WHAT DO YOU PREFER ( ENCES )?
Speaking of optimizations , most modern performance software gives you the ability to designate start-up behavior for when the software is first opened . For example , MainStage gives you a good bit of control over what concert ( if any ) will be loaded when you start it up . Take some time to explore the preferences available to you in your software of choice filtered through the question ‘ If this software crashes , how can these settings speed up or slow down the process of getting it back to where I need it to be ?’
In the same vein , make sure that you don ’ t have any unnecessary software designated to load when your computer is first turned on . The extra time it takes your computer to start-up those unnecessary programs might not feel like a big deal when you ’ re at your desk at home , but those extra seconds will feel much longer when you are trying to restart your computer on stage during the third song in your setlist .
PRACTICE MAKES IT LESS PAINFUL
While we can do a lot to make crashes infrequent there ’ s always going to be a chance that something could go wrong during a service . That ’ s why it ’ s important to have a game-plan in place for how you ’ ll handle those scenarios and actually practice going through them until they become second nature .
If you have a backup hardware keyboard , communicate with your audio engineers so they are aware of how you ’ ll make the switch to those sounds and can be right there with you to make sure that you stay present in the mix .
Practice quickly reloading your software of choice , making note of where the things you need are and about how long it takes to get to them . This is especially important if you plan to be handing your software keys rig off to be used by volunteers during service . Everyone who steps behind that keys rig needs to know how to restart the software , the computer itself , what the password for the User Account is ( if you absolutely need to have one , though I
recommend skipping that for computers meant for this purpose ), etc .
CRASH
Lastly , visualize and rehearse how you want to focus your energy and efforts in moments where things meltdown . Prepare for the feeling of anxiety and acknowledge in advance that while it might feel all-important in those moments , it ’ s not actually the end of the world .
Yes , it ’ s important to prepare and do what we can to avoid unnecessary distractions for ourselves and for our congregations , but as in every other area of the worship team at the end of the day we trust that if we bring of ourselves , God will make something of it greater than our individual contributions alone could ever be .
David Pfaltzgraff Founder and Lead Sound Designer at SundaySounds . com , a site that resources worship keys players and guitarists around the world . David currently resides in Des Moines , IA with his wife and two boys . He enjoys volunteering in his church ’ s worship ministry , old synthesizers , and a good super-hero movie .
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