Easter comes every year, and yet we still seem surprised by it. Unlike Christmas, Easter is an illusive holiday that sneaks up on you. I always seem to go into Easter wishing that we could move it to June, which is a neglected month when it comes to holidays. I can't seem to get anyone else to agree with me on moving it, so I have committed to be in the right mindset when it gets here this year. It all starts with planning.
I have been involved with many planning meetings where everyone knows the Easter story, but can't land on a plan to present it. Many ideas are proposed, but nothing seems to stick, and the decision gets pushed back another week. Next thing we know, Easter is two weeks away.
Here are few things I've learned:
1. PLAN AHEAD
As a new tech director going into my first Easter, I was so excited to do a large-scale production. What I didn't realize was, every other church was doing a big production, and they had reserved rental gear months in advance.
Make detailed audio input sheets: I like to know exactly how many microphone stands, music stands, and direct boxes I will need. I have been burned by finding I do not have enough XLR cables on hand when I need them.
Stage plots have also become invaluable in our pre-service prep. They have a way of getting everyone on the same page. For a busy week like Easter, our stage plots are usually 3-D renders from Google SketchUp. This way, lighting and video volunteers can visualize the stage and begin writing cues weeks in advance to help lower the Easter stress level.
2. DON'T OVER-COMMIT
Know your limitations. As the tech staff, we are charged with bringing our leadership team's dreams into reality. Your pastors need you to inform them of what is realistically possible. I do my best to hear out every idea and try to make it work. But at the end of the day, a Cirque du Soleil performance just may not be possible.
Another learning experience I had early on in my career was over-committing on what our system could handle. I love pushing the boundaries of our system, but there comes a point where it goes too far and everyone just gets frustrated. I should have rented additional equipment that first year; however, by the time I realized it, there was no budget—and it was too late.
You can also over-commit on a personal level. Several years ago we went into Easter without any downtime. We started a major sermon series in the fall, went straight into Christmas, only to beeline into another large sermon series in January. When Easter came around, my team and I were running on fumes. Take time after Christmas to spend with your family. I know first-hand, there's never a good time to take vacation. Just take time off—your family will thank you.
3. BE PROACTIVE
Obviously, the story of Easter never changes; but get working with your worship pastor, creative arts pastor, or senior pastor as early as possible to figure out the direction of your presentation. December 26 is not too early to be talking about this; many churches start thinking about the plan for next year the day after Easter.
Begin doing routine maintenance on your equipment in January and February. You will only get busier as Easter approaches. All your equipment was just taxed during the Christmas season, and now is the perfect time to have it inspected, cleaned, and serviced. One thing on my schedule right now is to use January and February to re-lamp all my projectors. This way, I will ensure that I have bright and consistent color for Easter morning.
Finally, take care of your volunteers. There is no way to accomplish this without them. Acknowledging that they had to go above and beyond, and letting them know how much you appreciate them during the Christmas season, will encourage them to sign up for the Easter services as well. So start planning for Easter now, it'll be here before you know it.
