Wired.com recently published a listing of “100 Things Your Kids May Never Know About” which included things like “Super 8 movies and cine films of all kinds, and rotary dial televisions with no remote control.” Technology has been moving at a breakneck pace. Technologies that are commonplace today were just a gleam in someone's eye as little as five or 10 years ago, for instance texting or wireless Internet. USB flash drives, as ubiquitous as they are today, were first introduced around the end of 2000.
It takes a concerted effort to keep up, particularly as it applies to the sophisticated audio, video and lighting technologies employed in houses of worship today. For all intents and purposes, production arts technology (sound, lighting and video) is firmly ensconced as a support mechanism for contemporary worship. You probably agree since you're reading Church Production Magazine. “AVL technology and techniques play an important role in many churches in creating an atmosphere where attendees can encounter God's Word through worship and teaching,” says Jim Wagner, general manager, EH Events, producer of Worship Facilities Conference and Expo (WFX). “Because it plays a role in spiritual development it should be given serious thought with a commitment to doing it well. To quote our keynote presenter last year, Ed Stetzer, ‘Technology cannot glorify God. Technology is a tool that when used well can equip people to live out in works of ministry and thereby to glorify God,'”
Wagner adds, “These AVL technologies are simply a series of tools designed to enhance the delivery of worship and teaching. But they, like any tool, require training in order to use them effectively and responsibly. The role or need for training and education is clear when it is put in context to the importance of creating and supporting each church's ministry mission.”
THE CASE FOR TRAINING
Back in the day, on-the-job training was the norm, but along with it frequently came misunderstanding regarding the technology itself, or even how to properly use some of the equipment in the systems. As Pat Brown, owner of Synergetic Audio Concepts (SynAudCon), a well-respected audio education provider, notes, “While used for artistic expression, sound and light systems are technical. There are do's and don'ts and rights and wrongs. A trained technician will get a ‘red flag' when something isn't quite right, and they will have the skills to track down the problem and fix it. The untrained person may not even know that a problem exists.”
While Hector La Torre, managing partner of How-To Sound Workshops, adds, “Church leaders devote tons of time to creating great services for their congregations, but often poorly designed or maintained AVL systems damage the message with feedback, video and lighting glitches that destroy the intent and integrity of the service—and the whole purpose of why you're in church to begin with. You run the risk of losing your congregation to other more organized churches.”
It's important to present the gospel in a way that's relevant and does not distract or change the focus of the congregation from the message to the delivery medium. The best way to do this is to make sure the production teams are completely up to speed on how to operate the equipment at hand, as well as utilizing best practices in the artistic application of the technologies. Specialized education and training are the most effective and efficient means to accomplish this.
SO WHAT DO YOU DO?
Now that you've determined that you need some training, where do you go or what do you do? Regardless of whether you are planning a career in the production arts or are a volunteer with a technical acumen, looking to keep current or even up your skills, there are many different options out there.
Higher Education and Degrees: There are schools that are accredited and offer degree programs with a technology focus. The Bachelor of Arts in Church Media/Production Arts program at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., trains students in lighting, sound, production design, video production and graphic design along with a strong Christian Studies core. Ex'pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville, Calif., offers a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Sound Arts, which can be completed in just over two and a half years. Located in Winter Park, Fla., Full Sail University's Show Production Bachelor of Science degree program, while not focused toward houses of worship, provides a well-rounded curriculum for anyone with an eye on joining a church technical staff. The Department of Music Production and Engineering at Berklee College of Music in Boston has 13 recording facilities to equip students for a career as a producer or engineer, skills that would translate well to houses of worship that have in-house recording or broadcast facilities. Nashville, Tenn.'s Belmont University offers Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Audio Engineering Technology. Each program provides a wide range of coursework for training in live or recorded sound.
Workshops and Tours: The How-To Sound Workshops conducts hands-on clinics aimed specifically at houses of worship that cover basic concepts and practical applications in a church environment. Similarly, SynAudCon has provided in-person audio training for nearly 40 years at its home base in southern Indiana, as well as on location all over the world.
The Internet: Online education is another possibility. Berklee Online School offers courses such as Live Sound: Mixing and Recording, various levels of instruction in ProTools as well as other recording programs, and advance coursework for certification in Acoustics and Live Sound, along with other areas of the recording and production process. Full Sail offers online degree options as well, though for live production the majority of classes are on campus. SynAudCon also offers a web-based training, from the basic Level 50: How Sound Systems Work to the advanced Level 300: Sound Reinforcement for Designers.
Other opportunities include conferences and trade events such as WFX, which provides a mixed bag of opportunities for church technical personnel, as well as pastors, administrators and facilities managers. For the tech side there are over 60 hands-on training sessions covering all aspects of audio, video, and lighting technologies. WFX also features more than 100 different educational workshops and classes focusing on a variety of topics relevant to running a church. Past locations include Nashville, Tenn., Long Beach, Calif., Charlotte, N.C., Atlanta, Dallas, and other cities. Other tradeshows, such as National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), LDI, and InfoComm, offer opportunities for training and education with various workshops and classes held in conjunction with these events.
Manufacturer-sponsored training: Many manufacturers provide training as well, and while it can be specific to a certain product or application, concepts and theory of audio, video and lighting are often discussed and reviewed.
The key is to take advantage of as many training and educational opportunities that present themselves. Training and education are important aspects of keeping technical ministries current and engaged. Budgeting and planning for training and education are just as important as budgeting for new equipment or maintenance of existing gear, and training should absolutely be factored in whenever new equipment purchases are considered. The benefits reaped will include having a tech team that can more efficiently and effectively operate your systems, as well as increasing their loyalty. You've given them knowledge, which is a gift everyone appreciates.
