Advice needed for running projector

[Sixgun]

Hello all, I'm in need of advice - particularly from people familiar with running video / multimedia presentations during church services.

About 6 months ago my church installed a projector to be used mainly for projecting announcements before and after the service, showing the occasional video clip or pictures during the service, and for showing lyrics during worship. We use EasyWorship for our software. I'm one of the few people that are technologicaly savvy enough to setup and run the system so I took on the role of the Multimedia Director.

I've been blessed by having 6 other people volunteer to run the presentations during the service. Right now, we are on a 7 week rotation.

Unfortunately, things haven't been going smoothly at all. I expected some initial problems as we all learned the software and technology, but things seem worse now than ever, especially with displaying song lyrics. Literaly, I don't think we've had a single song in six months where we didn't show the wrong verse, change verses half way through, or pull up the wrong song! It's gotten to the point that 2 or 3 people will complain to me after the services.

I hate to say it, but most of the problems are human error. We have some people with no computer experience at all who have taken the plunge into learning something new, which I greatly appreciate. I've been handling all of the technical aspects of setting everything up, so all they have to do is run the songs. The software seems very intuitive and easy to use, so I'm getting frustrated that people aren't picking it up.

I realize with a seven week rotation there's a lot of time between turns so it's easy to forget. I'm thinking about ways I can change this. I'm also going to ask our music director (who adds songs as needed to our database) to try to fit as much onto one slide as he can so that we only have maybe 2 or 3 per song. Less flipping should equal fewer errors.

I've taken the approach that these are volunteers donating their time and I don't want to make this an unpleasant experience, so I haven't been cracking the whip. Maybe I should change my attitude some.

Okay, some of that was venting... here's where I'd like some help/advice. I've been to other churches where everything runs VERY smoothly, so I'm wondering, for those of you that have a good operation, how do you run it? What kind of training do you offer new people? How long does it take new people to get proficient? How many people do have? Do you practice the slides when the band/choir/worship team practices?

I'm completely new to running things like this, so even the most basic advice would be appreciated.

I'm really feeling burdened by this, so prayers would be greatly appreciated as well!

 

[ALABALE]

Sixgun - Let's be completely open here: Just because they're volunteering doesn't mean they're good at it.
What may seem simple to you, may be a whole new learning experience to someone else - Difficult at that!!

Out of those 6 people - is there one that really stands out from the crowd? If so, take that person and become a SUPER MENTOR to them. Make sure they know everything that is needed to help you in having everything run smoothly.

EMPOWER them, give them OWNERSHIP - Let them know how important their job is! Instill in them YOUR passion about this!

You will really have to schedule training classes. Only you know if you can do it as a group or individually.

Be encouraged!

 

[Sixgun]

Sixgun - Let's be completely open here: Just because they're volunteering doesn't mean they're good at it.
What may seem simple to you, may be a whole new learning experience to someone else - Difficult at that!!

Out of those 6 people - is there one that really stands out from the crowd? If so, take that person and become a SUPER MENTOR to them. Make sure they know everything that is needed to help you in having everything run smoothly.

EMPOWER them, give them OWNERSHIP - Let them know how important their job is! Instill in them YOUR passion about this!

You will really have to schedule training classes. Only you know if you can do it as a group or individually.

Be encouraged!

Thanks. I think I will be offering training classes. There is one guy - a recent high school grad - that is picking it up better than the rest. I'll see if he's willing to take a more active role in things.

 

[YahsAncientRestoration]

IT takes practice its a lot of ratios or time. If you have a huge congregation your more likely to have some one computer friendly or young adults. While an older may be more difficult. Like Ala said just be patient and mentor them and show one or two some special care. Deffinately schedule some extra time to go over and i would suggest practicing with the band on their practice days.

I pray that all be effecient if they volunteered. But if some just dont pick up explain to them the importance of what you do and how the people view it. Explain that they are more than welcome to keep practicing to get better, but as of now you cant let them do it without someones help! Dont be nearly as blunt or as mean as i sounded above !

