"I am the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz" said the man behind the curtain. Looking back on that scene from the movie, I realized there was something unstated that was very profound. The people in Oz visited the Wizard and BELIEVED he was this magical wizard. They never questioned what happened behind the curtain even though it was in plain sight. They wanted to believe the wizard was really a wizard. I'm trying not to break out in song here. Oh what the heck.."it's off to see the Wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz."
A person sitting in the congregation wants to believe the pastor has an amazing speaking voice. They want to believe the instruments and voices sound like the radio – or at least "really really good." They want to believe all of that comes naturally from the source. Therefore, they can't recognize the man behind the mixer. It's our job to pull the levels and turn the buttons that make the Wizard appear on the stage.
When a problem occurs with the sound or the lights, that person must call into question what they are seeing and hearing. I hesitate to call this breaking the mood, so I won't. A mood is broken when my wife and I have the house to ourselves, a romantic movie in the DVD player, and her mother calls. If an actor in a movie suddenly paused and asked "what's my line" then I have lost the reason of believing in the movie. Yes, I agree that feedback during a worship song breaks a mood but it can also cause the musicians to stop playing or mess up. Suddenly this perfect praise band appears confused. Then, all eyes move to the sound booth. And there I stand; mumbling under my breath, trying to fix the problem so the image of the Wizard appears on the stage again…hoping that everyone forgets what has happened.
But no one forgets.
Therein lays the reason the sound techie's are rarely congratulated for a good job by the congregation members. It's because people don't want to believe we exist. They don't want to believe that reverb makes the world go round.
I find comfort in knowing that God has gifted me in the technical artistry arena. God gives us gifts and when we use those in line with his will, we give him pleasure. The Wizard of Oz turned out to be a timid old man who drew comfort in knowing people believed he was the Wizard. I draw comfort in being the man behind the curtain because that is how God wants to use me.
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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.
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Nice to know that i am not Alone.
Not at all!
Thank God He never forgets
Not a new concept but one I need to be reminded of regularly. The sound guy only gets attention when something “breaks.” I’m OK with that, I just need to remember it.
Good insight, although I don’t think our band members would like being equated to the wizard, seeing how “he” was fake. HaHa.
Our successes are secrets while everyone knows our failures. I’m cool with that.
my volunteers can convey that same message and continue to serve with a willing heart and not make it an obligation, I would be REALLY good.
Right there with you John!
Absolutely true, it’s a testament to the techie’s skills if he isn’t noticed. To be ignored is the greatest compliment of all.
Doing sound is a thankless task. Everyone notices when something goes wrong with the sound and they all turn and glare at the sound guy, or come up and complain afterwards. If its all good then nobody says anything to you.
My attitude has always been: If nobody says anything to me about the sound (good or bad) then I congratulate myself that I’ve done a good job, because the audience/congregation have been totally engrossed in the performance or service and weren’t even aware that there was a sound system involved. That has helped my motivation and encouragement.