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