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Saturday, July 26, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
What's a Sound Deacon?
Are you the "sound system deacon" at your church? Were you elected to that post, or did you volunteer? As it turns out, some of us were called to be "sound deacons".
I got my start while I was still in college. I suddenly became re-interested in music, bought a bass guitar, joined a band, and then proceeded to find out that I was very interested in running the soundboard for the band. This gave me a position of some status, because virtually no one else was interested in standing in the back at the mixer while everyone else got to be in the band.
While in college, I joined a church that had a praise band that included electric bass and drums and an exciting "contemporary" worship style. I introduced myself to "Bob", who was standing behind the mixing board and volunteered my services. He was happy to have me relieve him every other week or so. That was in 1988. At the time the congregation was borrowing space to meet every week, which meant that everything had to be brought in to the room, and set up every week. This included a portable sound system that had it's own rolling case, speakers on stands, about 3 microphones, and so on. It all packed together and rolled away into a closet, along with about 300 chairs, at the end of every service.
Our church finally acquired it's own property from another church that was dissolving. When we moved in, we basically retro-fit the 1950's colonial style room with all of band equipment and the portable sound system became a permanent sound system. The music director, in his administrative capacity, made sure mixing duties were evenly divided between all the volunteers. That was me and "Bob".
"Bob" left the church a few years later. He left without saying goodbye to me. He just handed his key to the music director, who immediately handed it to me and said, "You're it". According to the music director, "Bob" had "had it" and was tired of the "hassle". I have always suspected that "Bob" was tired of a young know-it-all like me coming in and changing the EQ every Sunday.
It's 2008 now, and 20 years later I'm still standing in the back of the church. Many changes have taken place, both in our congregation, and in the world of technology. The largest change, however, has probably been in my heart.
I've gone through many phases in those 20 years, and struggled at times with my own attitude on Sunday morning. Generally speaking, the "sound guy" is often the first one at the church and one of the last to leave. For the large part, it's not a paid position. The job is under-appreciated and not very visible. After all, we do stand in the back! I have felt misunderstood, criticized, and taken for granted at times when I felt I was pouring all my energy into my efforts. At other times I have been passive and apathetic, showing up at 7:45 am Sunday morning and performing perfunctorily. Some weeks I wish that I church sound was my full-time job. I could not imagine anything better than to make a living in a church setting, especially if it was my church!
For must of us, though, money and fame are not why we started volunteering in the first place. While I hesitate to call what I do a "ministry", I understand one that one common usage of that word means that we do what we are ABLE to do, in the service of the Lord. Performing a technical service for a body of believers is serving the Lord, not some menial or perfunctory task.
Our church has grown from a small close-knit community church meeting in borrowed space to a large,urban church with a large staff, two Sunday morning services, multiple buildings, and a very strong community outreach program. Technology and media have begun to become commonplace in our church, and weekly events require use of all of our equipment and resources. The need for staff in place capable of handling the tech needs and providing equipment and engineering services has increased steadily. Volunteers, while being well-intentioned, may not have all the skills necessary to perform each task. Additional administrative duties become necessary to keep track of the event calendar and all the requests from various departments.
As I stand at the back of the church on Sunday morning, I am faced with the challenge of the growth and development of the Tech Department, and I sometimes believe I am alone in my efforts. Technology and equipment needs are oftened relagated to the bottom of the priority list, below of host of ministry and outreach projects. Many times, the sound of the morning worship service may go unnoticed- unless something goes wrong. If you are the person in charge of the sound system at your church, you have experienced this yourself more than once.
The struggle that I deal with every week is one every sound deacon faces- how to do an important job without developing an over-inflated sense of self-importance. This requires humility and grace. The change in my heart did not happen overnight, and in fact I resigned for a couple of years, and then returned. Worship services did not grind to a halt, despite my absence. The lesson that I learned was that instead of despite all of my best efforts to prove otherwise, God was still in control of the sound, the music, the worship and that He calls some people to preach, and others to turn the microphone on.
When I realized that I had been called to this service, I became the Sound Deacon.
I got my start while I was still in college. I suddenly became re-interested in music, bought a bass guitar, joined a band, and then proceeded to find out that I was very interested in running the soundboard for the band. This gave me a position of some status, because virtually no one else was interested in standing in the back at the mixer while everyone else got to be in the band.
