Photo provided by alifarid
In a recent email survey, several of you commented on the lack of professionalism you see in your volunteers. I give you something to post in your sound booth…the rules of audio professionalism.
1. Always be early. If you are on time for practice, you are late because people are now waiting for you to set up before they can practice.
2. Inform the tech director/head sound tech if you are running late or can’t make a service. An added bonus…please call another sound tech to sub for you instead of dropping it in the lap of the tech director.
3. Follow the dress protocol. If all sound tech’s are supposed to wear black shirts, then wear a black shirt. Otherwise, wear what is standard attire for the congregation. In the case of the “uber-relaxed-we-wear-sweat-pants” service, at least wear a shirt with a collar. You are representing the church and to some extent, church leadership.
4. Focus on the service, not your cell phone, iphone, android, diet Coke, etc.
5. No friends / girlfriends / boyfriends in the sound booth. The likelihood of distraction skyrockets and the results are not pretty.
6. Treat congregation member requests and comments with respect. For example, if you are asked to turn the heat down, don’t say “I can’t do that.” Instead, point them to someone who can help them or is better suited to deal with their request.
7. Treat musicians with respect. Any issues should be dealt with so they are either amiably resolved or a compromise is reached and the topic is picked up after the service.
8. Serve the musicians. You can’t mix a great service if they don’t have what they need. This goes for monitor requests, equipment setup assistance and anything else they might need.
9. Study your craft. Live audio production is a mixture of art and science. You should constantly be working to improve. The sound booth is not the place for a complacent attitude.
10. Respect the instruction and leadership of those over you. This includes the pastor, the worship pastor, the technical director, etc.
Ultimate Rule to Follow: 11. The purpose of audio production, as far as the congregation is concerned, is to create the best worship environment possible. You are producing music for the glorification of God. Measure your actions and motives against this.
Question: What would you add to this list?
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I'm Chris Huff and I've been working behind a mixer for over twenty years. Since 2008, I've been helping other sound techs learn all about the art of church audio through behindthemixer.com.
For more about me, 
Rules of Professionalism for the Church Sound Tech – http://t.co/nMnwOw5O via @behindthemixer
I believe firstly the sound tech and the system should never be noticed or draw attention away from the worship or word – that’s a successful service, he’s reward is from Heaven not people.
Secondly I believe he need to be actively flowing with the worship. The Holy Spirit can anoint a specific instrument during a song and if the sound tech miss that he could stop or hinder the flow of the Holy Spirit.
The sound tech is just as involved in the worship as any of the band members.
rule 5 should include your kids. and tambourines at Bethel Fellowship the sound director has his kids in the booth. it is easy to tell when they are acting up. he is a real good tech but the kids through off his edge. one of the power point operators likes to pound a tambourine. you have the loud, odd beat from the back of the room and she misses ques for the overhead. some times she has the sound tech run the overhead so she can go up front with the people dancing and waving banners.
Ultimate Supreme Rule No.1
Love is the only “emotion” allowed to be displayed by tech staff – period. Any action, emotion, notion or communication must be done in love. This is the foundation of why we do what we do and distinguishes us from worldly venues.
great article. I will post this in the office along with other articles from here…
One sound tech I used to work with said this "If the congregation doesn't realize I'm back there tweaking knobs and making adjustments I've done my job"
This is exactly what I tell my techs! My definition of success is for my crew and equipment to be unnoticed, while everyone from the front row to the back doors feels like they are a part of what is going on up front.
The number one rule is that the sound crew is there to SUPPORT the musicians – not rule them, not manipulate them, not display your tech knowledge. SUPPORT the musicians.
A servant’s heart is 99% of the job description.
Hank, there are a lot of intrepretations of what it means to support the musicians. Sound tech's have different opinions as do the musicians. Therefore, today I've posted up an article calling for everyone's opinion. I have an idea why there are so many differing opinions but I want to see what people say before I say anything. Should be a good discussion.
I agree with these rules cause alot of times we are the vocal point of the service, if the sound is not good then we are the person that that made it. If the srceen is not in line with the praise singers then they look at us. So we have to be on our toes and pay attention the service
Chris, to some degree I agree with you. But at this time I’ve encountered a problem with the musicians. I’m running the service with just monitors(floor wedeges) because the musicians say “they can’t hear themselves. I’ve taken controller of setting all volumes (which they really hate…(as you can see from my words they’re not playing with the heart of God in them)and really spiking the LED in the red) until they can understand from the seats of the people what they hear. I’ve read articles and heard discuissions at my university churches are now having this same problem. It’s like the musicians are taking controller and put GOD last.
Viko, I suggest you go in the next time and start with setting the house levels. Once that’s initially set, then start adding in the monitors. Also, be cause what you are adding into the monitors. Each band member doesn’t need to heard the whole band. The singers need something to pitch to. The guitarist, likely needs the drummer to keep in time with them.
Chris, I agree 500% what you are saying. Let me go back a little bit. I’m not a sound engineer or sound tech. But help with some friends (whom are sound engineers for popular secular groups or for concert setups) they helped me over the phone to work out and fix some problems. And, I ever thank God, so much becuase the sound system and sound in the church has changed so much. I’ve done exactly what you stated “arrving two hours before service to equilize and adjust all volume to every microphone to every instrument. It’s just the musicians have over done it with the volume for the monitors. I’ve stood behind the curtains and oh my gosh. The back up singers and sax player always complained the volume was exceedly high on stage. I’m all about team work, giving into to work with to stay in sync. But I’ve been entrusted by the Pastor, to make all necessay changs and deliver sound to the church people without harming their hearing. But. I think the musicians have taken advantage volume verse a servants heart. It’s like the musicians are deaf when they play…it’s like they can’t hear in play at the same time.
It might be an issue where the Pastor needs to talk with the musicians and say “the music is for the benefit of the congregation and their needs come first.” You might also recommend the musician go with an in-ear monitor system. IEM’s can vary widely in price range and might be the answer to your problem. If all else fails, I can get you a deal on a wooden baseball bat. :)
Actually Chris, I have a bat ready behind the door. Shhh, Don’t tell anyone. But I like the words you used “the music is for the benefit of the congregation and their needs come first.”, actually those are the words I’ve been praying for. Thanks a bunch. Great site