Explore every episode of the podcast The ChurchGear Podcast
Dive into the complete episode list for The ChurchGear Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
Best Takeaways [Pastors & Production Series Pt.6]
02 Sep 2024
00:50:15
What were the biggest takeaways from the Pastors & Production podcast series?
For our final episode in the series we discuss the biggest moments, the stats from the survey and wrap with the best quote from the series.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 What was Toby like working at churches in his 20s?
5:45 BD joins us to wrap up the Pastors & Production Series
7:15 Stats about Pastors & Production people’s relationship
12:45 Top takeaways from the series
13:00 “It takes reps to build a relationship”
15:50 Mistakes are fine as long as they aren’t consistent
17:40 Its not a show
19:30 Know your city and customize your service to it
22:00 Have a personal friendship with your pastor
26:45 Understand their role and have them understand yours
31:00 Healthy relationships have conflict
35:45 Who do you pay on Sunday mornings?
38:00 Don’t waste your time on sideways energy
42:00 Encouragement for techs with a tough pastor relationship
44:00 Best Quotes from the series
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Whit George & Johnathan Basquez of Church on the Move [Pastors & Production Series Pt.5]
26 Aug 2024
01:03:15
How do you fill big shoes together as a team?
Whit George & Johnathan Basquez join us for the "Pastors & Production" Series to discuss filling the shoes of Willie George & Andrews Stone and how they work together as a team to continue leading Church on the Move forward.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Visiting states, nations and filling shoes
4:30 Whit George & Johnathan Basquez join us for the Pastor & Production Series!
10:30 What was it like stepping into the shoes of Andrew Stone & Willie George?
19:30 What churches do you look to for inspiration?
22:45 How do you balance your pastor’s vision with production’s constraints?
33:45 How do you handle conflict with your pastor as a church tech?
36:00 How involved are church production people in service planning?
37:20 Pastor, how involved should church production be in service planning?
43:00 Does worship and production have equal voice at COTM?
48:00 What direction is COTM heading and upcoming trends in the American church?
53:50 As a pastor, what do you wish all church techs knew about their pastor?
56:45 As a church production person, what do you wish all pastor’s knew about their church techs?
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Volunteer Recruiting & Training [1st Baptist Orlando's Bobby Falconnier]
24 Jun 2024
00:45:24
How do you recruit and train church production volunteers?
Bobby Falconnier is the broadcast manager at First Baptist Orlando church and he joins us for a volunteer deep dive.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Impersonations
4:30 Bobby Falconnier joins us!
12:45 How do you find church production volunteers?
30:00 Working for a manufacturer vs a church
35:00 Disaster story
37:35 Tech Takeaway on spending the right amount
41:45 Church Tech Confessional: Try what patch?
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Adam Taylor, Confessions & Relationships over Gear [Central Church in Vegas]
03 Oct 2022
00:55:44
Can ministry be done in a place that literally goes by the moniker "Sin City"?
Adam Taylor is the production director for Central Church in Las Vegas
In this episode you'll hear:
0:25 Blake confesses to Toby
2:30 MxU tour times, Amplio After Party, Late Night Madness
7:30 Adam Taylor from Central Church in Las Vegas joins!
12:30 Adam meeting Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul!?!?
17:00 Toby murders trees
21:30 Doing ministry in Sin City, Las Vegas
27:10 Volunteer culture at Central Church
32:20 Adam always trying to improve the setup
37:00 People are more important than gear
40:00 Blake Vs. Adam: Artists in residency in Vegas
49:45 Tech Takeaway on importance of relationships
Plugs: Check out Central Church's Worship tour dates!
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Zach Kimrey on burnout and hard conversations [Elevation Church & Skylark Integration]
26 Sep 2022
00:50:35
How do you go from "I will not do this" to "I will work here"?
Zach was at an event for Elevation in one moment and in the next, he ended up working there and attending. He is now serving the church with Skylark Integration.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Touring Life vs. Church Life & Hacking a bad room [Gene Kim]
19 Sep 2022
01:08:13
How does the touring road life compare to the weekly church tech rhythm?
Gene Kim joins us this week to tell us about his time on the road, some disaster stories and a church tech hack that blows Toby away.
In this episode you'll hear:
2:05 Toby gets robbed
9:45 We bring in Gene Kim
21:50 Gene’s start in tech
29:00 Disaster story
41:20 How much should I spend on church production gear?
