Recently, more and more churches are making the switch from analog consoles to digital consoles. They offer distinct advantages over their analog counterparts. For experienced engineers, or for churches with more complex needs, a digital console, such as the Yamaha 01V, may make for a wise transition. Here’s a look at the advantages of going digital:
They’re more compact. By keeping everything in the digital domain, rotary knobs can serve more than one purpose, thereby eliminating the typical channel strip. Also, users are able to switch between “banks” of channels, thus collapsing a 32 channel console down to only 8 channel faders. A traditional 32-channel or 40 channel analog mixing console may take up anywhere from four to six feet of desk space, while a fully-featured digital console of the same channel capacity may only have a footprint of only two feet.
They’re expandable. In the analog world, if you need more channels, you’re forced to buy a bigger console. Need more digital channels? Just pop in an addition I/O (input/output) card to increase your channel capacity.
They offer more effects options. Multi-band parametric EQ with adjustable Q is virtually standard on most digital mixers. Dynamics effects such as compression/limiting, expansion/gate are also common. Some even have time-based effects, like reverb and delay. These features can eliminate the need for a rack full of outboard signal processing gear.
Mixes can be saved and recalled. This fact alone is an incredible aspect to a church setting. Because sound teams often rotate sound techs from week to week, traditional analog consoles lack the ability to keep a consistent mix week in and week out. The save and recall feature of digital consoles instantly alleviates this setback. Mixes, effects, and settings stay consistent on a weekly basis, and every service can have the same “starting point”. Mix recall is incredibly handy if, for instance, the youth band leads a service on Wednesdays, there’s a traditional service at 9:00 am on Sunday, followed by a contemporary service at 11:00am. Settings can be changed as quickly and as easily as you can press a button.
In this our final post in our seven-part series, Striving to Grow, we’re going to address one of the major issues I think face praise teams from a musical standpoint. While we’ve already dealt with the problem of stagnant musicianship in part one of the series, our efforts are in vain if band members don’t learn to listen to one another.
Listening is key. A praise team that doesn’t listen to its other members is nothing more than a stage full of soloists. Often, younger musicians will come up with cool parts that don’t necessarily fit within the context of the music, or worse, conflict with other parts. People become partial to their “creations” and don’t want to change their parts so as to fit. This situation is a simple result of members not listening to each other, which is a very ignorant and selfish way to be a member of a group.
There are several situations that arise as a result of non-listening. Parts compete or conflict. Music doesn’t sound full because several instruments are playing in the same range. Sound techs have difficulty mixing effectively because of lack of blend. Instrumental fills or solos overlap vocals. Vocals don’t blend or harmonize appropriately and end up doubling each other’s parts. Instrument “tone” doesn’t fit in with other instruments. The list goes on. However, above all, a general sense of “sloppiness” is created.
Whether or not we like to admit it, the production quality of the music we hear on the radio and on CDs is so high that we can tell the difference between a good sounding band and a bad–even mediocre–one. While most listeners can’t pinpoint why, they are able to discern that there is a difference in quality. Most churchgoers excuse this because we’re “making a joyful noise” or “using our gifts for the Lord”, but that does not mean that we shouldn’t make a concerted effort to bring our best offering to God.
Here are elements to listen for to improve the musicality of your praise team:
Kick drum and bass relationship: Perhaps nothing slops up a band quicker than a bassist who doesn’t work with the drummer. There is a distinct relationship between the kick drum and bass in music. In fact, the two should really act like one instrument (one to push air, and one to supply pitch). They should strive to be tightly “locked together”, playing the same pattern (or, at the very least, a complementary one). They should not, however, be playing wildly different patterns.
Vocal blend: I’m sure all would agree that proper pitch control and harmonization skills are a must for vocalists, but vocal blend is also very important. Vocals, too, should sound like one instrument. Singers should listen to each other, so that their vowel sounds are consistent and that their consonant sounds occur together.
Octave ranges: When it comes to working with a band, the band leader, as well as the musicians themselves, have to think like a producer. Each instrument must be placed in its own octave range. For instance, if a guitarist is playing big chords down in the open position, then a keyboardist should play in a higher octave. This placement ensures that instruments don’t “mask” each other and allows each instrument to be heard more easily. Therefore, it makes your mixing engineer’s job easier, because he doesn’t have to struggle to make sure each competing instrument is heard. It also makes better use of the frequency spectrum, making the sound more pleasing and interesting to the listener. To get a feel for how this process is done, critically listen to any mainstream music and take note of how the instruments are placed within the various octave ranges.