While in college, I joined a church that had a praise band that included electric bass and drums and an exciting "contemporary" worship style. I introduced myself to "Bob", who was standing behind the mixing board and volunteered my services. He was happy to have me relieve him every other week or so. That was in 1988. At the time the congregation was borrowing space to meet every week, which meant that everything had to be brought in to the room, and set up every week. This included a portable sound system that had it's own rolling case, speakers on stands, about 3 microphones, and so on. It all packed together and rolled away into a closet, along with about 300 chairs, at the end of every service.
Our church finally acquired it's own property from another church that was dissolving. When we moved in, we basically retro-fit the 1950's colonial style room with all of band equipment and the portable sound system became a permanent sound system. The music director, in his administrative capacity, made sure mixing duties were evenly divided between all the volunteers. That was me and "Bob".
"Bob" left the church a few years later. He left without saying goodbye to me. He just handed his key to the music director, who immediately handed it to me and said, "You're it". According to the music director, "Bob" had "had it" and was tired of the "hassle". I have always suspected that "Bob" was tired of a young know-it-all like me coming in and changing the EQ every Sunday.
It's 2008 now, and 20 years later I'm still standing in the back of the church. Many changes have taken place, both in our congregation, and in the world of technology. The largest change, however, has probably been in my heart.
I've gone through many phases in those 20 years, and struggled at times with my own attitude on Sunday morning. Generally speaking, the "sound guy" is often the first one at the church and one of the last to leave. For the large part, it's not a paid position. The job is under-appreciated and not very visible. After all, we do stand in the back! I have felt misunderstood, criticized, and taken for granted at times when I felt I was pouring all my energy into my efforts. At other times I have been passive and apathetic, showing up at 7:45 am Sunday morning and performing perfunctorily. Some weeks I wish that I church sound was my full-time job. I could not imagine anything better than to make a living in a church setting, especially if it was my church!
For must of us, though, money and fame are not why we started volunteering in the first place. While I hesitate to call what I do a "ministry", I understand one that one common usage of that word means that we do what we are ABLE to do, in the service of the Lord. Performing a technical service for a body of believers is serving the Lord, not some menial or perfunctory task.
Our church has grown from a small close-knit community church meeting in borrowed space to a large,urban church with a large staff, two Sunday morning services, multiple buildings, and a very strong community outreach program. Technology and media have begun to become commonplace in our church, and weekly events require use of all of our equipment and resources. The need for staff in place capable of handling the tech needs and providing equipment and engineering services has increased steadily. Volunteers, while being well-intentioned, may not have all the skills necessary to perform each task. Additional administrative duties become necessary to keep track of the event calendar and all the requests from various departments.
As I stand at the back of the church on Sunday morning, I am faced with the challenge of the growth and development of the Tech Department, and I sometimes believe I am alone in my efforts. Technology and equipment needs are oftened relagated to the bottom of the priority list, below of host of ministry and outreach projects. Many times, the sound of the morning worship service may go unnoticed- unless something goes wrong. If you are the person in charge of the sound system at your church, you have experienced this yourself more than once.
The struggle that I deal with every week is one every sound deacon faces- how to do an important job without developing an over-inflated sense of self-importance. This requires humility and grace. The change in my heart did not happen overnight, and in fact I resigned for a couple of years, and then returned. Worship services did not grind to a halt, despite my absence. The lesson that I learned was that instead of despite all of my best efforts to prove otherwise, God was still in control of the sound, the music, the worship and that He calls some people to preach, and others to turn the microphone on.
When I realized that I had been called to this service, I became the Sound Deacon.
Another article not by me
It Takes Three: The Silly Decisions Churches Make With Sound Systems
I could write a book on the subject of sound for churches. Unfortunately, it would have to start with stories about bad sound, and two good friends of mine published this very thing a few years ago. The book is titled “If Bad Sound Were Fatal, Audio Would Be The Leading Cause Of Death,” by Don and Carolyn Davis, founders of one of the world’s leading audio education organizations, Syn-Aud-Con. The book is entertaining and offers a host of true stories, including many of which are historical in nature, taken directly from the lives of these two extraordinary people.
The sad truth is that while bad sound in churches is not literally killing people (thank goodness!), it does put them to sleep. In psychological education, there is the study of what has come to be known as psychoacoustics. It delves into the way the ear works in conjunction with the brain – not only how sounds that enter the ear canal get to the brain, but also, how the brain then processes these (now) electrical signals into meaningful “data” that a person can understand.
An even more detailed study of the science of psychoacoustics reveals how the brain works its way around hearing deficiencies, background noise and other audible annoyances. While the brain is very forgiving of bad sound, enough of it in high doses eventually forces the brain to ignore the input or even shut down.
