As a kid, I loved fishing. I was a member of B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society). I had autographs from Hank Parker and other professional fisherman.
I even caught a five pound bass and released him to swim wild again; catch and release was the motto of the day.
My success as a fisherman was attributed to how I learned from those around me, and I firmly believe you can use this very method to be a better sound tech.
Being a successful fisherman is about knowing:
• How to use your gear properly
• How to use the different types of lures
• Where to find the fish
• Behavior of the fish (spawning season, feeding times, etc.)
Let’s look at fishing lures. There are jigs, plastic worms, and crank-baits to name a few. Each is reeled in at a different speed, moved by the fishing rod in a different way and is appropriate at different times of the day and in different environments.
I’ll get to the practical application of this shortly…
During my early days of fishing, I learned how to pick the right color of crank-bait for muddy water and the best techniques for fishing with it; reel it in slowly with an occasional jerk to give it the look of an injured baitfish.
Who taught me the different techniques? The people who fished in ponds and lakes similar to the places I went. The people who were successful at it.
And in some cases, people who couldn’t catch a fish in a clear lake to save their life but knew exactly how to catch them in a muddy one.
With that, you’re probably wondering about the practical application of all this. So, let’s talk audio!
Learning from Your Team
Often, you read about methods for learning church audio via books, videos, and sites such like this one. Here is one where you can learn from people on your team.
How to set up inner-team instruction:
• Inventory the abilities of your team. Record who is the best at different areas. For example, Dave is great at mixing drums and Sally is great at volume balancing and Fred is great at working with musicians.
• Assign a teaching topic to a person. For example, Dave will teach a session on drum mixing.
• Set a time for the session. A monthly session after a team meeting.
This 1-2-3 setup seems easy enough, but let’s give Dave a hand. Dave might not have any idea where to start.