All in all, just pray father send you the skill and people you need. And praise father that you have people willing to volunteer, most churches cant get that!

 

[Sixgun]

IT takes practice its a lot of ratios or time. If you have a huge congregation your more likely to have some one computer friendly or young adults. While an older may be more difficult. Like Ala said just be patient and mentor them and show one or two some special care. Deffinately schedule some extra time to go over and i would suggest practicing with the band on their practice days.

I pray that all be effecient if they volunteered. But if some just dont pick up explain to them the importance of what you do and how the people view it. Explain that they are more than welcome to keep practicing to get better, but as of now you cant let them do it without someones help! Dont be nearly as blunt or as mean as i sounded above !

All in all, just pray father send you the skill and people you need. And praise father that you have people willing to volunteer, most churches cant get that!

I'm amazed that we have 6 other people who volunteered. Honestly, I expected maybe one or two. Our congregation has about 120 adults and about 80 children (God has blessed us mightily with children!!) I used to attend a church with 300 adults, and I'm sure I would have gotten maybe 4 volunteers.

My biggest fear is that I will have to tell someone that they're not working out. I hate hurting people's feelings. I know it might be necessary, though. I'm not the natural leader type, so at least this experience is helping to grow as a person!

 

[ALABALE]

I'm amazed that we have 6 other people who volunteered. Honestly, I expected maybe one or two. Our congregation has about 120 adults and about 80 children (God has blessed us mightily with children!!) I used to attend a church with 300 adults, and I'm sure I would have gotten maybe 4 volunteers.

My biggest fear is that I will have to tell someone that they're not working out. I hate hurting people's feelings. I know it might be necessary, though. I'm not the natural leader type, so at least this experience is helping to grow as a person!

You may feel you're not a "natural leader", but you have become a leader (whether you like it or not! LOL!)

Unfortunately, You may have to tell someone they're not working out. That is part of being a department leader. There's no way around that.

Another thing - Please note that you will normally get a 50% drop-out rate. What I mean is that out of the 6 people that are volunteering - don't be surprise if 3-4 of them drop out after a while.
There's always an excitement to get involved in doing something. But, when it comes down to actually doing the work and sacrificing time, they tend to drop out.
Don't be surprised when/if that happens.

Be encouraged!

 

[YahsAncientRestoration]

Telling somebody there not cut out for something doesnt have to be bad, instead just push them towards something that they may be good at. Even Sampson told his other men to leave and took 300 brave. Im in their heart if they are open to recieve they will be greatful you arent FORCING them to do something they arent good at!

 

[Sixgun]

Ouch. I just found out through the grapevine that the eldership of the church took up this issue and made decisions about how to correct it without anyone of them ever even telling me there was a problem. They didn't even give me a chance to fix things, which, as this thread demonstrates, I took the initiative to do. If they got impatient with the lack of progress, I don't understand why they wouldn't have just asked me to make some changes.

 

[YahsAncientRestoration]

I think there needs to be leadership but that kinda stuff really ticks me off. It happened at a church i attend occasionally. The pastor made a decision with almost no one backing it and didnt really care what anyones thoughts on it were! Although it may be a blessing in disguise for you!

 

[Joykins]

One of the things that helps is that when I project, I show up for the worship team rehearsal. I AND the worship leader pay attention so at least one of us will notice if there is a discrepancy between what is sequenced on the software and what they are intending to sing. Another thing that helps is the worship leader will set up the song lyrics before the rehearsal--so any discrepancies are minimized to begin with. If something seems really messed up I ask the worship leader to come to the sound booth and go over the verses for the whole song to make sure it's right. Using this system we have had no errors of verse sequence--going too fast or too slow through the screens is somewhere you are always going to have human error. And at least with the software we haven't had an upside-down slide for YEARS!

 

[Mskedi]

Could you set up two-person shifts where you pair up a more-skilled person with a less-skilled person? Or could you, for the next few weeks, sit in and watch them and see where the problem lies?