48:15 Is touring life better than church tech production?
52:50 Church tech coffee???
59:00 Hacking a bad room to sound better
Plugs
Reach out to Gene for Coaching on Instagram
Use code ChurchGear for 10% off at Crew Brew coffee
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
WorshipLeaderProbs, Brian Tabor! [Isolation in Church Life]
12 Sep 2022
00:50:12
What do you do when everyone in your field starts confessing their problems to you?
Brian Tabor found this to be his situation a few years ago when he started Worship Leader Probs after being in the worship leader life for 2+ decades.
In this episode you'll hear:
2:30 Toby’s worship leader fails
9:25 We bring in Brian Tabor
16:10 Brian begins to have worship leader problems
25:00 Encouraging Tech Directors BTS work
31:00 Should worship and tech be the same department?
32:55 Who dies first? Tech and Worship switch places
35:45 Who has the worst problems? Worship leaders or Tech Directors?
40:55 Church work is isolating
44:50 Tech Takeaway on connecting with all your coworkers and volunteers
Plugs: Check him out on Instagram and his podcast, Worship Leaders Probs.
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Sweet Pete! [Production Director at Sun Grove Church]
05 Sep 2022
00:59:25
How do you go from working in news to becoming the production director at Sun Grove Church?
Sweet Pete joins us to tell us how! He is the Program/Production Director there and has worked in the overall tech universe for many years now!
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 We play “crazy person” or celebrity sighting
7:45 We have “Sweet Pete!”
18:00 Getting his church tech director start
21:30 Doing the News vs. Church Tech Directing
31:10 Serving church tech volunteers well
40:00 Sweet Pete’s Dream jobs
43:00 God won’t let Sweet Pete leave Sacramento CA
50:45 Tech Takeaway on done vs. perfect and humility
Plugs: Hangout with Pete on Instagram or reach out to him directly via email at p.wright@sungrove.org.
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
David Mendoza on being a young TD at a Megachurch [Mount Paran]
29 Aug 2022
00:42:31
How do you get people to take you seriously as a church tech director when they watched you grow up?
David Mendoza is the director of production at Mount Paran Church in Atlanta.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Toby tours churches in Atlanta
6:45 We introduce David Mendoza from Mount Paran church
11:00 Challenges of being a young tech director at a megachurch
20:00 Mount Paran’s massive system upgrade
31:00 Sending people off well (To the Braves!)
38:00 Tech Takeaway on having joy outside of the gear
Plugs: Hangout with David on Instagram and reach out to him by email at: Davidm@mountparan.com
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Jeff Sandstrom [MxU Co-Founder]
22 Aug 2022
01:06:48
We all know Jeff Sandstrom of MxU and Chris Tomlin fame! But how did Jeff become the Jeff Sandstrom we all know and love?
He joins the ChurchGear podcast this week to tell us! We also play "Guess that Song" and "Would you rather".
In this episode you'll hear:
1:40 Toby’s video with Will Smith and MxU
7:00 We introduce Jeff Sandstrom
18:50 How did Jeff become Jeff Sandstrom?
26:00 What’s the worst gear Jeff could mix on and it still sound great?
28:00 "Would you rather" gear edition
38:55 Jeff's work with Summit Integrations
44:00 How do you follow the worship leader’s flow?
51:15 "Name that song" Jeff vs. Blake
Plugs:
Join us at the MxU live tour in Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta
Check out our video with them for "Smash or Cash" and "What's in your closet?!"
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Scott Ragsdale mixing for Oprah, Beyonce, Joe Bonamassa, and Willow Creek [The Crossing Church]
15 Aug 2022
00:59:15
Would you pass out if you deleted Beyonce's show file?
Scott Ragsdale almost did. He's mixed for Beyonce, Oprah, Joe Banamassa and Willow Creek church where he was a church tech for years.
He is now mixing at The Crossings at Chesterfield church.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:10 Toby’s gear run through St. Louis
5:15 We introduce Scott Ragsdale
11:38 Mixing Oprah
18:00 Drinking Barry Manilow’s wine
19:30 Scott’s church tech start
25:30 The things Scott loved at Willow Creek church
31:00 Working with Joe Banamassa
38:30 Going back to the church tech life
46:00 Disaster story with Beyonce
51:00 Tech Takeaway on pushing forward beyond a lack of gear
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Cory Edwards on Elevation, Touring, and Eating Raw Liver [Studio Mixer]
08 Aug 2022
00:55:11
How do you bring the uniqueness of Elevation worship tours to your church?
