Thoughts on Sunday

I was thinking through some advice and concepts I've picked up along the way and how they relate to production and life. These are very obvious, but I think sometimes forgotten. So, think of this as a kind reminder. These are applicable to life or whatever line of work you may be in but I've used them towards production and church. These are in no particular order and ended up being a long one, grab a warm drink (I mean it is winter) and read on.

1. Don't be afraid of your neighbor.

Space on stage looks awkward both in the room and on screen, unless done for dramatic or programmatic effect. We are a happy united team and space speaks otherwise. In life and in film it is the common understanding that actions speak louder than words. How you look or act on stage will reflect more than what you sing or what you say.

2. Don't be afraid of the edge.

Being downstage brings a closeness and intimacy with the audience that standing further upstage will not reflect. Hopefully the people won't bite, so don't act like they will. Distance shows disconnection or fear.

3. Practice as you play.

This is fairly obvious and self-explanatory.

4. In a mix, if you can't hear everyone else, you won't be able to add or blend.

Running monitors is a fairly simple job (I've had plenty of debates and conversations about this). All you do is give the talent their desire in mix. One thing that is very common in amateurs or those with less confidence is their mix is only their instrument, voice, or both with everything else very below. If you are a solo act, that would be awesome. But since you probably are not this means you don't know what everyone else is playing and doing. This can lead to a group of lead instruments instead of a band. Since it is a team objective you should know what the rest of the team is doing.

5. Sometimes you should turn things down than turn them up.

The common request is, "Can I get more of myself?" or "Can I get more..." whereas it should be, can I get these things turned down so that I can hear this more clearly. There is only so much headroom and it is typically easier to turn stuff down to make it sound better than to turn it all up. Once you hit the ceiling in a mix and in life, there is nowhere else to go except sideways.

6. Tone is key.

There is only so much you can do with EQ and effects. What you deliver is what is given. Unless you have a magician in back or are mostly a loop act, it's best to make sure what comes from stage is the best it can be so that those in the booth can deliver the best they can. It is a tandem objective, that I don't disagree, but you can only give what you get.

7. Own your area.

It's easy to worry about what other people are doing wrong. The saying is those that aren't rowing the boat are the one's that have time to rock the boat. If everyone is doing the best they absolutely can and focused on making their part the best, you won't have to worry about what everyone else is doing. Focus on yourself and expect the same of your team. In the sports analogy, let the manager/coach worry about what the team is doing and you just worry about being apart of the team.

8. Actions speak louder than words.

In film, they say the eyes expose the truth in someone, and this can't be truer in image magnification (Imag). Imag makes it so that you may be a hundred feet away, but someone is watching you as if you are four feet away. If you don't mean it, it will show.

9. Ask questions.

There is nothing wrong with asking questions. If you aren't sure, just ask. I tell volunteers and employees that you can ask me anything at anytime and that my discomfort comes when they aren't asking questions. No one knows everything, and no one is expected too. When you ask questions and show what you don't know, it proves and backs up even more what you do know.

10. Be confident.

In the movie Moneyball, one of the things they talk about is the confidence players have relating to how well they play. This is true in productions as well. If you aren't confident in what you are playing or doing, it shows. Especially with Imag. Make sure to come prepared, excited, expecting, and confident in what you are doing. If you aren't, it is better to pull yourself out of the "game" than to bring the team down to your level.

11. Practice, practice, practice.

Michael Jordan didn't just practice one day a week and go play the game. The NFL doesn't just practice on a Tuesday and then show up Sunday for game day. When I was a volunteer I practiced more at home than I did at church. I wanted to know the music inside and out. If I couldn't carry a conversation while playing my parts then I knew I wasn't practiced enough. In other words, if I could play my part and not use my brain to think about it, then I knew the music was apart of me and I was no longer performing it.

12. If you can't hit it, don't swing at it.

It's better to not try, than to try and miss when it comes to music. Being unsure and trying to hit a note would be like if I put an apple on your head, shot at it, missed and said, "Well it was close." Notes and pitch don't lie. If you can't hit it, there is nothing wrong with playing/singing it a different way (falsetto, different octave). It may not be as cool as written, but it is better than a swing and a miss. You could even rewrite it all together. Be creative with it.

13. Be kind.

The worst situations can be deflated with kindness. There is no perfect person, but there is someone that tries their hardest and strives for excellence. People make mistakes; it's how you react to those mistakes that will define that situation. Kindness will go a long way. As Plato says, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

14. Expect the best in one another.

We're all here for a common goal. People will let you down, but I would rather think the best of them in every situation and give the benefit of the doubt. This will help in dealing with kindness, and context is a big part of it.

15. Context is the best text.

There are two texts that are most important, context and subtext. There are always two sides to every story. Everyone has a bad day. I always find it better to ask questions than to just start making statements when it comes to sticky situations. This again ties into thinking the best of others and kindness.

16. Hold all things with an open hand.

In all things I do I always try to keep the context of at anytime my leaders or God can take it and have me focus on something else. I am not defined by what I do. I do what is needed and what my leaders or God would have me do. This has brought far more fulfillment to what I do at the church and in life. I'm not worried about everything else because there are two things I know for sure. The Lord will always provide and he always has a plan.

17. Prayer will take you further than you can alone.

Again, self-explanatory but true. There shouldn't be a week that you aren't praying your heart out for what you are going to accomplish. Don't just let the intensity of your prayer life come during big events at work or in life.

Hope these thoughts help, even if they are just an encouragement in what you are doing. I'm not perfect or the best at all of these, but strive to do them well and to work my hardest in all that I do.

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Cheers!