When we’re working to prepare a service or event, it’s common to spend lots of time and energy on some of the details, and not so much on others.
We may run through lighting looks over and over to find the perfect effect for the new song we’ll be singing. We work for hours to get a snare drum sounding just right. We may even pour over an entire graphics library to find the ideal jumpback to swirl on screen during a key worship moment.
But how often do we sweat the transitions between each of those individual elements? It’s true that a big, powerful moment in a service can be engaging and impactful. But if we don’t know how to set it up properly or transition out of it effectively, what was intended to be powerful can become distracting or downright cringeworthy.
So, here are some thoughts on thinking through how to plan a full service effectively:
Preparation is the key to success.
When planning a service, all of the attention and focus can’t be driven towards the big elements. It’s important to know how you’re planning the journey. Just like you wouldn’t plan a road trip without knowing which highway to use, you also have to strategically plan out transition moments necessary to get from Point A to Point B during a service.
... [we must] strategically plan out transition moments necessary to get from Point A to Point B during a service.
This can require intentional thought about what mood you want in the room and where you want the audience’s attention focused.
Getting into and out of service elements will always impact the congregation’s ability to stay properly engaged and focused.
Success will never surpass your level of communication.
If there’s not effective communication regarding service flow, it’s impossible to expect people to be on the same page when they’re in the moment itself.
There should never be a perspective of “we’ll just figure it out in the moment.” That’s where the train wrecks come from.
It’s critical to have some level of prep/coordination meeting to talk through details of the service flow so that all key teams (worship, audio, lighting, stage managers, etc.) are clear on expectations and responsibilities. Does everyone know who’s in charge and making decisions? Does everyone know how those decisions by others will impact them personally? If something goes wrong, whose job is it to step up and find a solution?
The best compliment you can ever get about a transition is when an audience member says they didn’t even notice.
Even when rehearsing a service or event, just as much attention should be paid to the transitional times as the big pieces themselves. There should never be a perspective of “we’ll just figure it out in the moment.” That’s where the train wrecks come from.
Be intentional about the details.
Never leave any part of the service up to chance. Make sure the worship leader knows exactly what to say before tossing the service to a meet-and-greet moment. Practice the stage transition so you are confident that you can load the props before the message opener is over. Give your pastor an exact length of the announcement video so he knows how much time he has to run to the green room and use the restroom.
We must embrace the concept of being intentional for every part of our services. The power of the message itself means we should owe it to the audience to take every part of the service seriously.
While the power of the Holy Spirit isn’t limited to what man does or doesn’t do, I need to be very aware that if I’m not focused or intentional in my efforts, I can make simple mistakes that can lead to big distractions in the room. That then makes it harder for the worship team to set the right tone and for the pastor to share what’s on his or her heart.
We owe it to God and the message of his Son to come prepared and ready to execute at a high level.
We owe it to God and the message of his Son to come prepared and ready to execute at a high level.
Now, all of the focus can’t just be on transitioning between large chunks of the service: from worship to video, from video to teaching, from teaching to dismissal, etc.
Within each section of the service flow, there’s just as much intentionality that should be put into structuring the presentation of each part.
Here are several things to consider for each of the main technical areas of a service:
Audio
--How clearly have you communicated with the worship team to understand their flow?
--Is there clarity regarding who is leading vocal or instrumental solos and when they come?
--If you’re using snapshots on your console, have you thought through how to get from one to another between songs?
Do you know when speakers will be coming on stage and what mic they are using, so that their mics are turned on and have appropriate levels?
--Do you know when speakers will be coming on stage and what mic they are using, so that their mics are turned on and have appropriate levels?
--Is there a director or producer providing cues in advance of videos, to ensure that the appropriate sources are unmuted?
Video
--If your church uses IMAG camera shots during worship, do the camera shots on screen match what is happening on the stage, whether for energy, focus/attention by the audience, or to help reflect a mood?
--Do the transitions used between camera shots (cuts or dissolves) enhance the energy and emotion of the moment or the song, or distract from it?
Do the transitions used between camera shots enhance the energy and emotion of the moment ?
--Are camera shots framed intentionally so there’s a natural flow between shots (rules of third, etc.), and is there consistency in the use of static and moving camera shots?
--Does the shot selection set up the next shot as you tell a story, or does a haphazard selection cause shots to linger on screen too long because there’s not a more appropriate one ready?
Lighting
--Does the usage of movement and colors match the energy and theme of the worship song or speaking moment?
For moments that are more reserved or intimate, is there too much lighting movement on stage?
--Is there intentionality in adding appropriate effects to big moments to enhance energy, or is a plain lighting look pulling energy away from what is happening on stage?
--For moments that are more reserved or intimate, is there too much lighting movement on stage, and is the energy distracting?
--If your fixtures use a color wheel instead of color mixing, are you being intentional with your color selection to minimize distractions that could come from having to click from one color to the next?
--Is there an appropriate way to use a fade to black to better move between parts of a worship set or service flow?
Many of the thoughts outlined here can require intentional conversation among church tech staff and worship teams, which is a good thing. Too many ministries have teams that operate on islands, which will ultimately impact their effectiveness on weekends.
Too many ministries have teams that operate on islands, which will ultimately impact their effectiveness on weekends.
Forcing intentional conversation into service planning will pay huge dividends, and having a smooth service flow helps create an atmosphere of consistency and comfort that is inviting and engaging.
The best compliment you can ever get about a transition is when an audience member says they didn’t even notice. That’s much better than causing a train wreck that people can’t stop talking about.