How many times have you heard a pastor or other person speaking say, “I see someone snoozing?” Of course, for the person in the pulpit, this is a truly annoying thing, and it conjures up all sorts of subconscious thoughts: “Am I that boring? Is my message over their heads? What’s wrong with them? I’ve prepared well and am delivering well, but there they go, nodding off again.”
But the cause of sleeping in church (or other public gatherings) doesn’t have much if anything to do with the person speaking. Nor does it mean that many in the audience were out way too late the night before, or that they didn’t drink enough coffee that morning.
Nope - many times the sleeping can be directly attributed to the quality of the sound system being used to amplify the voices. A lousy system triggers an outward portrayal of the confusion that is being caused in the brain by material that is being poorly delivered to the ears of the listeners. When a high enough level of psychoacoustic confusion has been met, the mind simply moves elsewhere, likely to daydreaming or sleep.
JUST ONE YEAR IN
Not so long ago, I attended a Sunday worship service held in a classic church sanctuary, in order to evaluate the room’s sound system at the request of a church member. Within just one year of opening, there were far too many complaints about audio quality to ignore.
Turns out that the building’s architect had recommended a local “not-so-good” (and now out of business) sound contracting firm to work with the facility’s electrical contractor and the church committee to implement the sanctuary sound system. It is what we shall now term “Sound System Number 1.”
Some of you might know where this is going…
This system was compromised from the outset due to the location of a large, beautiful cross, lovingly built by a parishioner. The cross location was deemed unchangeable, and thus, the only saving grace would have been for a quality sound contracting firm to stand firm and argue for a different sound system design to work around the obstacle. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen, because the contractor was only interested in turning a quick and highly profitable job.
After sitting through a service, I must say it was truly one of the worst sounding systems I’ve ever heard. As Don and Carolyn might say, it should have killed me on the spot.
I left with virtually no memory of what the pastor had said.
In preparing my written evaluation, I waited until mid-week and finally composed a detailed analysis of the system, and sent this along with a two-page cover letter, the gist of which said, “the only correction to your system that will work is to tear it out, throw it away, and start over, using a competent sound contractor.” And I recommended three.
Did they follow my recommendation, which, by the way, they paid me to provide? The answer, sadly, was no.
Instead, they went back to the original contractor and told him of my concerns. He confidently replied that he could fix the system, and at a price of “just” $35,000. Of course they took him up on his “generous” offer – the classic good money after bad scenario.
COBBLED TOGETHER
Several years later, I ended up becoming a member of this particular church. By then, they had moved on to “Sound System Number 2” – a truly cobbled together thing, done with the help of a different contractor and the “input” of several church members. Just to complicate matters a bit further, an audio equipment manufacturer was also directly in the mix.
You guessed it - another bad system design. In most of the seats, one can either hear the loudspeakers before they hear the person speaking, or vice versa. Add in some regular doses of feedback, distortion and other quirks, and it’s a fine mess. One that cost more than $80,000, by the way.
You probably know the rest of the story.
Currently, the church is in the evaluation process for “Sound System Number 3.” While that process continues, the only thing I can tell you for sure is that my wife and I are always certain to arrive very early, in order to sit in the few seats where sound is delivered without the “bonus” of psychoacoustic fatigue. When we look around during services, we see at least a dozen folks sitting in the “worst seats,” and invariably, they’re dozing off.
Pastors, friends, sound system operators – can you now better understand why so many people are taking a nap during worship services? It rarely has anything to do with what’s being said, but everything to do with how it’s being heard.
Or not.
Charlie Moore has been involved in management positions at various professional audio manufacturers and large installation contractors for more than 35 years. He also has first-hand experience in live mixing, system design and installation and has been active as a volunteer in a number of church sound system operations.
I could write a book on the subject of sound for churches. Unfortunately, it would have to start with stories about bad sound, and two good friends of mine published this very thing a few years ago. The book is titled “If Bad Sound Were Fatal, Audio Would Be The Leading Cause Of Death,” by Don and Carolyn Davis, founders of one of the world’s leading audio education organizations, Syn-Aud-Con. The book is entertaining and offers a host of true stories, including many of which are historical in nature, taken directly from the lives of these two extraordinary people.
The sad truth is that while bad sound in churches is not literally killing people (thank goodness!), it does put them to sleep. In psychological education, there is the study of what has come to be known as psychoacoustics. It delves into the way the ear works in conjunction with the brain – not only how sounds that enter the ear canal get to the brain, but also, how the brain then processes these (now) electrical signals into meaningful “data” that a person can understand.
