Nothing.  I wasn’t there.  I was on vacation with my family.  It was awesome.  I suppose I  should have said “what I learned from all the other people who are at the Echo Conference”, and not just tried to get you to open up this blog post by mentioning #echo11.  It has been great to read all the Twitter traffic and the great quotes from amazing speakers.  It has brought to mind a few reasons why I like to go to almost any conference.

See what else is out there.

I love to go other places and see other things.  It is essential.  It reminds me that I have it better than I thought; or what I love about where I am; or to see someone doing something exactly the way I do and therefore I’m not as stupid as I once thought.  It is so easy to live in my own little bubble.  Going somewhere else helps me re-calibrate reality.

Be Inspired.

There is something about not being involved in an event that helps me enjoy it and even let it affect me.  I love seeing what others are doing.  I love to hear from people that understand me.  I love to be reminded why I choose to do what I do.  We all need to be inspired as technical artists and that generally doesn’t happen at events that I am the production crew for.

Network.

I need to remember that I am not alone.  There are others who struggle with similar issues.  There are people out that that understand the challenges of doing production in the local church.  #CTLN (Church Technical Leader’s Network) held a few meet ups and dinners during #echo11 as opportunities for tech people from all different kinds of churches to network and to help each other.  As a leader of tech people, I usually find myself in meetings with church leaders and other non-tech people.  There is nothing like hanging out with a bunch of people that speak my language and where I don’t have to think about how to explain something in “layman’s terms”.

If you are bummed that you didn’t make it to #echo11 like me, make yourself sign up for the next conference that you are on the fence about.  There are more options for church tech people than ever before.  There are people that have been down the road before us that have learned the difficult lessons and they want to share it with us.  Make the most of the opportunities out there.

photo credit: photographerglen

Some days I wonder if the size and scale of Willow Creek is a good thing.  From the outside, it seems like Disneyland.  From the inside, it can be daunting.  10 venues, all with events happening at the same time, ranging in complexity from slightly complicated to ridiculously complicated.  Today I had a moment that represented the opposite.

One of the huge advantages of having 10 venues with simultaneous programs happening, is that you are forced to develop new people.  You have a huge need that needs to be filled by people that are first, willing and eager, then hopefully over time, these individuals will develop into superstars.

I was going from one meeting to another (which doesn’t necessarily differentiate it from any other day), and I saw 2 guys that represent a picture of the benefits of tons of opportunities for people to serve and then thrive while serving in production.  Chris is a guy in his twenties, who started serving in Promiseland Production in the 5th grade and has become a part time staff member on our team.  He will soon be heading off to the Austin Police Academy.  Ben is 17 and has been serving in Promiseland Production since…5th grade and is in his first week as a part time staff member serving in production.  Chris is training Ben.

Chris and Ben have been exposed to amazing production through the local church since they were little.  When I think about the first time I saw a PM1D (at Willow Creek when I was 30) and the first time Ben saw a GrandMA lighting console (at the age of 12) I am blown away.  Ben and Chris and countless other volunteers have the chance to get their hands on  equipment that I couldn’t even dream of when I was that young.

How are you leveraging the talented youth in your church?  There are kids in your church that God created to do production and we have an opportunity to harness that talent for the local church to change the world.  What can you and I do to increase the opportunity for people to learn and grow in the technical arts?

Whether it is for the local church or for taking their Christian world view into the entertainment industry, let’s take the equipment, the venues and the opportunities we have been entrusted with and leverage them for the benefit of young people gifted in production so that we can change the world one production at a time.

photo credit: swimfinfan

Friday nights are homemade pizza night at the Elliott’s.  We make the dough in that popular kitchen appliance from the 90’s, the bread maker, and when I get home from work I begins the hours long process.  It is a great way for me to unwind.

Anyway, last night, I had the show “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” playing in the background, and some restaurant had not changed their recipe in something like 50 years.  They have been doing the same thing, the same way since the day they started.  Not because they are lazy or without vision, but because the way they have been doing things works and is amazing.