Dynamics and contrast: Dynamics refers to the variation of intensities within a song. All sections of a song should not have the same level of intensity. A chorus is typically a step up on the itensity ladder from a verse. The song should get stronger feeling, or “open up” more during a chorus. Bridges are typically the most intense sections of a song, Although, they don’t have to be. They can be the quietest sections, but they provide the most significant contrast. Dynamic intensity can be achieved with volume, intensity of playing, range, and density (how many instruments are playing at once).
Density: Perhaps one of the hardest aspects of younger musicians to grasp is that of density. Not every instrument has to be playing all of the time. Sometimes, it’s prudent for certain instruments to not play during certain sections of a song. For example, you wouldn’t necessarily need a heavily distorted guitar during a quiet, intimate moment of a song. You could also look at density as the number of notes being played together. An acoustic guitarist who is strumming has a different sound than if he was playing arpeggios. Each sound has its own place. Again, it’s the contrast that helps to make music interesting.
Learning to listen to each other removes a world of obstacles and enhances the overall musicality of your praise team. If you’d like more information, many of these principles can be found in our ebook Recording Basics: A Beginner’s Guide to Producing Music in the chapter “Thinking Like a Producer”. You can also see the article “Taking your Worship Band to the Next Level” on MusicIsMyBiz.com.
See other posts in the series Striving to Grow: Overcoming Obstacles in Music Ministry
In my seminars and classes, I propose my philosophy about music ministry and what it means to be a worship leader. I’ve developed what I refer to as the Prime Directive of the Worship Leader. I believe that our job as worship leaders is
To, by example, lead others in the worship of God, while removing all distractions that may hinder that worship.
While our first job is to lead others, our work is in vain if there are too many distractions keeping others from fully engaging in worship. We’re not merely leaders, we’re also facilitators. So we are to make every effort to remove any distraction that disengages someone else from his/her focus on God.
Distractions can be viewed as stumbling blocks, inhibiting or disconnecting people from worship. 2 Corinthians 6:3 says this of the way we should conduct our ministry,
“We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.”
So, what are some potential distractions?
Poor musicianship, wrong notes, and mistakes
Spelling errors on the presentation slides
Distracting presentation slide backgrounds
Forgetting lyrics
Lack of preparation
Poor acoustics (echo, ringing, etc.)
Unintelligible vocals (due to bad mix or poor EQ)
Too much effects (reverb, delay, etc.)
Poor mix in general
Too many lighting effects
Inadequate lighting (hot spots, dead spots, team members left in the dark, etc.)
Poor quality video (low resolution video and audio)
This week, strive to remove any and all distractions from your worship services. What other things can we remove so that others can fully engage in worshiping God?
See other posts in the series Striving to Grow: Overcoming Obstacles in Music Ministry
Are time wasters killing your ministry’s effectiveness?
As with anything, time wasters are effectiveness killers. Time wasters cut into our preparedness, and, as we mentioned in part three of our series, lack of preparation clouds our purpose.
There’s a “trickle down” effect when it comes to time wasters and preparation–a cause and effect relationship. Much like workers on a conveyor belt, if one person falls down on his/her job, there’s inevitably a backup created. Here’s an example scenario, let’s say someone is having a conversation with the sound tech while he should be preparing for the final sound check/rehearsal for the morning service. By the time the band arrives, unaddressed sound issues delay the band’s rehearsal. The band becomes frazzled, so they’re no longer focused on worship. In hopes to finish their run-through, they hold the doors to the sanctuary, thereby making the congregants antsy or impatient, negatively influencing the worship of some. The pastor sees this negative vibe from the congregants, thereby increasing his concern and drawing his focus away from his purpose. One single incidence has hampered the entire service.
While it may sound extreme or exaggerated, situations like this do happen, and they happen considerably more frequently than we would like to admit. Here are some points to consider to keep your machine running smoothly:
Develop a schedule and stick to it. It’s not enough to only know when the doors open and the service starts. Set a schedule for specific things like equipment tests, line level checks, sound check with band, rehearsal, doors open, service begins.
Reinforce roles and jobs. Once jobs and roles have been established, it’s important the people take those jobs seriously. Not serving your role or function delays other team members. In fact, someone their job may be completely reliant on whether or not someone else does his/her job.