An even more detailed study of the science of psychoacoustics reveals how the brain works its way around hearing deficiencies, background noise and other audible annoyances. While the brain is very forgiving of bad sound, enough of it in high doses eventually forces the brain to ignore the input or even shut down.
How many times have you heard a pastor or other person speaking say, “I see someone snoozing?” Of course, for the person in the pulpit, this is a truly annoying thing, and it conjures up all sorts of subconscious thoughts: “Am I that boring? Is my message over their heads? What’s wrong with them? I’ve prepared well and am delivering well, but there they go, nodding off again.”
But the cause of sleeping in church (or other public gatherings) doesn’t have much if anything to do with the person speaking. Nor does it mean that many in the audience were out way too late the night before, or that they didn’t drink enough coffee that morning.
Nope - many times the sleeping can be directly attributed to the quality of the sound system being used to amplify the voices. A lousy system triggers an outward portrayal of the confusion that is being caused in the brain by material that is being poorly delivered to the ears of the listeners. When a high enough level of psychoacoustic confusion has been met, the mind simply moves elsewhere, likely to daydreaming or sleep.
JUST ONE YEAR IN
Not so long ago, I attended a Sunday worship service held in a classic church sanctuary, in order to evaluate the room’s sound system at the request of a church member. Within just one year of opening, there were far too many complaints about audio quality to ignore.
Turns out that the building’s architect had recommended a local “not-so-good” (and now out of business) sound contracting firm to work with the facility’s electrical contractor and the church committee to implement the sanctuary sound system. It is what we shall now term “Sound System Number 1.”
Some of you might know where this is going…
This system was compromised from the outset due to the location of a large, beautiful cross, lovingly built by a parishioner. The cross location was deemed unchangeable, and thus, the only saving grace would have been for a quality sound contracting firm to stand firm and argue for a different sound system design to work around the obstacle. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen, because the contractor was only interested in turning a quick and highly profitable job.
After sitting through a service, I must say it was truly one of the worst sounding systems I’ve ever heard. As Don and Carolyn might say, it should have killed me on the spot.
I left with virtually no memory of what the pastor had said.
In preparing my written evaluation, I waited until mid-week and finally composed a detailed analysis of the system, and sent this along with a two-page cover letter, the gist of which said, “the only correction to your system that will work is to tear it out, throw it away, and start over, using a competent sound contractor.” And I recommended three.
Did they follow my recommendation, which, by the way, they paid me to provide? The answer, sadly, was no.
Instead, they went back to the original contractor and told him of my concerns. He confidently replied that he could fix the system, and at a price of “just” $35,000. Of course they took him up on his “generous” offer – the classic good money after bad scenario.
COBBLED TOGETHER
Several years later, I ended up becoming a member of this particular church. By then, they had moved on to “Sound System Number 2” – a truly cobbled together thing, done with the help of a different contractor and the “input” of several church members. Just to complicate matters a bit further, an audio equipment manufacturer was also directly in the mix.
You guessed it - another bad system design. In most of the seats, one can either hear the loudspeakers before they hear the person speaking, or vice versa. Add in some regular doses of feedback, distortion and other quirks, and it’s a fine mess. One that cost more than $80,000, by the way.
You probably know the rest of the story.
Currently, the church is in the evaluation process for “Sound System Number 3.” While that process continues, the only thing I can tell you for sure is that my wife and I are always certain to arrive very early, in order to sit in the few seats where sound is delivered without the “bonus” of psychoacoustic fatigue. When we look around during services, we see at least a dozen folks sitting in the “worst seats,” and invariably, they’re dozing off.
Pastors, friends, sound system operators – can you now better understand why so many people are taking a nap during worship services? It rarely has anything to do with what’s being said, but everything to do with how it’s being heard.
Or not.
Charlie Moore has been involved in management positions at various professional audio manufacturers and large installation contractors for more than 35 years. He also has first-hand experience in live mixing, system design and installation and has been active as a volunteer in a number of church sound system operations.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Here's a good first article.... not by me....
Five Audio Myths
Common misconceptions about working with audio contractors.
By Jerry Horn
Church leaders often make poor decisions about sound systems and about working with professional audio contractors because their underlying assumptions are false. Throughout this article, we will dispel the five most common myths.
Myth #1:
A church sound system is like a home stereo system, only bigger.
