Ever notice your spouse sitting in the congregation without you by their side, while you’re running sound? You probably didn’t see them before church because you were out the door by the time they woke up. You might not see them again until later in the day.
The life of a church sound tech means you are sacrificing time from your family to serve in the audio ministry.
In this episode, I interview my wife and we talk openly and frankly about how my audio production work over the last 20 years has impacted our family…and what every church tech AND THEIR SPOUSE should know to help them as a married couple and as parents.
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Interesting. My wife is also a vocalist in our church and Gina pointed out almost identical issues. My last church, where I started as Head A/V, my wife was alone during service due to my required presence in the booth every week. She then gathered the Praise Team and helped with the division of Traditional and Youth services. She had her role and I had mine. But alas… she was alone during the service. So I promised her, at our new church, she would get a year of worship with me. Then, I’m on a six man team, working every other month. Now, having swapped an old analog with a digital board, I’m busy teaching the team. After many conversations between my wife and I , we have found a balance we’re both happy with. Communication and compromise.
Thanks for the comments. Sometimes it’s easy to feel like you’ve got the skills that are desperately needed in a situation. It’s finding a way to step up in the right way that’s often the hard part.
i think you guys did a great job at bringing a important view of how it is for soundperson and there spouce. we go to a country church in central alberta. there is 150 to 200 attend. we now have only 2 on sound. my shift work conflicts alot. i have been on sound for 10 years or more. but we have had a new board to play on for 3 years. im still learning more each time i use it. i have a wife who helps and sing with the senior youth worship team. and she always wants me on sound . we have 6 mics 3 guitars . some sundays after running sound,im exhausted from the stress i put on myself to make everything perfect. and i know i dont give enough time to practice on the board. but i loved how your wife made a good point as wife who sits alone at church without her husband. thanks guys
Thanks, Wayne. I hope it gave you some ideas or opened up some discussions with your wife.
Hope you don’t mind , I shared this with our worship teams FB group.
Not at all. We want to help people!
I really enjoyed the interview and applaud you both for sharing your honesty about this subject. All the best to you and yours.
Thanks, Marco.
Hi Chris, this podcast was really great and most important for sound guy to keep balance in our ministry and personal life. Thanks for sharing…God bless you.
Thanks, Ramesh.