Cory Edwards has some advice that you'll be able to use immediately.
Cory has been a FOH engineer for Elevation worship, Lauren Daigle and many more. He is now focusing on studio mixing at his home in Franklin TN.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:30 Guess the celebrities Toby saw in CA
7:40 Toby creeps Cory’s doppelganger out
10:10 Five Truths and a Lie with Cory
16:55 Cory’s path into production
23:00 Mixing on the road
24:00 Mixing with physical gear
27:00 Gear that will improve your setup
29:00 Elevation worship tours
31:30 Touring live vs. Mixing in the studio
33:00 Bringing the uniqueness of worship tours to your church
39:45 Disaster story
45:00 “Who said it”
48:00 Tech Takeaway on stepping up on stage to say hello
Plugs: Check out his site here or on Instagram here.
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
From Lifelong Church Tech to Family Mentor [Wally Grant, Uganda]
01 Aug 2022
00:56:18
When you've been in church tech for 30 years, what do you do next? Go to Uganda of course!
Wally Grant is the former director of audio at Saddleback church and former Sr. Consultant at Clark. He is now a family mentor at the Amazima school in Uganda.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:15 A Monkey eats all the prescription medicine
5:17 We introduce Wally Grant!
12:45 Wally bumps into Bob (Zimmerman) Dylan
18:10 Wally’s time at Saddleback and Clark Integrators
24:30 How did Wally end up in Uganda
28:00 Balancing audio and your marriage
31:00 Having boundary conversations with your pastor
34:30 Better gear isn’t always better
38:15 Life in Uganda
41:35 How to have a close church tech team
43:15 How to support Uganda’s ministry
48:45 Tech Takeaway on reading the manual and never stop learning
Plugs: https://amazima.org and reach out to Wally here: wgrant@amazima.org
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Production Promotions & EAW Line Arrays [Long Hollow's Tim Wagoner]
17 Jun 2024
00:49:54
How do you transition from being an individual AVL lead to becoming the leader for the entire church production team?
Tim Wagoner joins us from Long Hollow church to talk about his recent promotion, their decision to buy EAW line arrays and more!
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Best Beaches in America
5:30 Tim Wagoner joins us!
18:00 How did Tim become a church tech professional?
22:00 Moving from Audio Lead to Leading Church Production
32:30 Is EAW a good church line array for sightlines?
38:40 Longhollow Church’s Biggest Production Issues
40:15 Disaster Story: “There was no audio, period.”
44:30 Tech Takeaway
46:45 Church Tech Confessional: “Broken package”
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Leaving your Church so Well You Can Return [Prestonwood Baptist’s Bryan Bailey]
23 Jul 2022
01:02:25
How do you leave your church so well that you're able to take a job at that same church again in the future?
Bryan Bailey is the director of media at Prestonwood Baptist Church and has been working in church tech for over two decades.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:20 Toby explores a 90,000 sq ft warehouse
9:08 We introduce Bryan Bailey
19:25 Bryan’s start as a Church Tech
34:00 Leaving so well you can come back
46:00 What is a church media director?
52:30 Who is Cuban Pete?
55:00 Tech takeaway on the importance of having and using your checklist
Plugs: Worshipmediaman is Bryan's handle. Prestonwood.jobs to apply to work with Bryan!
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Alex Fuller on Saying No Strategically [LD at Zion City Church]
18 Jul 2022
00:43:32
What do you do when Covid has canceled all the live events? Do you got back to the Church Tech Director life?
Alex is the Pastor of live Production at Zion City - Southwest and owner of Production & Lighting design at Fuller Lights.
In this episode you'll hear:
2:00 Toby hacks the Penske truck system
4:40 We introduce Alex Fuller, Lighting Design Director at Zion Church
13:00 Alex’s journey into the Church Tech Life
16:30 Saying no strategically
18:20 How does a small church make a “Bethel Level” production?
24:00 How do you pull people into worship with lighting design?
28:00 Why is church lighting the third letter in AVL?
