How many times have you wished that you had a better sound guy, video guy, camera guy, or stage hand? How many times have you thought to yourself, “if only I had a more intuitive tech guy? Every tech director who works primarily with volunteers feels this way. The thought of training volunteers to a point of excellence or professionalism is daunting. It can be so overwhelming we often fold and say, “Well, one day we will pay a pro.”
I'm here to tell you it doesn't have to be this way. You can take volunteers and turn them into professional tech people. Here are a few thoughts on how to take someone from being a novice tech person to full-on production engineer:
Make Sure They Are Passionate
It may come as a surprise to us gear geeks, but many of the people we work with --- the volunteer on camera one or the guy who runs the lighting console on Wednesday nights --- are passionate about the church, but not necessarily passionate about being technical. The truth is a person who is only passionate about serving may only develop into an average tech person. On the flip side, you don't want someone who is not passionate about the church but is passionate about production. Technical excellence requires the person to be passionate in both areas. Find people who are passionate and they will have the desire to learn more and produce better results. If you say, “That is great but I don't have anyone like that,” I say, “Start recruiting.” Every church has someone in their congregation who likes to be technical or enjoys pushing buttons. Find them. They are there.
Anything you try to teach fast will soon be forgotten. Only things that are taught slowly will be remembered.
Show Them What You Are Looking For
What most technical volunteers lack --- the thing they need more than anything else --- is a clear picture of what a “touch down” is for them. In other words, it's highly likely that they don't know what they are aiming for. They are lacking a well-communicated goal.
One of the greatest things about the day and age we live in is that you can watch full worship services of hundreds of churches online anytime you want to. This is a great way to show your video guy what you are looking for, or to show your lighting guy how you want the stage to be designed, and even for your audio guy to listen to the right type of mix. This has been a huge success for me in multiple churches. If they are passionate, then they will be excited to see your goals for the future of your worship services.
Take Baby Steps
What many volunteers are lacking is a well-communicated goal.
Often we become overwhelmed with the task of producing the weekend events that we dwell on the things our team doesn't know --- on the things you can't currently do. We sometimes let this tension build up and then we try to tell them everything at once, their head explodes. And then your tech guy is dead. Then you have to spend all that time explaining to the police why a guy's head exploded in your tech booth, and that's enough to ruin anyone's your day. Seriously, the best way for someone to retain information is to give them one piece at a time. If it is a lighting guy, take one week and show him how to program a new scene. Then take the next week and show him how to take multiple scenes and make it into a chase. Then teach him how to program moving heads. Take baby steps.
The same works for audio. Take one week and explain the EQ, then next week explain compression, then the next week follow up and make sure he remembers and comprehends both of those things you taught. Then repeat the process.
Remember It Is Not a Battle, It's A War
Training people takes time. Someone once said, “Anything you try to teach fast will soon be forgotten. Only things that are taught slowly will be remembered.” So remember that teaching technical excellence is not going to give you great results over night. Don't allow yourself to be frustrated with the people under you as they learn. They are volunteers and it takes time. As long as they are progressing be happy. If you take the time to follow these steps then you will gradually and continually get closer and closer to your goal.