After experiencing DC*B and U2 this past week, I noticed something of the same.  From a production stand point, and for that matter the band’s, you are essentially doing the same thing at every church and stadium.  You are trying to make something that has become old and tired to you, fresh and new for the people who are coming and seeing it for the first time.

A few years ago, I had an amazing opportunity to take a backstage tour of the Cirque show “Love” by the head of audio, Jason Pritchard and he said something like:

Most people are coming to “LOVE” for the first time, so I lead my team to give everyone who walks through our doors, the best possible experience.  We execute each performance like it is our first and best.

I was inspired by his  passion for making the same thing, night after night, the same:  breathtaking.

In my world, there are plenty of things that have become mundane to me, that our congregation relies on to be the same.  There are things that are old and tired to me, that require me to figure out ways to breathe fresh life into.

So instead of wishing I had the time to craft each element to allow for maximum effectiveness like U2, DC*B, Cirque du Soleil and to some degree Guy Fieri, I am choosing to be inspired by the ability to embrace the tedious and make it fresh and new.

photo credit: Chad Horwedel

I’m a sucker for the 4th of July.  Not necessarily the fireworks and the parades (although I can’t wait to see the guy taking a shower on the plumber’s float, or the float that makes the chicken sandwiches at the South Elgin Parade), but the part about freedom.

The United States, while not perfect, is an amazing country, that has given us tons of freedoms and opportunities because a few people decided to take a stand 225 years ago and create a place where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were self evident truths.

As a technical artist in the local church,  it is easy to get wrapped up in the things I don’t have, or the gear we can’t afford; the less than perfect mix, or a process that irritates me; the volunteer who forgot to show up or wishing for a better relationship with my worship pastor.  Throw all that on top of just trying to make each week happen and it is easy to lose sight of the great privilege it is to have these challenges.

These issues are a luxury compared to what churches around the world are faced with.  To have a sound system that functions is rare.  Even the thought of having a video projector, of any brightness is a crazy dream.  Heck, just having a constant supply of power is a rarity for the majority of the world.  Not to mention being persecuted for my beliefs.

So for those of us who call the United States home, or any place that allows for freedom of religion, let’s all be grateful for the opportunity to worship freely, to have an opportunity to use our gifts in technology for the benefit of the local church and that we have the privilege to have the struggles and challenges that we do.

Let’s stop wishing for something better and take full advantage of the opportunity.

photo credit: mallox

In an article about Apple’s iCloud (here), CNN Tech talked about what Steve Jobs learned from his experiences starting Pixar Studios.   When Apple launched the iTunes store in 2003, Steve Jobs was interviewed at the All Things Digital Conference in 2003:

In that interview eight years ago, Jobs described the vast divide between technology and entertainment executives, and he talked about how he bridged it.

“One of the things I learned at Pixar is the technology industries and the content industries do not understand each other,” he said. “In Silicon Valley and at most technology companies, I swear that most people still think the creative process is a bunch of guys in their early 30s, sitting on a couch, drinking beer and thinking of jokes. No, they really do. That’s how television is made, they think; that’s how movies are made.”

Likewise, record executives can’t relate to technical people, Jobs said.

“People in Hollywood and in the content industries, they think technology is something you just write a check for and buy,” Jobs said. “They don’t understand the creative element of technology.

“These are like ships passing in the night,” the Apple co-founder added.

The technology-content tension doesn’t only exist at your church, on your team, it is a universal tension.  God created each group vastly different for great reasons.

I think many of us would agree, that Apple has figured out ways to seamlessly combine content and technology, making it appear effortless.  And the impact of getting that right has changed the way the world functions.

We are just talking about computers, here.