32:00 Going back to church post Covid
39:00 Tech Takeaway on small, constant improvements
Plugs: Email him at fullerlights@gmail.com and reach him online at fullerlights.com
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Dennis Choy on Building Church Tech Teams [Saddleback Church]
11 Jul 2022
01:01:16
How do you recruit and build a church tech team in a post Covid world?
Dennis Choy is the church tech director at Saddleback Church in California. He has spent his years training teams to accomplish more together than they ever could separately.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Toby’s first time at Saddleback Church
7:20 We introduce Dennis Choy
15:05 Turning down the FBI
18:55 Mixing for Switchfoot
30:25 Why church techs are leaving ministry
37:45 Saddleback Church’s training for church tech volunteers
43:40 New Amplio camera set up
47:10 Challenges as Saddleback’s Tech director
50:00 Recruiting for your church tech team
53:20 Tech Takeaway on not arguing on the weekends
Plugs
Connect with Dennis at churchtechcoach@gmail.com
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Stephen Brewster on Creativity and Producing Elevation Worships records [Live @ FILO]
04 Jul 2022
00:49:42
How do you go from moving to Nashville to escape music to producing Elevation's albums?
Stephen Brewster leads the Harmony Group and helps churches like Elevation release original music.
In this episode:
1:00 Toby’s recent celebrity sightings
9:33 We introduce Stephen Brewster at FILO
21:45 Christian music’s critical component
24:30 Why every church should write original music
26:45 How many Elevation records are actually live?
29:30 How Stephen knows if he will work with a church or not
33:55 The process of getting an album created
36:00 A literal angel sang on the record?
38:20 Encouragement for continuing ministry
40:00 Creating the Elevation look at smaller churches
42:00 Tech Takeaway on pressing pause and creating creativity
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
College for Church Techs with Ryan Loche [The Belonging Co]
27 Jun 2022
00:40:00
Should church techs go to college if they’ve already got a job offer?
If they’re halfway through college, should they drop out for a job offer to be a church tech full time?
Ryan Loche is the academic director at the Beloningco college and a PhD student at Liberty University. He joins us to discuss education’s role in a church tech director’s life.
In this episode you'll hear:
0:40 Toby’s college years
4:36 We introduce Ryan Loche at the FILO conference
8:23 Running 1,500 light cues at once
10:20 Meeting Weird AL Yankovic
12:20 The Belonging Co Origin Story
14:10 The next generation of church tech directors
22:05 Should church techs go to college?
25:12 The practical side of college for church techs
27:15 Post covid burnout for church techs
31:00 Hard conversations course
34:00 What we miss out on by dropping out of college
35:30 Tech Takeaway on having fun as a team & forgiving mistakes
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Church of the Highlands LD, Griffin McCravy [Live @ FILO]
20 Jun 2022
00:57:18
How do you run one of the largest churches in America with mostly volunteers?
Griffin McCray is the Broadcast Lighting Director for the Church of the Highlands in Alabama and he joins us to discuss lighting, salary offers, and how he became the lighting professional he looked up too as a kid.
1:00 Toby stumbles into a massive church stock room
6:14 We introduce Griffin McCravy!
13:25 Five Truths and a Lie
23:00 The start of Griffin’s lighting director role
24:50 Volunteers run Church of the Highlands
29:00 Can church techs wear a non black shirt?
32:32 Pulling in the congregation with lighting design
39:00 AVL Church Tech Department Battles
42:20 Church of the Highlands’s Christmas service
44:00 What it’s like learning audio, video and lighting
45:30 Griffin’s proudest moment as a lighting director
48:00 Tech Takeaway on honestly on our salaries and offers
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Kempers, Amps and Saving Historic Sounds [Tone Junkie’s HW]
13 Jun 2022
00:47:54
How do you save the sounds of all the iconic amps that rock legends and contemporary christian artists have used throughout the years?
Tone Junkie’s HW joins us this week to tell us about his love for kempers and his quest to capture all of the amp sounds around the globe.
0:28 Blake and Jonah go to a church’s gear warehouse
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Jake Gosselin on Common Problems and Less Being More [ChurchFront]
06 Jun 2022
00:48:12
How does a worship pastor turn into a full-time YouTube creator and consultant for churches?
After working as a worship pastor for years, Jake discovered that all music ministries have similar problems that he fixed so he now consults, coaches, and creates courses for worship and tech ministries via his company ChurchFront.
