Over the number of years in serving in church, I’ve been asked questions that go along the line of
“How do you get to mix FOH on a weekend?”
“What do I have to do to be able to mix sound for church?”
“What makes a good FOH operator?”
“Where did you learn all of your knowledge and/or skills?”
I’ve never been able to answer those questions with a flat-out answer. It always goes with a reply vague enough to steer someone in the right direction but clear enough to trigger a response in their mind, heart or both.
This the season to sow into people what I know works. The collective “wisdom” as you might call it that I shall now present in a numbered format.
- Show up.
I’m not talking about showing your face, making an appearance, making conversation and departing as soon as you can. Show. Up.
When I was first starting out helping in production – no matter how small my role may seem, I came as soon as I could, earlier than I needed to, and longer than I was told to. I was there when something was happening, and I brought myself with me (more on this later).
Showing up would be the first step and not the last. Showing up is a constant. - Be present.
Ever have someone around you, but never really with you? It honestly disheartens me when I’m with someone like that. Am I as a person really not worth your time that being present here with me isn’t worth trying?
Same goes with operating a console for any service or even an event. Is the event, program or service not worth your attention when its not the fun bit anymore?
I don’t need to go on too much on this point. It speaks for itself and anything more is a dig. - Position yourself.
It’s funny when you find someone standing on the wrong side of the road and wondering why the bus never comes to pick him up.
Positioning yourself in a position to learn, to serve, to pick up good habits and traits is not only going to make you a better operator-in-training or operator, but definitely set you up for a win in life!
I’m not saying be greedy and take all the attention and be everywhere. I’m saying – like when a plant needs light, it grows and positions itself in where there is light. We should only do the same. - Switch yourself on.
You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to turn off your brain. I define a switched on person as one who is attentive to not just one thing, but alert to whatever is happening around said individual. It’s not an easy task, I warrant you that.
But when I see someone so attentive, responding to task at hand but also aware of the conversations happening around him/her, with a headspace that is also thinking of what is happening next – I think to myself – this is a person that is switched on.
This is a person I can trust.
This all doesn’t just apply to operators of a console. I believe its a trait that is relatively rare these days, and it is one that brings you far in life ; no matter the field or path you take.
This is something I admire in the people close to me
(if you’re not a very switched on person you’ll notice you’re not in my immediate circle of friends)
I’m only being very honest.
Be switched on. It helps.
sound thoughts 