Worship Leaders: Getting your act together

One of my jobs is running production for various events that come through Estes chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary.  This can many things, but in the spring and summer it means wedding.....ALOT of weddings.  Usually either I or one of my co-workers is working 2-3 a weekend.  In these I have noticed a trend that is really frustrating.

Lately, weddings are including a time of sung congregational worship, usually led by someone who is either on staff at the party's church or leads in a collegiate setting.  These leaders are young and usually consider leading to be one of the the primary "jobs" they have.  The frustrating trend is NOT HAVING EQUIPMENT.

Go check out the musician ads on craigslist.  If you are older (like me) and remember flyers at the music store advertising for players the same qualification was usually mentioned "MUST HAVE OWN EQUIPMENT".  If a band was insisting on this, they weren't meaning you owned a little bedroom rig, but the kind of equipment that corresponded to the type of band and venue.  If you played drums, often it also meant a vehicle to cart them around in.  Bass players need 200+ watts to cut through, and guitar players needed at least 25+ tube watts (usually 100) and often it was considered normal to play through a half stack weighing upwards of 150 lbs.

Many times, I have a worship leader show up in our chapel asking for simple things such as a strap, guitar stand and cable.  Most of the times, they bring a guitar that cost around a grand!!!. 

Worship leaders-be responsible to your craft.  Part of that means bringing a stable of supplies and secondary items with you.  Here is the list of what I bring everywhere when I am leading with acoustic guitar.

1.  Direct box.  I have several and depending on where I am playing I make my choice.  You can get a great DI for around $40,  I generally carry a Whirlwind Imp 2 Transformer Direct Box It's the industry standard DI.  Sometimes I bring something fancier, but this always gets the job done.

2.  Several guitar cables.  Why more than 1?  You never know when it isn't going to work.  Just be safe.

3. A good tuner. It doesn't have to be fancy, so for the sake of experiment the Behringer TU300 Chromatic Tuner would do fine.

4. A strap, nothing wild or crazy, but I always keep a simple woven strap in each guitar case along with one on the the guitar.

5.  A pick box, in which I usually keep several varieties.  Most of the people I play with appreciate it.

This little kit will run you under a hundred dollars, but will keep you in the graces of any soundman you run into. Everything on this list has been something REQUESTED on a rider or production sheet, not simply forgotten. Remember-as song leaders we are handling very holy things, and the entire craft of the job is important. Be responsible and prepared for what you are called to do.

Comments

[Drew Causey]

why should I bring pics when I know you have a box of them with you? haha...

let's get together soon; I'm heading down to the bayou, but will be back by wednesday next week. Need anything?

[Roy Gatsby]

You can never have too many DIs.