Sound Productions of Irving, Texas, has 45 years experience as a major supplier of pro-audio, lighting and video products. They also provide backline rental and production services on a regional basis and the company works with vendors to offer free workshops, clinics and training sessions for audio, lighting and video products. Attendees can see, hear and operate the latest digital mixers, speaker systems and lighting from leading manufacturers in Sound Productions’ state-of-the-art product demo and training room. We asked CEO Joshua Curlett how such a training facility is being used by churches.
Joshua Curlett, President & CEO, Sound Productions
CPM: What training do you conduct that is right for church techs?
Curlett: We are proud to host over 40 annual workshops that help all levels of HoW techs get high value, hands-on experience in a condensed format. Since we bring in factory trainers or industry experts, it helps reinforce and support any in-house training programs a church may have. Hands-on classes range from specific equipment training to technique driven classes, such as “How to Mic a Stage” or “Lighting 101.” We also host a quarterly HoW panel where churches meet to discuss topics ranging from “How to Attract, Retain, and Grow Tech Volunteers” to “Best Practices: Lessons from a Technical Director of a Multi-Campus Church.”
CPM: Is there a regular schedule or do you tailor it to a given church? Does it change throughout the year?
Curlett: We support our customers with various trainings each quarter. Since we have all types of customers and class participants, we blend the below inputs to keep the content relevant, fresh, and valuable to customers.
WE LISTEN: In any business, customer feedback is the lifeblood to direction. We bring in events tailored to their pain points.
SUCCESS REPEATED: Successful events with high attendance, high scores from surveys, and online (Facebook and Twitter) feedback are featured on a more regular basis.
FRESH CONTENT: We regularly bring in new speaker panels, cutting edge technology and hot trends as new trainings each quarter.
NEW PRODUCTS: As new products are launched, demos and open houses allow customers to get their hands on new products and hear from the experts.
CPM: Do you have any anecdotes or success stories you can share about church techs finding success after attending your training sessions?
There is no one better to share these stories than our customers. We encourage others to read about the trainings (and our business) from their peers online at Google and Facebook. Many of our surveys, completed at the end of each class, say things like, “WOW, I learned how to save hours each week with volunteers” or “Thank you for forcing me out of my comfort zone, I learned something I could immediately apply on a console I have owned for months.” One of the most powerful takeaways for me personally, the people. Networking and connecting with others who you can learn from, benchmark, and support each other is by far, my personal favorite.
