Observations From the Fast Lane

by Brian Blackmore

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I recently received a copy of "Sound, Lighting and Video: A Resource for Worship", a new book written by Brad Herring and published by Focal Press, a division of Elsevier. I've just begun to read it, but so far it looks like a great educational resource for church technical staffs.

For those who are serious about a full-time position in technical ministry, Full Sail University's live production advisory board, on which I'm privileged to sit, will convene in a few weeks to analyze their school's curriculum and, in part, critique its application in the house-of-worship market. Of course, there are many other colleges and universities that also offer college-level production programs. For example, Berklee School of Music has been advertising its production degree programs in the pages of Church Production for many months now.

For those already in technical ministry, or doing it part-time, our own WFX event, a great resource for technical education and hands-on training, is now being held twice each year.

It's also been revealed to us that a well-known mega church is announcing the formation of an association for church technical artists. Stay tuned for an official announcement on that.

That's quite a flurry of activity directed towards technical personnel in houses of worship.

So, what does it all mean? What we're seeing is the maturing of the A/V sector of the house-of-worship market. From an A/V equipment supplier's perspective the house-of-worship market has been "recognized" for many years. But from an end-user's perspective it's been a disparate, un-organized market with tens of thousands of churches trying to "figure it all out" on their own.

I'd like to point you to page 80 of this issue of Church Production, our Exit Stage Left column. In that column, Todd Elliot, the recently appointed Technical Arts Director at Willow Creek Community Church asks the question, "Are you an artist?" It's a great question, and Todd's column will lead to discussions on the "coming of age" of the technical team's role in planning worship services.

Best Regards,

Brian Blackmore
Editor-in-chief/Publisher
Church Production Magazine
Worship Facilities Magazine

 recently received a copy of “Sound, Lighting and Video: A Resource for Worship”, a new book written by Brad Herring and published by Focal Press, a division of Elsevier. I’ve just begun to read it, but so far it looks like a great educational resource for church technical staffs.

For those who are serious about a full-time position in technical ministry, Full Sail University’s live production advisory board, on which I’m privileged to sit, will convene in a few weeks to analyze their school’s curriculum and, in part, critique its application in the house-of-worship market. Of course, there are many other colleges and universities that also offer college-level production programs. For example, Berklee School of Music has been advertising its production degree programs in the pages of Church Production for many months now.

For those already in technical ministry, or doing it part-time, our own WFX event, a great resource for technical education and hands-on training, is now being held twice each year.

It’s also been revealed to us that a well-known mega church is announcing the formation of an association for church technical artists.  Stay tuned for an official announcement on that.

That’s quite a flurry of activity directed towards technical personnel in houses of worship.

So, what does it all mean? What we’re seeing is the maturing of the A/V sector of the house-of-worship market.  From an A/V equipment supplier’s perspective the house-of-worship market has been “recognized” for many years.  But from an end-user’s perspective it’s been a disparate, un-organized market with tens of thousands of churches trying to “figure it all out” on their own. 

I’d like to point you to page 80 of this issue of Church Production, our Exit Stage Left column. In that column, Todd Elliot, the recently appointed Technical Arts Director at Willow Creek Community Church asks the question, “Are you an artist?” It’s a great question, and Todd’s column will lead to discussions on the “coming of age” of the technical team’s role in planning worship services. 

Best Regards,

Brian Blackmore
Editor-in-chief/Publisher
Church Production Magazine
Worship Facilities Magazine

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