Production Musings

2009 Stage Design #2 – Part 1

// February 20th, 2009 // 11 Comments » // Stage Design

We’re going into a series called “Shift” addressing how we think about other people.  Kicking off the 7 week series was a baptism service and we wanted to try a something we’ve never tried before.  We made a riser, a big one.  After planning it out, a team of about 10 very skilled volunteers came in and built the structure in 2.5 days.  We photographed the process over 5 days from start to finish, and you can see that in an earlier post.  The structure is made of wood, has a curved front similar to the curvature of our main stage floor.  It’s dimensions are 5′Hx16′Dx30′W.  We wanted the front of the stage to have 5-7 openings approximately 3′x4′ to contain the series title “SHIFT.”  Todd is installing the letters this week and I’ll write about that in Part 2.  The openings were covered with spandex from behind and stapled.  2 of the AC Lighting Color Splits were used to get the wash across the spandex.  Lighting the top portion was a challenge because it decreased the lighting angles but all in all I think it’s worked very well.  For the Baptism service the look was set apart from the look for the series and was primarily blues and greens.  For the series, we selected Roscolux #2003 Storaro Yellow for front light for the band – so far it’s been best at lower intensities and provides a very warm look.  Roscolux #26 Light Red will be used starting this week.

Be Still

// February 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Thoughts

Sadness  ::  Chaos ::  Laughter  ::  Joy  ::  Grief  ::  Peace  ::  Guilt  ::  Excitement

This past week has been something else.  It may be safe to say that it’s been one the most challenging weeks of the past year.  I’ve experienced a little of every emotion imaginable in a short period of time.  (INFJ – Feeler) Last February 11, my younger brother passed away unexpectedly and I’ve been working through all the grief and emotions of this loss.  It seems that this particular week was more difficult than Christmas or Thanksgiving.  Being with family through times like this is priceless.  Other things in life have added their toll as well — summed up:  God is showing me places deep inside myself that are broken….and have been for a while.  I think we all have those places and sometimes walk through life seemingly unaware of them until God metaphorically shines His light on our souls to reveal it to us.  Added in with all of this was the joy and excitement of having brief video interviews with 37 people who have recently decided to follow Jesus.  I’m not kidding, you could see the joy and peace on the faces of each person….that’s just what God will do!  Speaking of 37 videos…I was responsible for those as well as lighting the new stage design this week.  (Posts about those will follow soon.)  Needless to say, a Sunday afternoon nap was in order.

Stress :: Tension :: Control :: Fear

Yeah, sometimes I experience those things and I did this week. But here’s the thing: as technical production people we work hard – really hard – to make sure our lighting transitions are set and timed just right,  colors match, we’ve selected just the right typeface, just the right amount of haze and so on.  We love it.  We live to serve like this.  However, this is key:  we have to make time to stop.  There must be that space in each of us.  So, I’m learning to be still.   I shared all of this with the team this morning.  We all stop what we’re doing each Sunday morning around 7:30.  We exhale.  We connect with one another.  We stop and pray with one another.

Stillness ::  Peace

I played a song this morning for the team that a friend wrote.  His name is Nic Carver and he leads worship at Brentwood Church here in town.  It’s been in heavy rotation this week.  I love the pictures he paints.  It put to words and music my experience this week:  “can’t move but can’t stop moving” and “busy discontent, working harder, I’m spent” and “trust you or just keep trusting me” and finally resting in “much greater hands than your own.” God used this song to help me stop being a “Martha in a Mary’s world.“  This week I gave up trying to work through the grief, chaos, massive to-do list, and long hours on my own.  With his permission, I’m putting the song up here along with the lyrics.  I hope it brings the same encouragement to you!!

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Be still

Chorus
Be still my heart and know you’re not controlling what you fear
Be still my soul find rest and know you’re in much greater hands than your own

Verse 1
My cloudy heart will break feel exhausted, I’m frayed
Can’t move but can’t stop moving
My busy discontent, working harder, I’m spent
Treading lightly, but I know I’m drowning
Help me stop

Verse 2
My faith is often frail, terrified to unveil
Trust you or just keep trusting me
I’m often far behind an image I’ve refined
But closer to the ground, I’m dirty

Clean me up

(breathe in, just breathe in…)

Stage Design Stop Motion

// February 13th, 2009 // 3 Comments » // Stage Design, Video

Ok, so as an experiement, I sat my camera up on the edge of the tech booth upstairs this week and for 5 days, documented the progress of our stage design.  I forgot my tripod the first day I started, so please forgive the few shaky frames!  There are a little over 300 photographs here!  I’ll write more about the design later when I have more time….till then, here ya go:

Untitled from Andrew Hunt on Vimeo.

The Audition Process

// February 9th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Thoughts

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of mixing all day for worship team auditions.  I’ve been a part of this process for a couple years now and just love the flow of the process and how each person is giving love, care and attention.  This time around we were auditioning for musicians and vocalists. (Sometimes it’s one or the other!)

First contact comes after we make an announcement several weeks prior to the event.  This is typically not announced from stage but is in the form of a graphic included in the pre-service loop, atrium loop, and bulletin announcement.  Those interested in auditioning contact Judson, performing arts leader, to setup a time and what they’d like to audition for and then receive a packet of info.

When the person auditioning arrives, they have several minutes to become familiar with the environment, get to know each of us, and also give them quick monitor checks to make sure they’re as comfortable as possible on stage.  Each person auditions solo first. Then, they are joined by the band and/or vocalists. They are given 2 songs to play together, one that presents little difficulty and another that presents greater difficulty. The auditions look like this:

Vocals

• Sing their solo

Group singing – vocals and piano only

• Here I am Again (chorus only)
• All I can do is surrender (chorus only)

Brass

• Any improv’ or solo you want to play
• Brass sheet (with pno only)

Band – Entire Band on Stage
Acoustic Gtr

• Play Jam
• Sing to the King (Long E’s look for variety)
• Take my life (m.1-67)

Drums

• Groove
• 4/4 – Sing to the King
• 6/8 – Enraptured
• When I think about the Lord (gospel groove)

Electric Gtr

• Groove
• Salt and Light (Lead)
• Take my life (m.1-67)

Bass

• Groove
• Salt and Light (Rock groove)
• When I think about the Lord (Gospel groove)

Keys

• Groove
• Take My Life
• Here I Am Again

After the audition is finished, an ‘interview’ takes place in order to get to know the individual better and help them find a place to serve.  The leadership makes a decision with the interviewer by weighing a combination of skill, heart for worship, and teachability.  Once on the team, new additions attend practices for a set period of time before appearing on stage.  I’ve made the Serving Application and Team Vision documents available in the Downloads if you’re interested!