Describe your confidence level as a worship leader . How confident are you as a speaker ? As a vocalist ? As a musician ? What does confidence look like ? How do we strive to be “ Better by Sunday ?”
As we define confidence , we must acknowledge that there are lines separating confidence and arrogance ( as well as self-deprecation for that matter ). We need to guard from pride ( arrogance ), but it serves no good to underexpect ( self-deprecation ) from ourselves . The goal on the platform must be excellence . Psalm 33:3 tells us to “ Sing to Him a new song ; Play skillfully , and shout for joy .”
So , let ’ s try to answer the big question . What does confidence look like ? That begs another question … what does a lack of confidence look like ? If you regularly read my capo articles , last month , I encouraged you to select and watch random church livestreams and evaluate them . Watch your own first . This is never to be critical , but to learn … to become “ Better by Sunday .”
Still analyzing the above questions … do the people on platform appear to be confident ? Do they know the words to the songs they are leading ? Do they know the music ? If you can recognize it on video , then know that the people in the congregation recognize it as well .
How do you know if they know the words ? Well , almost all of us have a “ confidence monitor ” ( of all things to call it ). Sometimes I watch livestreams and the folks on platform appear to have everything memorized , I can see them making eye contact with the people in the congregation and with each other … looking completely natural . Then in other instances , I see livestreams where the vocalists look like a deer caught in the headlights with a glazed , frozen stare that is up and over the people in the congregation . It appears that they are either scared to death or they simply can ’ t remember three words in a row . Others do the same with iPads and music stands . Oh , I am not a fan of iPads / stands and I don ’ t hesitate to express it . Don ’ t get me wrong , I love my iPad and use it to organize and rehearse every week . But it stays in my bag during service .
... I ’ m trying to be gentle but , here ’ s the thing with iPads and music stands … First , they are a barrier between the “ worship leaders ” and the congregation visually and attention-wise .
The only thing worse than the confidencemonitor-stare ( only by a little ) is the iPad-stare . Now , I ’ m trying to be gentle but , here ’ s the thing with iPads and music stands … First , they are a barrier between the “ worship leaders ” and the congregation visually and attention-wise . Secondly , they breed a lack of confidence ... speaking from personal experience .
Testimony time . Back before the iPad was invented , I already had an intolerance for music stands . As a worship pastor who sometimes got ahead of myself wanting to lead the newest songs being released , there were times I would find myself scared I would forget the chords to a new song . So , I would place the chart at my feet . Just knowing the chart was there , I could feel an overwhelming doubt of my memory and I would end up endlessly staring at the chart . I had to make the hardline decision that there would be no charts . I just had to know the music .
Today , there are iPads with Bluetooth page turners for your feet … chord charts that can be cast onto the “ confidence monitor ,” and even more options . Think about it please . We keep adding technology that makes it more possible to keep charts visible for those who are supposed to be leading people .
As worship leaders , if we are having to concentrate on music and lyrics , how much leading are we doing ? Roles of a worship leader : 1 . Teacher 2 . Tour Guide 3 . Example . How engaging is a teacher who reads notes from a script ? How effective is a tour guide who has to read the map ? How can we be an example of worship , showing what it looks like to freely worship the living God when we can ’ t break free from a chord chart ?
What makes a teacher or tour guide effective ? Personal and direct communication and eye contact . If you ever have the opportunity to sit in one of Tom Jackson ’ s classes , you ’ ll learn some techniques that help to break barriers between the platform and the seats . You ’ ll also learn that it ’ s important to look like you ’ re having fun . Worship is a serious thing , but if the only thing we show people is serious concentration , then we are not fully communicating the joy of the Lord !
So , maybe it ’ s time to break the chains that have kept you or your team tethered to distractions when you are supposed to be minimizing them . Try reducing how many words you ’ re putting on the screen . Small phrases are easier to grasp at a glance than long lines which force you to read . Ditch the music during service . Trust yourself . Listen to the music changes and just play . Get out of the rut … leave the nest !
Mitch Bohannon Mitch developed the Short-Cut Capo for Kyser and is the Director of Live Production at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles , Louisiana .
August 2024 Subscribe for Free ... 23