I call this a survival guide because running a sound system for a church can be a real challenge. You are almost always working with volunteer staff, or no staff.  The musicians and vocalists are usually untrained professionals. In our efforts to have a good sound it can be easy to have disagreements, hurt feelings, disgruntled singers and musicians, and a congregation dissatisfied with poor sound. (“It’s too loud!” “Turn it up!.” “I can’t hear my daughter’s voice in the choir mix.” “Your system makes my son sound off-key!”) The complaints can be endless, because we are dealing not only with technology, but with people!

We can have drummers so loud they leave no room for other musicians in the mix without destroying peoples’ hearing; with singers, guitarists and keyboardists struggling to hear themselves in the stage monitors over the loudness of the drums, and a church staff that seems to be unappreciative of the hard work we do to try to bring all this chaos and conflict into some kind of presentation that does not send worshipers running for the door.

My desire is to train sound technicians so they can not only have the
ability to operate the system, but that they might also know how every aspect interacts with the others. It is important that we gain the
support of our team and staff. The best way to do that is to demonstrate to them your expertise in sound reinforcement. We not only have to deal with the operations and maintenance of the sound system, but with the talents (or lack thereof), with the personalities, egos and impatience of the worship team members and church leaders and staff. This is one job where we know we are doing our job effectively when no one really notices us. Most of the time, if we are getting the attention, it is someone complaining about the sound. The job we do must be done as unto the Lord, for we are laying up treasures in Heaven, with (more often than not) very little appreciation or recognition from those we serve here on Earth .