Size is not the only difference between home stereo components and a speaker system for an auditorium. To believe that a worship center is no different than a large living room is an invitation for disappointment. Even the smallest church auditoriums are large enough to be considered commercial venues.
Home-use audio equipment will not hold up to the rigors of commercial use. Professional equipment may seem to cost more at the outset, but it saves money in the long run because it lasts longer. Buying equipment from a local electronics superstore and expecting it to have long-term durability in a live sound environment is a surefire recipe for disaster.
Myth #2:
We'll save money by not involving an audio contractor.
As church leaders considering a sound system project, you are probably not sure if the money spent on hiring an audio contractor will be money well spent. After all, it might be possible for your staff or volunteers to do all the work and make all the right decisions. If you're right about this, you save some money. But if you're wrong, the consequences can be very costly.
"Most systems today involve many coordinated systems that must interface with each other to work properly," says John Fuqua, co-director of system contracting for All Pro Sound. "My concern here is that we see so many churches that are sold bits and pieces or some equipment that may not be the right gear for the application. We have been called in many times after this has happened and the client ends up spending more or doing more work than if we had been involved from the start."
Fuqua doesn't rule out the possibility of a church tackling an audio project on its own. "It depends on the size of the project, the technical expertise of the church staff, and the complexity of the work," he says. But with the involvement of a competent consultant or contractor at the start of a project, churches will avoid costly mistakes.
Myth #3:
With new construction, it's best to wait until the architect's plans are completed before involving an audio system contractor.
The best time to select an audio contractor is before any plans have been put to paper. Unfortunately, many churches avoid talking about technical needs until the very last minute, often relegating the sound system to last place in the budget discussions. Regrettably, that is one of the biggest and most costly mistakes that any church can make.
Acoustics, room dimensions, ceiling elevation, building materials, special architectural features, and other variables determine the type and scope of equipment that will be needed to accomplish your goals. Involving an audio contractor early will save you money. Churches frequently incur additional costs because the original plans did not adequately address the issue of room acoustics.
For example, I once belonged to a church where the exterior roof elevation had to be completely changed after an acoustic engineer suggested that the architect's original design would be an acoustical nightmare. Had the acoustic engineer been involved at the outset, the original roof design would not have been proposed, and, thus, the expense of a second set of plans would have been saved.
Myth #4:
It's impossible to evaluate a contractor's work until the job is complete.
This is simply not true. As leaders, you need to fully evaluate your contractor before hiring them. "Selecting an audio contractor should be based on the experience and reputation of the contractor, the number of similar size and scope projects they have done, their status in the industry, and how they respond," says Fuqua. "All a contractor can offer is service. If they are a full line dealer, then equipment cost should be competitive. Check some references and be sure the contractor has the ability to provide complete results for your project."
Myth #5:
The best way to save money on a sound system is to contract with the lowest bidder.
Think about it. The main reason that sound systems exist in worship centers is to enhance communication by making the spoken word more intelligible. And yet, many building committees shortchange the selection process by cutting the audio budget. The problem is that the committee does not recognize the importance of the audio system.
If you need open-heart surgery, you won't select a cardiologist based on price. Instead, you would ask your trusted family physician to recommend a highly skilled, experienced surgeon, regardless of price. When the results are more important than the money potentially saved, price is not a determining factor.
Shouldn't the church have the same attitude when it comes to equipping the house of God? The first priority in selecting an audio contractor should be professional experience. Yes, cost is important—but it should never take precedence over quality. The idea that price shopping for a sound system will save money is valid only if you are willing to settle for second best.
Depending on the size and complexity of your venue, prices for installed systems generally start at around $15,000-$20,000 for a basic system. Fuqua states that there is no "cookie-cutter" approach to designing a sound system for church use. While some factors may be similar, every church and every building is unique.
In estimating costs, an ongoing dialogue with the contractor is essential. First, ask your contractor for a ballpark figure. Then, talk to the key decision makers in your church and go back to your contractor and tell him how much money you can spend. Then let him make recommendations based on your needs and available monies. If you find yourself in a situation where your budget will not cover all your needs and desires, an honest contractor will make alternate suggestions.
Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc./Your Church magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Your Church.
January/February 2005, Vol. 51, No. 1, Page 24
Common misconceptions about working with audio contractors.
By Jerry Horn
Church leaders often make poor decisions about sound systems and about working with professional audio contractors because their underlying assumptions are false. Throughout this article, we will dispel the five most common myths.