Know the difference between practice and rehearsal. Practice is what each member does on his/her own time. Rehearsal is the time where the band comes together to work on the band’s sound. Rehearsal is not the time for individuals to learn parts or work on difficult ones. Rather, rehearsal is the time to make sure that all of the parts each member learned at home work together in a unified way.
Rehearsal/sound check is not social time. When band or tech crew members arrive for sound check or rehearsal, they have a job to do. I know it sounds callous to say that members shouldn’t chit-chat, but socializing eats into someone else’s time. It hampers someone else’s job and is a detriment to the efficiency of the group.
Keep equipment maintained. Rehearsal is not the time to find out a particular piece of equipment isn’t functioning properly. I completely understand unfortunate surprises happen. However, certain things should be check and addressed prior to rehearsal time, and even prior to sound check. Technical and sound crews should be among the first people to arrive. They should check all equipment, batteries, cables, and signals before the band even arrives. That way, if there is an unfortunate surprise, then there may be time to make other arrangements.
What time wasters plague your team? How did you deal with them? Comment and let us know.
See other posts in the series Striving to Grow: Overcoming Obstacles in Music Ministry
Being a part of the music industry outside of the music ministry, I can tell you that nothing is left to chance or up for interpretation. People go out of their way to make sure they know exactly what they are expected to do and exactly what they’ll get in return. The ones that don’t know end up with a lot of headaches and heartache. Contracts, in the business world, ensure that each party is aware of his/her expectations. Rarely do I do any dealings that don’t involve a contract before I begin work.
Many people shy away from contracts, as they are often viewed as shady and purposely misleading. While many people word contracts to where they can only be read by a lawyer, not all of contracts have to be that way. They can just be a basic outline or explanation of each members function that is agreed to by signature. Don’t look at contracts as demeaning, or as if someone doesn’t trust you. Matthew 5:33-37 and James 5:12 stress the importance of keeping your word, but, unfortunately, peoples’ words or handshakes don’t always hold the same meaning that they used to, even in the church. So, contracts just remove all room for assumptions and doubt as to each person’s responsibilities.
In the music biz, bands have inter-member agreements, which state each member’s stake in the band, the decision making process, commitment obligations, what happens when a member leaves, etc. Worship bands should consider having those same types of agreements. Here are some of the issues that can be addressed within a contract:
The vision, purpose, and mission of the ministry. This can just be a basic description of how the ministry’s philosophy and function, so that each member has a clear picture of what he/she is entering into.
Decision making and leadership. Clearly define who is in charge of leading the band and making decisions. Do you function as a democracy with majority vote? Is there a band leader in charge of making decisions? Who serves as tie breaker in event of an equal vote? How should ideas be presented to the group? How much time is dedicated to the idea and decision making process? Answering these questions leaves no room for assumptions with team members.
Image and conduct. Groups have a certain image to uphold, even more so when dealing with a worship team. Each team member is a reflection of the parent ministry, both inside the church and outside the church’s walls. Don’t just specify how team members are supposed to behave, but identify specific conduct that is unbecoming of your team members. Leave nothing to up to interpretation or assumption. Then, make sure to let members know what the consequence is for unbecoming conduct.
Commitment obligations. Team members need to know what their time commitment will be up front. Let them know your weekly schedule of service and rehearsal times. Then address other potential questions and issues. For instance, if a member misses rehearsal, does he/she still get to participate for the service? How many rehearsals/services can a member miss in a row? Is there a such thing as an excused/unexcused absense or extenuating circumstance?
Contribution. This applies to obvious issues like whether a member is required to supply his/her own equipment for rehearsals and services, or if the church will supply adequate gear. But, it could also deal with issues like a member’s contribution of talents. What happens if a member falls behind the rest of the group in terms of musicianship, thus bringing down the overall quality of the group? What if a member is consistently unprepared? Identify your expectations and the consequences for not meeting them.
Royalty or revenue split. Does performance revenue get equally split amongst band members? Does a percentage come off the top to go back into the ministry account/fund? How are royalties split for copyrights if a band writes its own music? Does the technical crew get an equal portion split of performance revenue or a flat fee? Especially when it comes to money, be extremely clear.
Member exits. Identify what happens when a band member resigns or is fired. Is there a buy-out required of the ministry if the member has invested finances, equipment, or intellectual property? Conversely, if the ministry invested finances or equipment for (or on behalf of) the member, is there a buy-out required on the part of the member? Is there an “open door” if the member wishes to return in the future? Is the member entitled to a portion of future sales from merchandise he/she helped to create? Unfortunately, even in the Christian music world, lawsuits happen. These questions will help to protect your ministry.
