If you want to read the entire series from the start, please follow these links:
In the Beginning
The first step you need to take is a step back. Observe, listen, ask questions and then act. Ok, that's more than one step, but you get the idea.
During this whole process, write everything down (because you will forget) so you can address each and every item. Make up a binder, a note pad, legal pad, whatever you need to keep track of everything. Believe me, you're going to need it.
In the Beginning
The first step you need to take is a step back. Observe, listen, ask questions and then act. Ok, that's more than one step, but you get the idea.
- Step Back and Observe -
- If you have an existing A/V (audio/video) system, what are the issues/problems that you need to fix, replace or overcome.
- If you have no A/V system, what exactly do you want to be able to do?
- Will you be or are you currently broadcasting over cable tv and/or radio?
- Are you looking to stream your services over the web?
- Do you need to strip the audio out of your video in order to provide audio podcasts?
- Has your congregation and church grown so much that it's time to replace the old hymn boards with monitors?
- Is your current system so bad that it needs to be trashed and just start all over?
- Listen -
- Truly listen to your pastor, the church council and congregation members in order to hear what they are saying. So many times technical people like myself don't really listen and we let our own preconceived ideas or what we think they need/want get in the way. It's true that sometimes people really don't know what they need, but they have an idea or ideas that we need to listen to.
- If you're broadcasting on the radio and/or on tv, what are the problems you and others are hearing or seeing?
- Ask Questions -
- After listening, repeat each thought or idea that was presented at meetings and get clarification. You want to make sure you heard them correctly. Believe it or not, some people know exactly what they want, but they don't know how to get their thoughts across very well.
- Is it time to make the jump to HD video and/or digital audio or will an upgrade to better SD video and a new analog mixer get the job done?
- Are your current microphones any good? Do you need to start looking into a better wireless solution? Should you start placing microphones around the church to better hear the congregation during broadcasts?
- Are there better locations to place the cameras? Just because the old SD cameras worked where they were placed 15 - 20 years ago, doesn't mean the new SD or HD cameras will be a good fit in those same locations.
- What can your church afford? Get the council to give you a budget number to work with. Don't worry just yet if it seems to low (because it probably will be). You'll have plenty of time to work with members and justify more money later if need be.
- If you're looking to make the jump to HDTV, can the local public access channel even handle broadcasting an HD signal? Believe it or not, this is a big deal!
- Act -
- After observing, listening and asking questions get busy and start drawing up your plans to improve things. If a proposal needs to be written, do the research and get on it. Reach out to online sources, make calls and get all your info together.
- When creating your first proposal for the church, don't make it to complicated with massive amounts of acronyms and lengthy detailed paragraphs. Remember, most of the people you'll be dealing with don't understand all that technology, so keep it simple. Include a few simple block diagrams of how things will be connected with brief explanations on the inner workings.
- Once you're in front of the church council, let them ask questions and if you don't know an answer to a question, don't bs your way through it. Just let them know you'll get back to them with an answer. Also use this time to explain your ideas and vision.
During this whole process, write everything down (because you will forget) so you can address each and every item. Make up a binder, a note pad, legal pad, whatever you need to keep track of everything. Believe me, you're going to need it.