Greetings, I trust you are doing well. This is *McLord-Creative Senam* , *Music Producer||Audio Consultant||Sound Engineer* from *DM Audio*.
I’m Glad to come your way with lessons.
Running sound during a church service means we try to do everything perfectly. Volume levels, mixing, and hitting cues are all things we should do spot on. With that being said, *we are open to criticism on two fronts; criticism for something we did wrong and criticism for something someone THINKS we did wrong.*
Criticism for Something Someone Thinks We Did Wrong.
Let’s start with the latter. My favorite story comes from a guy running sound at a live venue. Two people came up to him at the same time; one said it was too loud and the other said it was too soft. If these people were sitting in the same area, even next to each other, the question to ask is “who is right?”
There are some areas of our work where there is no right answer or at least no answer that is right for everyone. These can include the overall volume level, the way we EQ an instrument, the way we set up a stage (some people might think it looks messy), and even the volume level of particular musicians and singers.
The best way to deal with such criticism is to listen and take note of their complaint. For example, if one person says they couldn’t hear the acoustic guitar, apologize. Then ask fellow sound techs and friends to find out if they noticed the same problem. If not, don’t worry about it. We all have ears but they don’t all work the same.
Regarding sound levels, we use a sound meter. By recording the volume levels each week for specific parts of the service (pastor talking, soft song, upbeat song) then when we have a criticism regarding the sound level, we can compare the volume for that service to previous services.
One final note on this type of criticism, if a person brings up the volume level issue, ask where they sat. Location can make a difference. There is only a 5 dB variance in our sanctuary from the loudest spot to the quietest. However, those 5 dB can make a difference and if you get repeat complaints from people sitting in “the bad seats” then you might consider boosting your overall volume or investigate into secondary speakers
*Criticism When We Deserve It*
I’ve found people more likely to dish out this type of criticism. They might not say it directly like “you should have been prepared for that sudden mic change.” They are more likely to say “that must have been a rough service for you.” I find the best way to acknowledge any type of criticism in which it might be warranted is to smile, accept it, and apologize. Depending on the person and the issue, I might talk about what happened or why it happened or I’ll just let it go.
Finally, here are a few general rules of thumb about dealing with criticism;
1. The more people criticize you on the same issue, the more likely they have a valid concern.
2. You can’t please everyone all the time. If you thought it sounded good and so did your friends, the one person who thought it was bad, well, that’s just their opinion.
3. People might make constructive criticism. “Have you considered____?” Listen to these people. Maybe they have a good idea. Maybe they just need to be heard.
4. Don’t take it personal. Audio production is a difficult job and we do the best we can. See #2 above. 🙂
5. If someone criticizes you and you’re really not sure how to take it, ask your tech director about it. They’ve probably heard their share of complaints and can help you out.
6. We don’t offer feedback surveys so criticism is often the only way we can get negative feedback. It’s just the nature of the job.
*#LESSON II* *THE ONE LESSON ALL SOUND TECHS SHOULD LEARN*
Francis Chan said “if I did not have time with God, I’d be so self-centered, so arrogant, so in my own world because I can fool people.” His point is he can’t be arrogant if he’s constantly learning from God and communing with Him and submitting himself to Him.
Applying that to the craft of live audio production,
“I can’t be arrogant if I’m constantly learning my craft and in communication with others who are more knowledgeable than myself.”
My first exposure to live sound production was as a radio broadcaster. I know that’s not the same as running sound for a 5,000 seat congregation. But it does have it’s challenges like doing three things at once while talking on the air and knowing that any on-air mistake is heard by 125,000 people. Running sound at my first church for 300 people was a lot less pressure and I was used to multi-tasking.
I was a “pro” at my first church. I took it seriously. I was the best of the group. I was blind to the fact that I didn’t know much at all. “All vocal microphones are the same” type of thinking.
At the next church, I was the best. I took it more seriously than anyone else. This sounds familiar, doesn’t it.
There was a time when I let the arrogance come over me. You know how it goes; figure you can’t learn anything else and you think you know more than anyone in your congregation on the subject. Then I starting reading sound tech blogs. I quickly learned that not only was there more than one type of microphone but there were many ways to use microphones on the same sound source. Quite simply, I learned this…
there is a big difference between an audio professional and a weekend warrior.
Where Are You?
There are three levels of sound tech’s;
1. The amateurs who are new to the craft and need all the help they can get.
2. The weekend warriors.
3. The professionals.
It’s obvious who are the amateurs and professions. The problem is the varying degree of knowledge of those of us in the middle. I know of volunteers who think they know best but have a lot to learn and their congregation suffers because of it. I know of volunteers who work professionally in the audio world Monday through Friday. I know of others like myself who are constantly learning and trying to be better each time they are working in their craft. The range of experience and attitude is wide within the middle group.
Respecting Where You Are
When the Church Tech Directors Roundtable () was formed, I was excited. I thought to myself, “finally, a place where I can get together with other like-minded people.” I read this note on their application form;
*“Note that only full-time church employees serving as directors over technical areas are considered for membership. If you are not full-time, you may not wish to complete this application.”*
I was devastated. I was hurt. I felt like people I knew in this group had turned their back on me.
Then I remembered, “I can’t be arrogant if I’m constantly learning my craft and in communication with others who are more educated than myself.”
The truth of the matter is simple; the people at ctdrt are at a different level than me. I have twittered and emailed with some of them. They have posted on my blog and I on theirs. But there comes a time when they must be in an environment with people who are at or above their level so they can grow and learn. They are in group #3, I am in group #2.
It Comes Down To This
The moment I become arrogant in my craft is the moment that I’ve stopped learning and listening to others.
To those who are new to the craft; beg your church for professional training. There are a number of companies that tour the US and UK with training that is perfect for first-timers.
To those who are professionals; check out ctdrt.com. Learn from your peers.
To those of us in the middle; keep learning and listening. Seek out other sound tech’s via web sites, forums, and social sites. There are others like you and other who would love to help you.
To everyone, God has placed us in a position of responsibility. We are tasked with producing a great sound. We are tasked with working with others (pastor, worship leader, musicians) as a team. We are tasked with setting a mood in the service. Our work can mean the difference between someone walking up for an alter call and someone saying “maybe next time.”
*Question: What Do You Think?*
Thanks for Your Time.