These are some of the most common and detrimental issues that a band or ministry team must settle. By having members sign an agreement upon entering a group, there is little room for excuses when it comes to problem areas. The members know what the ministry expects and what happens when those expectations are not met. Although it’s never easy to “let someone go” from a group, it’s more justified when they’ve signed an agreement. The important thing is to stand behind your convictions and your contract!
Does your band, group, or ministry have a contract or agreement? Are there any points on yours that weren’t covered? Comment and let us know!
See other posts in the series Striving to Grow: Overcoming Obstacles in Music Ministry
Is lack of preparation clouding your team’s purpose?
We’re continuing our series on Striving to Grow. Yesterday, we talked about a unified mindset. Today, we’re going learn how to worship on autopilot.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not stressing that we just “go through the motions” when it comes to our worship. On the other hand, I am asserting that we can’t truly worship until we are on autopilot.
The human brain can only really consciously focus on one dominant task at a time. If we are focused on too many technical details, or on our own insecurities, then how can we surrender our whole selves to worship? Yes, our service and the utilization of our gift as an offering is an act of worship. However, we can’t give God our first fruits, the full surrender of ourselves in worship, if our technical minds aren’t able to go on autopilot.
So, then, how do we send our technical mind on autopilot so we can fully surrender?
Preparation.
Lack of preparation clouds our purpose. If we are unprepared, whether through lack of rehearsal, sound issues, etc., then our thoughts are solely dedicated to merely “getting through” a service without falling apart. Hence, our purpose is clouded. We must be so prepared that we can suppress our technical minds so that we can truly connect with God.
I’m sure you’re thinking “if everything’s so rehearsed, that doesn’t leave God room to move during a service.” On the contrary. If we know our music intimately, know our instrument inside and out, and have nurtured our gifts and talents, then there is, in fact, more freedom. We’re not limited by our own insecurities and inadequacies, or by those of our teammates. Then, if the spirit moves the worship leader to move in a certain direction, we are ready and capable of following.
Part of preparation not only lies in rehearsal, but also in our comfort level as a team. We must be so accustomed to each other–the way each member moves musically or technically–that the team can work as a unit. Getting to that point takes listening, a comfort level with our instrument, and an understanding of music theory (or production skills) in general. It also takes a certain amount of trust that your other team members possess the same. We must also understand that this level of comfort takes time and effort on the part of every member of the ministry team or department.
As you strive to grow, stress the “autopilot mentality”. Take small steps. Stress preparation. Begin to work–really work–as one unit. Then comment and tell us your story!
See other posts in the series Striving to Grow: Overcoming Obstacles in Music Ministry
In keeping with our series on Striving to Grow, we’re looking at ways to overcome obstacles that hinder our ministry’s growth and effectiveness. In our last post, we discussed dealing with stagnant musicianship. Today, we’re going to deal with the mindset of our team’s members.
In ministry, everyone has a role and a function. Different departments or teams, while they each have their own individual functions, all come together for a common purpose. In other words, they act as one machine. The Bible says that, although we all act individually, we all act as one body (1 Corinthians 12). A hand has a different purpose than a foot, an eye serves a different purpose than an ear, and so on. If one person or department doesn’t serve its function, then the entire machine is made less effective. So, we have to facilitate a common mindset amongst our team’s members.
The church often talks about repentance as it pertains to salvation. While it does mean turning from your old ways, the literal translation means “to change one’s mind”. On our ministry teams, must ensure that all of our members have a similar mindset when it comes to excellence, humility, servitude, and self betterment. I was speaking recently with a worship pastor friend about some ways to improve the quality and functionality of his team. After explaining my philosophy on building a ministry team (and the biblical principles behind them), he replied, “but not everyone on the team has the same mindset as you do.” While I’m neither asserting that I have all the answers, nor that my opinion is the Gospel, a team whose members do not share the same vision will not succeed. It’s not even a team. Such division turns a band into a stage full of soloists.
The word says in Romans 12:2,
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
We must be like-minded when it comes to certain questions about our ministry:
How does God expect us to nourish our gifts and talents? (Matthew 25:14-30)
Does God expect my best when it comes to my gift, talent, or service? (Genesis 4:2-5)
Does God expect us to sacrifice our will and wants for the good of His Kingdom? (Mark 1:16-20)
How committed to our calling does God expect us to be? (Luke 9:62)
How committed do we need to be to each member of the group? (1 Thessalonians 5:11-15)
What areas of our life do we need to eliminate to fully serve our calling? (1 Timothy 2:22)
If we can all say that we are in agreement with all those principles, then our mindset is appropriate. If problems arise as mindsets wander, that’s when ministries tend to pull apart. The Word is also very clear as to what our response should be to dissension within a ministry, as in Titus 3:10.
“Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.”
These divisions must be dealt with swiftly and firmly for the good of the ministry as a whole. While it’s hard to make those sorts of decisions, we as a ministry can’t afford to not be unified in our mindset, goals, and direction. It’s much easier to define these principles early on than it is to realign (or remove) members that have been a part of the group for any significant length of time.
How do you ensure your team members are like-minded? Comment and share your thoughts.
See other posts in the series Striving to Grow: Overcoming Obstacles in Music Ministry
Is your church’s music ministry team struggling to grow?
Hitting the proverbial wall is possibly one of the most disheartening aspects of trying to run a successful music ministry. Things go great for a time, and then it seems like progress comes to a grinding halt–or worse, starts moving backwards. Small factors combine into a detriment that can seriously cripple a music team. Over this series, we’re going to look at several of the factors involved, and how we can possibly overcome them by referencing God’s word.
Stagnant Musicianship
The old saying, “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” is applicable here. Your music ministry is only as strong as its weakest member. If your players don’t grow in their gift, they will get left behind. What’s worse is that they begin to drag the entire team down in terms of time management and overall quality. As other team members spend time honing their musical craft, or as newer, better members enter the group, stagnant musicians find it increasingly harder to keep up with the pace of the ministry. It is vital that each member is committed to personal growth first, so that the ministry as a whole can grow.
Nowhere is this message clearer than the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30 NIV).
14″Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19″After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
21″His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22″The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’
23″His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24″Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26″His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28″ ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
While Jesus references money for his parable, the concept itself is applicable to not only money, but also the work we each do for the Kingdom of God. We are each entrusted with certain gifts and talents for service. Clearly, we are expected to grow those gifts and talents so that they will do the work of God with increasing efficacy.
If we as musicians don’t foster, nurture, and grow our musicianship on a continual basis, then we are just like the lazy servant. We use our talent during the worship service, yet after the service, we dig a hole and bury it until the following week. Then we dig it up again, re-use, and bury. Where’s the growth? God charges us to be good stewards of the gifts, talents, and blessings we’re given. Our music ministry is no different.
Each team member should be committed to growing in his/her instrument, be that a musical instrument, sound console, lighting controller, camera, etc. We are to know our instrument inside and out, so that we can lead others in worship, while ourselves worshiping, without thinking. We should also increase our understanding of the theory behind what we’re doing, for instance music theory for musicians, acoustics for sound techs, camera techniques for video crew, and so on.
As you try to grow your team, constantly ask yourself this question:
Are we growing our gift and talent during the week, or are we simply digging up what God has entrusted us to nurture, and then burying it when we’re finished?
We’d love to hear your input! Comment, and let us know how you’ve addressed growing musically as a ministry team.
See other posts in the series Striving to Grow: Overcoming Obstacles in Music Ministry
Churches all over the country break the law every single week, and they don’t even know it.
Got your attention, didn’t I? Most of us would agree that we wouldn’t walk into our local Wal-Mart store, shove a CD under our shirt, and sneak out the door. However, the fact remains that most churches are guilty of stealing or using music illegally every Sunday, simply because they are unaware of their responsibilities when it comes to copyrights and the intellectual property of others.
As soon as composer or songwriter pens or records a song, that expressive work belongs to them and them alone. This is what is known as Copyright. Copyright holders are granted the exclusive right to perform, copy, distribute, and make derivative works from their music. Anyone else wishing to use that music must obtain permission in the form of a “license”. Most churches are under the impression that, because they are a church, those licensing obligations do not apply. While churches are afforded certain exemptions, those exemptions do not cover every use of music by houses of worship.
Music sung or performed in a worship setting is, in fact, exempt from needing a license. But what if the church hosts a concert or a conference? What if the church plays a CD in the lobby? Or in their on-hold message program? Are churches legally able to project lyrics on a screen or print copies of lyrics in the bulletin? These are not covered in the exemption and therefore need a license.
A performance license is required for activities such as concerts, conferences, on-hold messages, and music played in the lobby. These are obtained through Performing Rights Organizations (PROs), which in the United States are ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. PROs also grant licenses for churches seeking to broadcast music via television, radio, and internet.
