “if you have a passion for music and/or service, there is a spot for you!” Every worship leader has a need for sound guys, drummers, PowerPoint-button-pushers, vocalists and even cymbal players to join the army of musicians! This, however, is where ‘the problem’ arises.
Long Winded Worship Leaders
One of my worship pet peeves are worship leaders who think they need to preach a mini sermon in-between the songs, or ramble on with no preparation. If you want to preach head to the nearest seminary. Otherwise, keep it short and succinct. Dr. David W. Manner, Director of Worship and Administration for the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists, has some thoughts on the subject. Read more.
Confusing Worship Lyric Disorder
Just what does “Here I raise mine Ebenezer” mean anyway?! Worship leader Stephen Haggerty explains!