leadership and strategy means we understand the pressure and complexity of ministry at scale. A lot of churches don’ t know what they need. And a lot of integrators expect churches to show up with the answers. We speak both languages and drive the bus toward the right long-term solution— for gear, people, and culture. Sometimes we’ re defending the church’ s vision. Sometimes we’ re helping them clarify it. But either way, we’ re in their corner— leading with experience and advocating for what’ s best long-term.
[ WM ] Thoughts on drum cages? Are you using sound deflectors? Are they working well?
[ Lee ] Two things can be true at the same time: I love them and I hate them. I hate what they do to the energy and connection in a room— isolating drums can make everything feel sterile and disconnected. But I also love them when they’ re necessary. If a church needs to stay under 91 or 92 dBA, a cage or some level of isolation is almost mandatory. It’ s not ideal, but it’ s practical.
I’ ve used shields and half enclosures when needed. They can help manage volume and stage bleed, but they’ re never my first choice. I’ d much rather solve the problem with good design, smart mic’ ing, and intentional mixing— but sometimes isolation is just the cost of doing business.
[ WM ] Can you name a few Worship albums that inspire you?
[ Lee ] Empires by Hillsong UNITED is probably my favorite worship album ever. I’ m a little biased, but it still holds up. That said … I honestly don’ t listen to much modern worship music anymore. I’ m kinda over it until something changes. It all sounds the same— same structure, same snare sample, same vibe. It’ s gotten stale.
These days I’ m more into podcasts— golf, politics, comedy— or I’ ll listen to whatever music’ s actually good. Secular, indie, even
Christian stuff that’ s a little off the beaten path. Labeling it feels weird. If it’ s good, I’ ll listen— whether it’ s pulling lyrics from the Bible or it’ s Morgan Wallen or Cardi B. I’ m just a fan of creative, well-made music.
[ WM ] Words of encouragement or advice for other tech teams?
[ Lee ] If you want to get better, treat this like a real craft. Skills are skills— whether you’ re an athlete or a creative. You don’ t get good by just showing up once a week and winging it. You need reps. You need feedback. You need to watch the tape. And yeah, in our world, that means recording your mix, listening back, asking others you trust what they hear, and being willing to admit what needs to improve. There’ s no scoreboard in church audio, so it’ s easy to drift or settle— but if you want to grow, you’ ve got to chase the reps and find the data. Be analytical. Be honest with yourself. And
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