1:30 Toby confesses to a felony
6:37 We introduce Jake Gosselin
12:40 How ChurchFront serves Church Techs
19:00 How Church Techs and Worship Leaders can work better together
23:15 Common problems for the solo church tech volunteer
26:15 Common mistakes Jake sees consulting for churches
34:40 ChurchFront’s courses and consulting
37:50 Toby gives the details on his terrible first headshot
40:30 Disaster story on complacent computers
42:50 Tech takeaway on less being more
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Garth Brooks’s Keyboard Player on Playing the Background [Blair Masters]
30 May 2022
00:52:32
How do you go from failing your piano lessons to playing keys for Garth Brooks in front of 80,000 people?
This week we are joined by one of the world’s most storied keyboard players, Blair Masters! He has played Saturday night Live, Garth Brooks concerts and still volunteers Sunday mornings at church.
1:27 Where the Nord is The Lord is
6:45 We introduce Blair Masters
15:45 Blair plays hardball with Garth Brooks
18:34 Blair’s background
27:35 Blair’s advice for playing Sunday morning services
29:14 Imitating Jeff Beck in front of Jeff Beck
31:40 Blair’s favorite show/session of all time
35:15 “Oh crap moment” on dying consoles
41:40 Tech Takeaway on having good charts
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Mixing FOH for Crowder, Sunday Services and Murder Attempts by Speakers [Quinton Kelley]
23 May 2022
00:44:13
If a full line array crushed you on day two of a tour, could you continue? Q joins us this week to discuss his years of being a church tech, his time mixing FOH for Crowder and why safety is important for setting up shows!
Quinton Kelley is the front of house mixer for Crowder, a frequent freelancer and mixer for local churches and production manager at Backstage Productions.
1:13 “Four Truths and a Lie about Crowder”
6:40 We play “5 Truths and a Lie” with Quinton Kelley
17:45 Q’s journey into the church tech life
24:20 Difference between mixing Crowder’s shows and Sunday services
26:50 “It recalls nothing” near disaster story when mixing Crowder
30:55 Favorite live sound moment of all time [God really loves us]
33:05 Artists Q dreams about mixing for
34:50 Q’s favorite mixing console of all time
37:00 Tech Takeaway on being spirit lead instead of technically rigid
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Mixing for Hillsong & Live Album Recordings [James Hurley]
10 Jun 2024
01:10:30
What were the early days of mixing for Hillsong like?
James Hurley is a mix engineer who has worked with Hillsong, Kari & Cody, Mosaic and more. He joins us to discuss his early days with Hillson, live production albums and more this week on the ChurchGear Podcast
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 The Guys Get Gue in their ears for InEars
5:45 James Hurley joins! [5 Truths & a Lie]
15:00 James’s journey into church production
19:00 What was it like doing production for Hillsong United?
25:00 How “Live” are “Live Worship Albums”?
38:30 You can only pick one piece of gear for your setup.
40:45 How do you pay your church production people correctly?
1:03:00 Tech Takeaway: Love your neighbor as yourself
1:07:00 Church Tech Confessional: "We had budget leftover....so"
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Lee Fields on Hard Conversations, Learning New Gear and Cowboy Boots [MxU]
16 May 2022
01:09:18
You know him. You love him. We have Lee Fields with us this week!
We talk with him about his time co-founding MxU, church production trends and a mountain of antics and random opinions on (but not included to) cowboy boots and jet skis.
0:53 Toby’s dad should literally be dead after this story
9:45 We introduce MxU’s Lee Fields
13:10 Lee sits next to Justin Bieber (celebrities at church)
21:10 We FINALLY transition over to MxU’s origin story and purpose
34:48 Bootstrapping in the early days of MxU
36:22 Who originally raised the bar in the church production world?
39:25 Where will the next church tech trends come from in the production world?
43:10 The church setups Lee’s enjoyed the most over the years
45:00 Lee’s approach to learning new Tech concepts
50:10 Disaster story: Losing the PA during Bayside’s Christmas service
54:02 “Who said it” about Lee Fields
58:55 Lee builds his dream production gear setup
1:01:30 Tech Takeaway on vocals and hard conversations
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Broadcasting Well with King Williams (Broadcast Engineer for the Grand Ole Opry)
09 May 2022
00:58:37
The Grand Ole Opry is iconic and the venue's reach is immense.
