Let’s start with you, Mr. Sound Guy…

Of course a sound person could be a male or female, but I’ll just use the term “guy” because it’s usually a guy and purely for the fact that “Sound Person” doesn’t sound as cool as “Sound Guy”.

Sound Guy:

Your job is to get as hot and clean of a signal from each musician and vocalist as possible and then get it to the house speaker system all mixed together and sounding smooth, clear, and powerful. More importantly, your job is to amplify a sound of praise, and facilitate a congregation in worship. What do you mean it’s not that easy? You are correct. It’s never easy. And every single sound system, band, and sound guy has its own set of problems. You, Sound Guy, have the daunting task of dealing with musicians from all across the spectrum: the youth band guitarist who just learn to play and just got his first electric guitar for Christmas with no preamp, the “I play whenever I get a chance” guy who makes time for playing between career, taking his lovely wife out on a date and changing baby’s diapers (that’s me, by the way), and the ultra-professional who plays on only the best gear, has played shows on sound systems that would rival a U2 concert, and has worked with sound guys who have more mix talent in their pinky that you do in your whole body. Yes, it is definitely a skill-set working with a worship team. A privileged position, no doubt, if not intimidating. If you’re patient, you’ve worked with a worship team long enough to get to know each members likes and dislikes, how to talk to each one of them to get what you need from them and not press their buttons at the same time. For the most part, you’ll find that people on the worship team are more accommodating than you think.

It’s easy to get into a place where you think you know it all and how to get the best sound. After all, that’s why you’re the sound guy. And it’s easy to blow off the buffet of advice you’ll likely get from worship team members and congregation alike, not to mention other sound guys. But not so fast! Make note in your noggin that there is a whole slew of experience on that stage between all of the musicians and vocalists. Take criticism lightly, but take it, internalize it, and truly consider whether it is a good option to consider. Of course, you will need to make informed decisions on any advice you get because you’re the one that knows how it works back there in the sound booth. But just like it’s your job to make it all sound good, it’s also your responsibility to treat team members with respect, as well as anyone who gives solicited or unsolicited advice.

Over the next week or 3 (depends on how in-depth each topic gets), we’ll look each element of the worship band (guitar, keys, drums, singers, etc…) and give tips on how to improve your own sound, which will also give the sound guy something better to work with. You’ll get a peek inside the sound guy’s perspective, and hopefully end up with a better understanding of how it all works together. This will be a great series for anyone who is a part of a worship team and behind an instrument, or behind the sound board; we’ll peer into both perspectives. Please don’t just read the topics that pertain to your position, but also read the other topics so that you can better understand what your team members are doing and working with. Especially read the sound guy topics as well, since you’ll be working with that person a lot.

First, let’s talk about why we do what we do…

There are many people who play and sing in a worship team on Sunday morning or otherwise who have motives other than purely bringing worship and glory to God. I dare say that at some point, all of us do. But for many, it’s not just a sometimes thing, it’s an always thing. These people come on Sunday morning for the sole purpose of being seen showing off their pipes and chops. This will be one of the most enraging things you will have to deal with. We won’t go into how to deal with that right now. The point is that there are musicians that happen to be Christians. As a wise friend of mine once said, “Are we musicians that happen to share a common interest in Christianity, or Christians that happen to share a common interest in music?” Thanks for that incredible Proverbs-like wisdom, Shankle. You never thought I would remember that, did you? And there it is as plain as day. No matter what your position in the worship team: Sound guy, guitarist, drummer, even worship leader/minister, etc… your number one goal is to be a follower of Jesus and proclaim His glory. One of your avenues of doing that just happens to be music. If you’re completely sold-out to Christ, then the Holy Spirit will move through the music you make and it will ignite a congregation; even a generation. If you’re there because of music, be sure that the only thing that’s going to be sold-out is the fakeness you emit that Christ and the rest of the worshippers in the congregation will see.
You are upstaging the Focal Point and it shows and could possibly be hindering a revolution that Christ wants to do in the heart of your congregation. For you, and anyone for that matter, I’d recommend a book called “I Am Not, but I Know I Am” by Louie Giglio. It is awesome!


Let’s become worshippers first. Let’s be people who come to church on Sunday to worship an all powerful, totally awesome, all-deserving God who is called “I Am” just because He Is! Let’s be people who sing in our cars for the express purpose of praising that same God. Let’s be people who turn down that opportunity to lead a flashy, heart-pounding, super-vocal gymnasitic-laden show-offy song in exchange for the warmth of humility, humbleness, and the opportunity to say “God I did that for you… I love you… did I do well?”

Do I think we need not play well, play impressive stuff or have cool sounding gear? No. I think the exact opposite. My point is, let’s be Christians who happen to share a common interest in music. Let’s be facilitators of the Holy Spirit to move our congregations. Let’s be worshippers.

As John 3:30 states: “He must become greater; I must become less.” I also like how the New American Standard translation says it: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

A big, fat "welcome!" to you!

moreofYOUinthemonitor exists to explore our role in worship of a God way too big to sum up in words or deed, and to attempt to gain humbleness in the modern-day church worship environment. We will explore attitudes, interactions between the worship team and sound guy, review gear that will help your role in worship, and what the Bible says about a God who deserves our feeble worship.

This blog will include invaluble experience for anyone in a worship team, anyone recording Christian music at home or in the studio, and anyone who is interested in finding out what God expects when it comes to worship.  Please share this blog with your friends, family, team members, and ministers!