How much more could the world be changed, if we could harness the technology-content tension for the benefit of telling the most life-changing message there is?

photo credit: Danndalf

I am reading in 1 John 2 this morning and these verses jumped off the virtual page at me:

³ We know that we have come to know him [Christ] if we keep his commands. ⁴Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

I talk  quite a bit about being misunderstood in our environments and how nobody really knows what makes us tick.  As a result, it is an easy leap to the idea that it is OK for us to act the way we do or to treat people how we treat them.  I’m frustrated with not being treated the way I think I should or getting exactly what I need, and that makes it OK for me to act the way I do.

The reality is that everyone, tech people included, are called to live the way Jesus did, in spite of the whatever our present reality is.  If you consider yourself a Christ Follower, it kind of means you need to follow Christ.

Does your life look like Christ’s? If someone were to follow you around today, and hear your conversations, or better yet, your thoughts and feelings about those you work with, would it be obvious that Christ is the model for the choices you make?  Frankly, this makes me a little nervous.

Regardless of what is happening around me today, I can make the choice to live as Christ would.  If things were always to my own liking, or always went the way I felt like they should, what does that require from me?  Nothing, and I am pretty sure we can all see how stupid that idea even is. Life has a way of being imperfect, and how we respond to it is what defines us.

Being a TD or any other role in local church production isn’t easy, but the Bible says for us to the best TD possible, we need to live as Christ lived.

As a Christ follower today, how can you follow Christ?

As a TD, how would Christ do your job today?

Regardless of your current situation, how can you live as Christ lived?

photo credit: whlteXbread

I talk a lot about bridging the divide that can sometimes exist between tech people and the people on stage.  Not only is there a large physical distance that separates us from each other (the distance between the booth and the stage), but there is also a world view that can be very different.

So, what do you do in a situation where you are working 50 hours/week, training volunteers as fast as you can, and still aren’t understood or appreciated for the work you are doing?  What do you do when only the shortcomings of your ministry are noticed and the gains are overlooked?

You are not alone – there are many tech people all over the world that struggle with situations like this every day.  The evil one wants to thwart us every chance he gets, and the relationship between you and your worship leader or senior pastor is a prime target for him to mess with.  What can you do?  How about finding another TD at a church in your area and reach out to him/her.  Pray for each other, encourage each other.  Join ctdrt.com and connect with other TDs.  We all struggle to one degree or another.  Know you aren’t alone, and reach out to those around you.

God created you uniquely – even though you may not be understood or getting along with your counterparts in ministry, God created you specifically for a purpose and it is important to push through difficult situations and taste a more beautiful version of the way God created the Body of Christ.

Perseverance Builds Character – Blah, blah, blah.  That sounds like something my parents would say to me.  But in James 1 it says:

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Stick with it.  God is using your current situation to form you into the person you were meant to be.   It certainly isn’t easy, but it is necessary to not only form you, but to fulfill the purposes of the body of Christ where you are.

What is your unique contribution to the church that you have been called to?

In what ways is God calling you to push through in order to get to the other side?

How can I reach out to another church production person and encourage them to continue on?

twilight on the deck

I am sitting on the back deck, enjoying some nice weather in Chicago (finally!), with my youngest son bouncing on the trampoline (check out this short video:  Trampoline!) and realizing that I have a pretty great life.  I am also remembering a time when I would be holed up in an editing studio making just one more tweak to make a video perfect and missing out on a beautiful night with my family.  While I love creating the perfect video, I have to say, I love this version of my life far better.

As detail oriented people, most tech people I know have a difficult time letting go and heading home.  It is so easy to get wrapped up in the things we love to do, that we forget that we desperately need to have a life outside of our jobs.  It is also easy to forget about the families we leave at home during all those long hours.

In his book “Winning”, Jack Welch talks about the work-life balance and how important it is for each of us to know what that looks like.  In my younger days, I wanted my boss to tell me when to go home or when something was good enough.  I also wanted to blame my workaholic tendencies on someone else.  My first boss and Jack Welch agree:  be an adult and figure it out for yourself.

