Every month, I try to write something that will be useful to all of you out there, whether you volunteer your services at your house of worship or you mix and install worship sound systems as a part or all of your income. This month I would also like to include those of you who work with live sound, but not necessarily in the house of worship sound arena.
The fact of the matter is that this installment of Sound Sanctuary may seem a bit controversial. However, like you, I am always looking for ways to increase my income. So first let me say that you do not necessarily have to believe in a God or be a member of a particular faith in order to mix worship sound or do house of worship installs.
Obviously, it is helpful to acknowledge and understand that your potential client may have a very strong belief. Also, that your mixing skills and the sound system you are mixing through is an integral part of that house of worship and expressing that strong belief.
Even if you do not have a belief in a specific God, 2009 probably had you on your knees praying to some deity for work. If that describes you, then we have something to talk about.
Don't worry, I am not trying to convert you. Just find some common ground that you can share with a potential house of worship client. I am not suggesting that you claim that you are a born again believer, especially if you don't know what "born again" means. I am simply stating that you need to understand that house of worship sound systems have a spiritual element to them.
Once you understand that, mixing and installing this particular niche of sound is very much like any other audio gig. I refer to worship sound as a niche (which it is), but it is a huge niche. There are hundreds of thousands of worship houses in the U.S., and most of them need quality sound.
Now that you have decided to get into worship sound, you should start checking out various house of worship systems. If you have been mixing at your home church for a while and you plan on getting into the install biz, you can use that mixing experience as a reference point. Wherever you live, there is no doubt that a church is near you. In other words, there are a lot of potential clients. You also won't have to make an appointment in order to listen to a sermon, choir or worship band. Just show up on any Sunday. Most houses of worship welcome visitors with an open door and open arms policy.
When it comes down to actually bidding on an install, it might seem obvious to mention that generally church budgets are tight. But with this in mind, I usually prepare three versions of my own bids. This first version features my favorite manufacturers of speakers, amps, microphones, mixers and so on – the equipment that I consider the best for a particular worship environment. Next I will submit a version that includes less-expensive gear, but something that will deliver that most bang for the buck. (By the way, I would never use that term with client. "Bang for the buck" is an old saying that actually referred to how much satisfaction you would get from a prostitute for your money. That doesn't really fit in the worship sound biz.)
Okay, back to Version Three of my bid. This would be a bid that is the most inexpensive but still fulfills the needs of a particular house of worship. There are dozens of ways to shave cost on an install without compromising the overall sound very much. Simple things like microphone stands or XLR cable and speaker cables can be downgraded without a huge effect on the sound system's key components. You will find that many churches are looking for an upgrade or overhaul rather than a completely new system. But I still offer three upgrade bid options in an attempt to cover all the bases. In a future issue of FOH, I will probably publish versions of one of my bids for Sound Sanctuary, but that won't happen this month.
If you have been doing installs for any length of time, you probably have developed relationships with various gear manufacturers, or maybe you purchase gear online. You may even buy your gear at one of the major music store chains. Obviously, the better prices you can get on the gear, the better chance you have of winning the bid. Personally, I like to deal directly with the manufacturers, but I have purchased gear online. One thing to consider with those online deals – not being charged for sales tax from an out-of-state purchase does not mean you are exempt from your own state's sales tax. You may be held accountable sometime in the future. Just a bit of information you should know.
Well, we have covered a variety of things I think you should consider if you are planning on entering the house of worship sound field, or you are about to move from volunteer status to employed status as a worship mixer or installer. But there is something else I would like to mention particularly to those of you who mix sound every Sunday at your home church.
Prior to the expansion of my worship sound business, I was at my church every Sunday. Eventually, I got to a place where I am rarely at my church on a Sunday. I do manage to attend most of the mid-week services on Wednesdays. This gives me a chance to worship at my church with my friends. Nonetheless, I was carrying a bit of guilt about not attending service on Sunday. So, I really began praying about the situation and have come to the decision that Wednesdays will be the day for me. What you decide will be between you and God.
