Every year, I write a little something about the holiday season. Usually I share some of my personal rules and regulations that get me through the season with a smile on my face, and this year is no exception.
There is no doubt that this is an anticipated part of our worship calendar. It's the season to be jolly – Jesus' birthday, after all. Or, for those of you mixing in a synagogue, the Jewish holidays are happening at about the same time. I really don't care what your personal beliefs are. I just think that you should be getting closer to your God as we move through December.
Very often, the opposite happens. As worship music sound techs, we can become more stressed and less spiritual as the end of the year looms near. And that is just not God's plan for you. So the obvious question is, how can we enjoy and embrace the season and what it represents without losing our minds?
Most of you work or volunteer at just one house of worship. This means that you will only need to make some adjustments to your schedule in order to be able to mix those additional holiday events. Now, there are those of us who use our spiritual mixing skills as part or all of our income. If you fall into this group, you may find that this is a wonderful time to make some additional money (especially handy for those Christmas gifts). However, there are some simple rules that must be adhered to if you intend on keeping your mental and physical health.
1) Communication
Your most important tool. If you mix at your home church and nowhere else, let the event planners know when you are available for rehearsals. If you can't make a rehearsal, find a substitute (if possible) and mix the main event or the dress rehearsal and the main event. Should you work with two or more houses of worship, let the different houses know this. It will be easier for you to schedule rehearsals and, possibly, the actual events. By communicating early, you can very often set the rehearsal schedules yourself.
Obviously, you can't work two events at the same time, but this year (and the last four years) I have worked an early 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service and a midnight Christmas Eve service. That may seem like I am just running from one church to another on Christmas Eve, but really, I get to witness how two different houses of worship celebrate the birth of Christ. It is very cool and uplifting.
2) Don't Double-Dip Rehearsals
Never plan on mixing two rehearsals in the same evening, even if it seems like you will have plenty of time. Let us say that one group is getting together from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the next group doesn't start until 8 p.m. That may seem like all the time you will need to make both rehearsals. However, the reality is that, very often, "church time" works on some mystical sliding scale that doesn't take into consideration actual clocks. Only God created the world in six days. If we left it up to most church leaders, they would still be working on it.
I don't want to sound overly critical, but the fact is that some of our worship leaders can't tell time very well. Most of you know what I am talking about. For the rest of you, just trust me. One night, one rehearsal. It's that simple.
3) No Weekend Rehearsals
For those of us who work both in the secular and worship sound worlds, try to keep your Fridays and Saturdays reserved for gigs and/or worship services – not for rehearsals. I know Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, but there are other weekends and many parties/events/shows that happen at this time. So schedule yourself wisely, my friends. Nobody wants to rehearse on a Friday or Saturday night anyway. If you must rehearse on the weekends, try a Saturday morning or early afternoon.
4) Take Care of You
This next item may not fall under the category of a "rule," but please, take extra care of your physical body. Generally speaking, sound technicians and good nutrition rarely cross paths. However, if you have ever intended on taking vitamins and eating right, now is a really good time to start. Besides, a large coffee and a jelly-filled donut or a cheeseburger, greasy fries and a Coke are not recommended to ward off the plethora of viruses that can pass through a house of worship at this time of year.
5) Just Say No
Rule #5 is, do not overbook yourself. Just say "no," or "no thank you," if you are unable to make a rehearsal or an event for that matter. I love this type of work (as I know you do). I believe as sound techs we can be a positive influence in the community of God. I also happen to enjoy cash. That said, I really have to be very clear about what I am committing myself to.
Usually, I am hired for my own personal mixing skills. That means the house of worship/client expects to see me behind the board (not a substitute). Once I commit to a church, it is really not ethical for me to try to squeeze in another show just for the sake of some dollars. I believe that falls in the category of greed, and that is one of the deadly sins.
Most of you who volunteer are driven by a desire to serve; you are responsible by nature, and you just like mixing live worship music. However, sometimes volunteers are asked to overbook themselves. That is to say, you are asked to commit to more time and rehearsals than you can fit into your personal schedule. Guilt about how much you are serving the Lord, rather than good sense, can get in the way of your decision-making process. The idea is to celebrate the season, not burn out on it.
By following these simple rules, I will enjoy myself more and I won't feel like I am letting anyone down. I hope you all do the same thing. Just know your limitations and stick to your schedule. Don't forget to save enough time and energy to open any gifts that St. Nick may leave you.