Chances are your boss has no idea what needs to get done in your world and no idea what is required of you at home.  It is important for each of us to figure out what it means to give all that is truly being asked of us at work and, what our families need from us.

As long as I can remember, my wife has been joking with me to “Come home early”.  I usually give a nervous laugh anytime she says it, because the reality is pretty unrealistic.  Even my kids say it now!  However, this little joke has helped me think about whether I need to stay an extra hour or if I can actually come home at a reasonable time.  How to come home early is always on my mind, whether it is possible or not, which helps my family know that they are important to me.

Having a life outside of work makes me a complete person.  Giving my entire self to my place of work with nothing left over is not being a good steward of the life I have been entrusted with.

Have you taken responsibility for your work/life balance?  Does your family feel as important as your work?  When was the last time you “came home early”?

OK.  Now you’re using the gear you have, doing some great production work with that Panasonic MX-50 switcher you’ve had forever, and the new gear is just piling up right?  Well, maybe it’s not that simple.

Once you ask for more gear, and you get approval for purchasing that new equipment, you better deliver on that purchase.

undersell and over deliver – When you are asking for new equipment, it is important to tell non-technical people what the new gear will realistically do for your church, because chances are they won’t even notice a difference.  The first time I upgraded audio consoles, my beloved Yamaha 2404 for a Mackie 3204 :( , the Business Operations Board, or BOB, asked if it would sound better.  I basically had to tell them that it wouldn’t sound appreciably better, but would allow us to add more instruments and help the volunteers be able to  have a better work flow.

Because I had the track record we talked about last time (here) they trusted my explanation.  The other important thing is that what I said would happen, did.  The addition of 8 audio channels really helped us do more with more efficiency and the mix didn’t change drastically, it only made it possible for us to finally mic that cowbell.

Baby Steps – For me, this means I only would upgrade to something I could deliver on.  If you take a huge leap to a brand new technology, chances are it won’t be successful.  This is one of the big reasons I didn’t pursue moving lights when I was at Kensington (groan).  I knew that we would spend a boatload of money on them, but I personally didn’t have the capacity to learn to use them to their fullest.  Even though people were begging me for them, I knew it would be a waste of money and I would lose trust.

Proving yourself trustworthy matters a ton.  When you are asking to spend the church’s money on new gear, does your leadership look at your track record and know that you can be trusted?

photo credit: 2create

I can remember thinking that if I only had a certain piece of gear, that everything would be great….OK. Who am I kidding? I still think that way. Getting new gear is always so fun. Opening the box. That new gear smell.

I also thought that other churches had way more luck getting that new gear. While I was slugging away with the junk I had to use week after week, everyone else had that new gear smell permeating their whole facility.

Most of us don’t have everything we need to do the job that is being asked of us and we need more equipment. So the big question is, how do I get more gear?

Brace yourself.  Here’s the big reveal on the secret to getting the new gear you want/need:   Use the gear you have.

Jesus talked about this in Matthew with the parable of the talents.  Be responsible with what has been entrusted to you and you will be given responsibility for more.  Now, I’m not saying that you should just do a good job with what you have so that you can get more.  I’m saying focus on doing a great job with what you have.  If you are faithful and responsible with the little entrusted to you, the new shiny gear takes care of itself.

Knock it out of the park: Take what you have now and use it to the fullest.  Take production support and production [enhancement] to new levels with what you already own.  If what I mentioned in an earlier post “Production Support” isn’t happening, why should we be entrusted with more?

As a leader, I can’t wait to entrust people with more; more responsibility, more equipment, more you name it.  The only way that I am going to do that is if past history shows that someone is worthy of being given more responsibility.  A great track record is a leader’s love language.

Are you seen as someone who is responsible with what they have been given, someone who doesn’t always complain about having enough, someone that knocks it out of the park with what they already have?  Are you using what you have to the fullest?