If churches display lyrics or store copies on a computer for projection or as handouts they will need a license from Christian Copyright License Incorporated (CCLI). This license also covers recordings made of services that contain music (as long as it is not for broadcast or sale).
Don’t let your church make the costly mistake of assuming it is safe merely because it is a church. Moreover, don’t fall into the trap of illegally using music and justifying it by saying “it’s okay because we’re doing the Lord’s work.” Using someone else’s music without his/her permission is infringement. Infringement is stealing. Stealing is illegal.
We, are expected to abide by both God’s law and man’s law. So we not only have a legal obligation, but a moral expectation to adhere to copyright law. God makes this concept explicit in the ten commandments. Genesis 20:15 NIV says,
“You shall not steal.”
Not only does copyright law ensure that music users appropriate proper credit to creators, but it also insures that copyright holders get fairly compensated for others who benefit from their music. In reference to man’s law, God expects us to respect authority and, in turn, give credit (and money) where it is due. We learn this in Romans 13:
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Proper licensing helps us do just that. We’re adhering to Man’s law. We’re adhering to God’s law. We no longer have to live in fear of getting caught or punished. Most importantly, we no longer have to live with our conscience.
While I’m not a lawyer and can’t assert this as legal advice, I’ll be glad to try to steer you in the right direction as best as I can. If you have any questions about what your church is (or isn’t) doing in reference to using music, video, or images, feel free to comment and ask. If I don’t have an answer, I’ll connect you with someone who does!
Many churches prefer not to think about it, but, like it or not, a church’s music and multimedia ministry is a part of the music and entertainment industry. If music and multimedia is a commodity for day-to-day operations, you are indeed a part of the music biz.
Anyone who is in business will tell you that you must study and analyze your competition in order to survive. In music ministry, we are in competition with the secular entertainment market. In order to draw people in and engage them, our “product” (in this case, the worship experience) must offer a viable substitute to what congregants can get anywhere else. A growth-focused contemporary church’s music, video, multimedia, and visual experience must rival what people find on the radio or at a concert–relevant and “in the now”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that worship is a concert or performance, but let’s face the facts: those things get people through your doors. Now that you’ve drawn them in, it’s the substance that’s combined with the experience that creates true relevance.
So, how can we build a vibrant and relevant music ministry? Let’s take a cue from a real-world business model, by adapting what works in the secular markets, and putting it to work to help further the Kingdom of God.
Sales and Marketing. In music ministry you’re engaged in sales and marketing. You’re basically getting someone else to “buy in” to a ministry opportunity with their time and talents. You must publicize available positions, special events, etc. If no one knows, then no one will volunteer or participate.
Human Resources. You’re also responsible for seeking the right person for the “job”. You’re saddled with the task of conducting auditions and interviews. This task is a weighty responsibility for any ministry team, because desperation to fill a given position most often results in a poor decision.
Public Relations. Your team must portray the image of your parent company, in this case, the church. This image must be exuded both inside and outside the church’s walls.
Employee Evaluation. A ministry’s responsibility is to constantly asses the work ethic, attendance, and attitude of each “employee”. Furthermore, you must assess each team member’s competency in his/her job. Are they growing and learning their instrument? Are they progressing with their musical knowledge? Can they pull their weight? Are they growing spiritually?
Legal Department. Churches all over the world break the law every week, and they don’t even know it. It’s the ministry’s moral obligation to understand intellectual property rights and the church’s legal responsibilities as it pertains to those rights. You also often deal with member contracts once players are recruited.
Maintenance and Quality Control. The ministry must supply a quality product (i.e. worship experience) each week. So, the ministry must seek out and address areas of weakness and constantly look for ways to improve.
Research and Development. Again, to compete and survive, you must analyze and learn from the competition. A ministry must learn from the most current trends and seek out ways to push forward. You must research and implement new ways to improve and become more productive. You must test ways to make your product become a viable substitute to what’s on the radio and in other entertainment.
While this is just a basic overview, there are many other parallels and lessons to draw from the business world when it comes to building a vibrant ministry team. See www.butlerproductionsmultimedia.com/seminars to bring this and similar information to your church.
Practical Music Ministry Seminar Series Essential information for building and growing your music ministry. 4 hours of audio, plus lecture notes and slide shows presentations.
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Are assumptions holding back your worship team?
Is your church’s music ministry team struggling to grow?
rches all over the country break the law every single week, and they don’t even know it.
