Do you go to church? How about a synagogue, Buddhist temple or mosque? Well, if you are in the business of mixing or installing live sound you should be at a house of worship regularly. Let me clarify myself. I am not suggesting that we in the live sound biz are bigger sinners than the rest of the population, I just want to make the point that if you are not involved in church sound at some level you are missing out on a potentially enormous income stream. Don't believe me? Are you sure you read the rest of this magazine? I got into the religious end of live sound at my own church in Pasadena, Ca. A little Foursquare church (that's a Christian denomination) known as the Pasadena Foursquare. Obviously no hidden agenda in the name. Anyway, I started going to this church in 1996 and the sound was really bad. I did some live mixing during a few services and decided that I would get involved in improving the house system. Over the last 10 years, the church has received two FOH upgrades, two new boards, new monitors, mics, a larger stage, two video screens, lighting computers, etc. It has also served as a training ground for myself with regards to installations and live worship sound. And through word of mouth, I have installed systems in a half dozen other foursquare churches–not to mention Baptist, Methodist, nondenominational, Pentecostal, Roman Catholic and other religions I can't pronounce. As a result I have learned a lot about sanctuary installations. I have also installed systems in recreation rooms, youth group rooms and outside and just about anywhere a church would require live or programmed sound/ music. As a sideline to my sound company's live chores, the worship biz has been lucrative, challenging and pretty darn fun.
Up until today, my work has been restricted to 500-seat, or less, worship venues. (OK, I did one 1000 seater in L.A.) One of the reasons I am in this niche is because there are thousand of churches of this size in the L.A. county area (where I live) and I am very comfortable working out a system that will service a small congregation. Don't get me wrong: if I got a call from a mega church to present a proposal for 10,000 seats, I would certainly have a go at it. But until that day, I'll install and run sound anywhere somebody wants to yell "Yo God!"
E-mail Jamie at jrio@fohonline.com.
[Let's look at this as an introduction of sorts. You already know Jamie for his Road Test reviews, as a former Anklebiter and now as one half of the Regional Slants team. But, like he says above, he does quite a bit of church work as well and as someone who mixes live shows and even occasionally still performs, he has a unique perspective on the world of House of Worship audio. So, starting next month he will be alternating with Richard Rutherford in the Sound Sanctuary space as well. Call him a well-rounded guy.–Ed.]
