As a sales manager with the permanent installation division of an audio rental house, I have assisted clients with audio system upgrades of everything from grade schools and universities to churches, theaters and ballparks. When it comes to planning an upgrade, the technical aspects of a microphone, speaker or console are not of particular importance to me. That is the concern of our engineers. I’m most interested in addressing the needs of my clients within a manageable time frame and budget. Here are some helpful tips I’ve gleaned over the years on how to do this when assisting with an audio upgrade for a house of worship.
Step One:
Setting Realistic Financial Goals for Audio
House of worship clients frequently ask me how much it will cost them to upgrade their sound systems. Often, they want an average ballpark estimate of the cost. Unfortunately there is no average ballpark estimate, as the cost of an upgrade can range anywhere from $1,000 to $1,000,000. This is because no two houses of worship are the same.
However, I do understand that most clients are working within an annual budget and must find a way to squeeze the upgrade into that budget. Just as one needs to set financial goals or ministry-related goals, I too need to know what the facility’s goals are within the audio needs of the worship space, gym or multi-purpose room. It is extremely important to set realistic goals, as a means of understanding what you can and cannot do within a specific price range.
Step Two:
Identify Any Consistent Audio Problems.
Is there a specific demographic of the congregants complaining? If so, it could mean that you need an assisted listening system. Do you have feedback all the time? You may just need some system tuning. Is your equipment outdated? You might be looking at a complete overhaul. Do you want to upgrade from an analog to a digital console? The list goes on.
Step Three:
List the Equipment Used for Regular Events
Do you have a full band playing each Sunday? Is there a choir? How many people speak in a given service? Do you incorporate video into your events and, if so, to what extent? What is the occupancy of your space? Is there a balcony and is it in use? Do you ever rent it out for other functions, i.e. concerts, weddings, funerals, parties, etc.?
Step Four:
Get Details About Your Current System
What equipment do you currently have? When did you purchase it? Who installed it? What do you think is broken and still under warranty? You’ll get the gold star if you can produce a set of architectural drawings for your space.
Step Five:
Find an Audio Consultant
Make sure you call a reputable audio consultant who can be trusted. Do a little research and find someone who has been recommended by a colleague or another house of worship. Call him (or her) and set up an appointment to have him look at your space, discuss goals and better assess the next steps in the project.
Step Six:
Any Potential Audio Consultant Should Visit Your Space
It is rare that audio needs can be fully addressed over the phone or with pictures. Understand that if you want the best results, you might have to spend money on more than just new equipment. You may need to bring in an electrician to run conduit and pull new wire. You may need to hire a structural engineer or rigging company to sign off on speaker-rigging points. Perhaps you may need to hire an acoustical engineer to give you a solid design for your space that can last for the next decade or longer.
Step Seven:
Allow Time for a Quote
If you want quality, consultants will need more than 24 hours to give you a price. If you need to present a budget to your board by March 15, bring someone in by no later than February 15 to give everyone involved enough time. Be patient with your consultant as he/she reviews this information and works up a system quote for you. If your venue is large, it may require a full system design, in addition to a quote for new equipment and installation. Yes, this might cost more money, but it will be worth it in the long run. This process can take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of months, depending on the size of your venue and the amount of work currently on the consultant’s plate.
Step Eight:
Communicate with Your Consultant
If you aren’t happy with the initial design, don’t just shut the door and move on. We are here to work with you.
As a side note to all my fellow audio colleagues out there — I have been a pastor’s kid, grandkid, niece and/or cousin my entire life — obviously longer than I have been in the audio industry, so I feel as though I have an inside track when it comes to church dynamics. And I’ve learned that we need to be especially patient with house of worship clients. It is rare that they have a pile of money waiting to be spent. It is common practice for them to have to present proposals to a board or the finance handlers of the organization, and more often than not, that money has to be raised. It might be several months before they can sign on the dotted line, so be prepared for that.
In conclusion, I’d like to relay some advice from my friends at the Boy Scouts of America: “Be prepared.”
Courtney Klimson is the installation sales manager at Masque Sound.