Myth #1:
A church sound system is like a home stereo system, only bigger.
Size is not the only difference between home stereo components and a speaker system for an auditorium. To believe that a worship center is no different than a large living room is an invitation for disappointment. Even the smallest church auditoriums are large enough to be considered commercial venues.
Home-use audio equipment will not hold up to the rigors of commercial use. Professional equipment may seem to cost more at the outset, but it saves money in the long run because it lasts longer. Buying equipment from a local electronics superstore and expecting it to have long-term durability in a live sound environment is a surefire recipe for disaster.
Myth #2:
We'll save money by not involving an audio contractor.
As church leaders considering a sound system project, you are probably not sure if the money spent on hiring an audio contractor will be money well spent. After all, it might be possible for your staff or volunteers to do all the work and make all the right decisions. If you're right about this, you save some money. But if you're wrong, the consequences can be very costly.
"Most systems today involve many coordinated systems that must interface with each other to work properly," says John Fuqua, co-director of system contracting for All Pro Sound. "My concern here is that we see so many churches that are sold bits and pieces or some equipment that may not be the right gear for the application. We have been called in many times after this has happened and the client ends up spending more or doing more work than if we had been involved from the start."
Fuqua doesn't rule out the possibility of a church tackling an audio project on its own. "It depends on the size of the project, the technical expertise of the church staff, and the complexity of the work," he says. But with the involvement of a competent consultant or contractor at the start of a project, churches will avoid costly mistakes.
Myth #3:
With new construction, it's best to wait until the architect's plans are completed before involving an audio system contractor.
The best time to select an audio contractor is before any plans have been put to paper. Unfortunately, many churches avoid talking about technical needs until the very last minute, often relegating the sound system to last place in the budget discussions. Regrettably, that is one of the biggest and most costly mistakes that any church can make.
Acoustics, room dimensions, ceiling elevation, building materials, special architectural features, and other variables determine the type and scope of equipment that will be needed to accomplish your goals. Involving an audio contractor early will save you money. Churches frequently incur additional costs because the original plans did not adequately address the issue of room acoustics.
For example, I once belonged to a church where the exterior roof elevation had to be completely changed after an acoustic engineer suggested that the architect's original design would be an acoustical nightmare. Had the acoustic engineer been involved at the outset, the original roof design would not have been proposed, and, thus, the expense of a second set of plans would have been saved.
Myth #4:
It's impossible to evaluate a contractor's work until the job is complete.
This is simply not true. As leaders, you need to fully evaluate your contractor before hiring them. "Selecting an audio contractor should be based on the experience and reputation of the contractor, the number of similar size and scope projects they have done, their status in the industry, and how they respond," says Fuqua. "All a contractor can offer is service. If they are a full line dealer, then equipment cost should be competitive. Check some references and be sure the contractor has the ability to provide complete results for your project."
Myth #5:
The best way to save money on a sound system is to contract with the lowest bidder.
Think about it. The main reason that sound systems exist in worship centers is to enhance communication by making the spoken word more intelligible. And yet, many building committees shortchange the selection process by cutting the audio budget. The problem is that the committee does not recognize the importance of the audio system.
If you need open-heart surgery, you won't select a cardiologist based on price. Instead, you would ask your trusted family physician to recommend a highly skilled, experienced surgeon, regardless of price. When the results are more important than the money potentially saved, price is not a determining factor.
Shouldn't the church have the same attitude when it comes to equipping the house of God? The first priority in selecting an audio contractor should be professional experience. Yes, cost is important—but it should never take precedence over quality. The idea that price shopping for a sound system will save money is valid only if you are willing to settle for second best.
Depending on the size and complexity of your venue, prices for installed systems generally start at around $15,000-$20,000 for a basic system. Fuqua states that there is no "cookie-cutter" approach to designing a sound system for church use. While some factors may be similar, every church and every building is unique.
In estimating costs, an ongoing dialogue with the contractor is essential. First, ask your contractor for a ballpark figure. Then, talk to the key decision makers in your church and go back to your contractor and tell him how much money you can spend. Then let him make recommendations based on your needs and available monies. If you find yourself in a situation where your budget will not cover all your needs and desires, an honest contractor will make alternate suggestions.
Copyright © 2005 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc./Your Church magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Your Church.
January/February 2005, Vol. 51, No. 1, Page 24
The Sound Deacon
This is a new idea of mine... The Sound Deacon. A blog and podcast about technology in worship, my experience as sound engineer in the church, and my own personal theories, opinions and resources.
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