GUITARGRABBAG
A PRACTICAL PRIMER ON PRESENCE
In our last issue of Guitar Grab Bag, I talked
CONTROL YOUR AREA
rehearsal figuring out how NOT to stand there.
about Performing vs. Leading. If you missed it,
If you played in a rock band at your local club,
Where can you move that gives you options?
go check it out! It will give you some insight into
you would almost be expected to step forward
this issue’s column and help you understand
for a guitar solo at some point. In the worship
SHARE THE JOY
where I’m coming from.
environment (especially when there’s lighting
Experiencing a great worship time is not unlike
involved), I tend to see that, even if it was
seeing a great band in concert. The execution of
When it comes to participating in a worship
encouraged and needed, a guitarist couldn’t
the music is excellent, but there’s another part
environment where I’m not leading or playing, I
move out of their position for a number of
to it as well: everyone looks like they’re having
wrestle with a lot of distractions: Does the band
reasons. Maybe you’re tethered to a personal
a good time! When we stand on a platform
sound right? Is the mix good? Are they playing
mixer of some kind, or surrounded by wedge
to lead worship, we don’t come dreading the
the right parts? Are they tight and cohesive
monitors. Whatever your scenario looks like,
experience - or at least, we shouldn’t! - but we
or does it feel like they’ve never played a
find a way to move out of your little box.
come with an expectation of enjoying ourselves
single note together? Do they look like they’re
This is especially helpful when it comes to
in the doing of it. It SHOULD be a joy. We are
enjoying the worship time or is it a chore and a
team interaction.
playing for our King, so enjoy yourself! Laugh,
bore? Does the team (and the leader, for that
shout, sing, dance (or Holy Hop!) out of the
matter) look nervous or do I feel like they know
Practical Tip #2: Route cords to the side or out
JOY that you get to experience as a result of
what they’re doing and where they are going?
of the way so you could move off your grid.
the way you serve.
Am I being led somewhere?
Standing in one place the whole worship set
isn’t somehow holier because you stood still.
Some or all of these questions aren’t necessarily
Practical Tip #4: Since you already know the
songs you’re playing (right?), look around at the
consciously thought, but more perceived. And
PRACTICE MOVING SO YOU KNOW HOW
rest of the band. Smile at someone, and make
yet, I believe all of them can be addressed by a
Ok, this is one that I am completely stealing
eye contact.
worship team as you prepare!
from my good friend, Tom Jackson, but it bears
repeating: if you don’t practice moving, you
Hopefully, if you apply some of these things,
So that this article doesn’t take up the whole
won’t move. People may not know anything
the end result is that you as a musician feel
magazine, I want to talk specifically about how
about music, but they’re excellent readers of
more comfortable on-stage, and that helps
things look from the congregation’s perspective
body language. If you seem uncomfortable
the people you lead in worship each week to
and some practical ways to improve their
on stage, everyone in the audience who is
be more comfortable and able to engage with
experience on Sundays.
trying to connect with God will see you and
our Heavenly Father more easily as we worship
be uncomfortable for you. Hillsong did us all a
together!
GET RID OF BARRIERS
huge favor when they introduced what I’d like
People want to feel included in the worship
to call the “Holy Hop.” It gave us all something
experience, drawn in, and invited. How would
to do that wasn’t dancing but was more than
they feel if you were hiding most of your face?
just standing still - I love it! But there’s more to
You already have a guitar strapped on, and
a worship set than just one kind of song, and
maybe a microphone stand. . . and that huge
there should be more to you than just lifting
pedalboard. Adding a music stand is just one
your hand in a particularly worshipful moment
more way the congregation is excluded and
or hopping up and down on the fast songs. If
pushed away.
you felt like you needed to step back, do you
know where to step to keep from falling over
Practical Tip #1: Have someone stand in
and landing in the kick drum?
your place and walk out to the middle of the
auditorium. How does it look? Does it feel
Practical Tip #3: Make an X on the stage where
inviting or isolating?
you normally stand, then spend all of your
40
May June 2016
WorshipMusician.com
JEFFREY B. SCOTT
Lives in Atlanta, GA with his
wife & 3 kids and is deadset
on delivering his best for
God’s glory. Guitarist, vocalist, producer & songwriter.