EVENT DESIGN
 
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EVENT DESIGN: CONCERT
 
Distracting noise and movement are critical problems for acoustic music and storytelling (sermons too) - presentations that depend on subtlety and reflection for full effect. So we must talk about children. Generally, children like what I do and they are an appreciated part of my audience. But keep this in mind -- my concerts are adult events that young people enjoy (not the other way around). For this reason, children and young people (ages 7-14) should have adults sitting near or next to them. Children should not sit alone, particularly on the front row (and that's where they often want to sit). I suggest this be dealt with by working with their care-taking adults. A pre-show announcement usually suffices. Small children and infants (6 years and younger) will not make it through my presentation and will distract and disturb the people sitting around them. This isn't fair to anyone. A nursery is recommended. If a constant disturbance arises, please have someone standing by to intervene. Please.
 
Concerts run 1:10 to 1:20 in length. In most cases, I open a concert with no introduction. A "free-will" offering taken at church concerts can go to your budget to reduce your costs, can be used to raise funds for a project or can be added to my honorarium. If you want to do this, I will arrange a break towards the end of the show. This break is not an intermission - folks don't get up - it's just a pause for the offering. During the offering, announcements can be made and/or I will play music or come out and talk to the audience. The folks who do the offering should not return it to the front. At the end of the break, I can be welcomed back with a brief introduction, and if the concert has been going well, a word of thanks. If the concert has not gone well, we can pass the plates again and folks can take their money back.
 
I carry a sound system that will cover audiences of between 100 and 400 people. An average audience is around 200. For concerts of 400+, a larger sound system may be required. If needed, I also carry a small stage and also some lighting.
 
I will need an area and a table on which to make my recordings available after a concert. Since I am usually occupied at this table following a show, I prefer that no receptions, programs or gatherings be planned after a concert. There are no sales following worship services.
 
I strongly discourage outdoor performances. Because of traffic (air and ground) and other competing outdoor noises, not to mention weather problems, it is difficult for an acoustic music/storytelling act to command quality attention. It is hard to attain the intimacy necessary for good communication. Indoors, I recommend against seating folks on the floor - an audience's attention span is directly related to their comfort.
 
I will plan to arrive an hour before a program. It takes about :15 minutes to move my equipment in, :15 to hook it up and do a sound check, and leave some time to get out of the way, change clothes, and tune up. When it comes to setting up and tearing down, I can do the moving in and out myself. "Pumping PA" is an important part of my personal exercise program. I handle the heavy stuff with my hand truck. But one or two helping hands are always appreciated.
 
 
EVENT DESIGN: WORSHIP
 
Sermons consist of 2 to 3 story/song vignettes. Each package is 8-12 minutes in length. The sermon will run 20-25 minutes. If you are accustomed to having a children's sermon, I like to do that part of the service too. It takes an additional 6-8 minutes. In order to make room for the length of my portions of the service, I suggest that you consider leaving out special music, and/or a hymn or two (see "benediction").
 
My presentations are taken from the experiences and teachings of Jesus, but they are done in such a way that sometimes folks don't recognize them. It is instructive to have the appropriate Gospel selection read or I can read the scripture reading for the day.
 
In so far as is possible and practical, I prefer that each of these elements be placed in their customary slots in your usual order of worship. Even though my method of presentation may be new to many people, I do not like to lose the trust and comfort values gained by respecting their ritual. It is important to me for people to see what I do and say as coming-from and applying-to their traditional experience of worship as opposed to being an alternative form of worship or a performance. I try to save the entertainment values for my concerts. Also, for this reason, when I am introduced during the service, I prefer this be done during the announcements, not just before the sermon.
 
If the order of service will allow it, I like to go directly from the end of the sermon to and through the benediction myself. This eliminates the closing hymn. If a closing hymn is desired or if there are other elements of the service that need to follow the sermon, I still like to lead the benediction. The acolytes should put out the candles when I ask the congregation to stand for the benediction. The organist/pianist should have a postlude ready when I close the benediction by saying, "We go in peace to serve God."
 
If the service is to be recorded or goes out on radio or TV, to hearing devices or to a "cry room" or nursery, a feed can be arranged by placing a mike from your system a few feet in front of my system. Worship services may be recorded for non-commercial use by the host church. Due to contract restrictions, concerts may not be recorded for any purpose.
 
 
EVENT DESIGN: CONFERENCES & RETREATS
 
At conferences, conventions, festivals and retreats, I serve as keynote presenter, theme interpreter or featured artist. As keynote, I use music and storytelling to do feature presentations. As theme interpreter, I do supplemental material around other presenters. In either case, I would expect to do a feature concert as one of the sessions of the event. If the event calls for a song leader or recreation leader (for games, crowd breakers, etc), I can provide only limited help.
 
It is helpful if possible, to schedule all of my presentations for the same work area. Moving my set-up is extra work. It takes :15 minutes to tear down and another :15 to move it and get it working again. Care should be taken to protect my equipment and make it secure between sessions. In most cases, my sound system will be available for others to use at an event. A disk player, iPod or computer can be plugged in to it.
 
- updated 11.1.11