Worship Musician October 2018 | Page 142

FRONT OF HOUSE HANDLING CRITICISM | Kent Morris Everybody knows two things: their job, and the comment may be covered in bitterness, not enflame them. This issue comes up sound. Being the sound tech brings with it an but they might have an understanding of regarding OSHA standards for loudness. They open season on opinions about your mix. While the system worth considering. If the person will come at you with their free SPL app using most people will let lighting and video slide, any commenting longs for the good old days of their phone’s mic and tell you it’s too loud per sound issue is fair game. For example, what pipe organ, the negativity will be about volume OSHA regulations. They do not understand the happens when feedback occurs? The entire and tone, so think about the situation being cost of a true calibrated meter and a reference audience turns around and glares at the sound reversed and maybe drop the level a few dB microphone, nor do they know OSHA numbers booth. I have a T-shirt that says, “Turn back just for brotherhood’s sake. are referring to steady state industrial noise, not around; I heard it too.” So, how do you handle the constant pressure to be perfect in an imperfect environment? Here are some thoughts: DON’T FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE NELLIES Back when we taught the Maranatha! Worship dynamic musical events. Instead of reducing ...what happens when feedback occurs? The each class. Our reaction was universal in that we cast aside the 200 positive reviews and focused on the five negative ones. Then, we tried to go out and finish the conference on a positive note. After a while, we learned to keep the reviews away from ourselves until we were back home and could evaluate with an open mind. There may be validity in the negative, but it can’t help in the moment. STAY HUMBLE The best idea of ourselves is that we are worthless, but made worthy by and through His work. Everything we do can be done better, faster, and cheaper by someone else. But, we are there despite ourselves. God has a reason for you specifically to be there. So, take it and run with it the best you can, knowing as soon as you think you’ve arrived, the flight gets canceled. As Dr. Charles Stanley always says, spiritual journey, either pull down the placebo fader or actually reduce some energy around 3-5KHz. Agreed; those comments hurt the most since entire audience you trust these people and work hard to meet turns around cuts right to your heart. Anger builds instantly their needs. Yet, they will say something that and a true zinger is on your tongue. Don’t say it. In the worst case, just walk away, for whatever and glares you speak in that moment will hang in the green room for years to come. Outside, get your head at the sound about you and bring a third party with you back booth. I have muster. Breaking a third string during the guitar in to respond in as gentle a manner as you can solo isn’t the sound tech’s fault, until it is. Then you have to bring reason to bear after the initial a T-shirt that emotions have ebbed. Welcome to spiritual maturity. says, “Turn back around; I heard Criticism is supposed to be constructive, and it is, for the person giving it, but for the receiver it can be anything but helpful. Roll with the punches and focus on personal improvement. it too.” You know what you need to do better. Learn to find the positive in the comments and discern “Look your best, do your best, and be your best.” smile, acknowledge and, depending on your DON’T TAKE OFFENSE TO YOUR TEAM’S COMMENTS Leader Workshops and Integrity Seminars 4 Worship, all the instructors were evaluated by them to rubble with tech-speak and charts, the wheat from the chaff. At the end of the day, DO NOT RESPOND IN KIND all that matters is what God thinks. No matter the offense, we are not at liberty to REALIZE THEY MAY HAVE A POINT nuke them. This is where the rubber meets the Buried in the thorns may be a rose of road. A great tech is made of thick skin and enlightenment. Weigh the person’s perspective. a soft heart. Yes, they are wrong and haven’t If they are the former tech that you replaced, a clue, but we are there to diffuse situations, 142 October 2018 Kent Morris Kent is a 40-year veteran of the AVL arena driven by passion for excellence tempered by the knowledge that digital is a temporary state. WorshipMusician.com