King Williams stops by to tell his story of going from a guy fixing gear on Nashville’s Music Row to the Broadcast Engineer for the Grand Ole Opry.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 The dangers of setting a drink on a console
6:00 We introduce King Williams (Broadcast Engineer at the Grand Ole Opry)
11:00 King’s wife wants him to look like Keith Urban to “spice things up”
14:45 King’s path to becoming the Broadcast Engineer at the Grand Ole Opry
30:35 The session that got King the job at the Opry
37:00 The three mixes that happen at the Opry & King’s inspiration
38:00 King’s advice on broadcasting your services well
42:23 The Grand Ole Opry’s secret sauce to broadcasting well
47:08 King’s favorite artists that he’s worked with at the Grand Ole Opry
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
FILO's Todd Elliott on Valuing your Time and Trying New Things
28 Apr 2022
00:48:32
What if we’re the ones putting pressure on ourselves to work 80 hour weeks?
Todd Elliott joins us to discuss how to value your own time in the production process, how to try new things and how he realized the church tech community had similar problems and needed more community.
Todd Elliott is a writer, speaker, technical artist in the local church and the founder of FILO.
1:05 “There was murder in my wife’s eyes” story from Toby
5:30 Todd Elliott tells the first lie of his life.
12:30 Kindergarten Todd is held at gunpoint
13:45 Todd “runs into” the CEO of General Motors
15:28 Todd realized all Church Techs have similar problems and lacked community
22:28 The content, speakers and breakouts to look forward to at FILO’s conference
26:40 “I Love Jesus but I Hate Christmas” Todd on Tech Director’s being overworked
29:09 Near Death Disaster Story: Failing to counter balance correctly can be deadly
32:40 Live Sound Disaster Story: Running for the score (Prop problem)
34:43 Weighing your time, health and standing up for yourself
39:55 Tech Takeaway on being brave enough to suck at something new
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Maximizing Production Budgets with Alexa Ross [Fellowship Church Grapevine]
25 Apr 2022
00:43:00
You're a freshmen in high school, and Bret Michael's monitor engineer has just asked you to take over for him.
Do you drop out of school to go out on tour?
Alexa Ross is the Audio Engineer at Fellowship Church Grapevine in Texas. She’s been mixing for most of her life and has been invited to go on tour more times than she can count.
1:35 Toby goes to Lakewood Church (Pastor: Joel Osteen) to see their Sunday Service
5:30 Toby sees a familiar box at Fellowship Church Grapevine
8:00 Audio Engineer, Alex Ross, lies to us
15:10 Mixing on the road vs. mixing at church
17:20 Running monitors for Fellowship Grapevine vs. Bret Michaels
19:40 Alexa’s love for the PM1D
21:40 Flying under the radar with wireless gear next to the DMW airport
25:10 Communication between the band and the tech team during service
28:00 Maximizing your church’s production budget
30:40 Fellowship’s vision to redo the control room
31:55 Fellowship’s plans to upgrade their consoles
33:50 Live Sound Disaster story
37:08 Tech Takeaway on proactive communication with the worship team and pastor for their Sunday service visions
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Ministry Burnout, Hard Conversations & Powering Through [Christ Community’s Caleb Loeppky]
18 Apr 2022
00:59:50
How do you keep church tech directors from burning out in ministry before age 30?
Caleb Loeppky consistently counsels church techs on how to have hard conversations, how to change jobs, and how to stick it out in a tough season.
Caleb is the Tech Director for Christ Community Church and he also works with Slingshot Group to help churches find church tech director talent.
You'll hear:
1:05 A missed train stop nearly kills the ChurchGear crew in Chicago.
7:13 We introduce Caleb Loeppky (Technical Director at Christ Community Church)
8:58 Caleb lies to us (chest tattoos, being stalked, & 21 Pilots)
13:15 Missing the Mix: Caleb could have mixed for 21 Pilots
16:19 Caleb’s rapid climb in his Church Tech career
20:04 How young church tech directors can prevent burnout in ministry
26:06 Counseling Church Tech directors through tough ministry moments(Slingshot)
27:59 Amplio systems gives Christ Community Church an upgrade
31:00 Why you need a tent over your monitors. (Oh Crap moment)
36:10 Worst Sunday Service moment Caleb’s ever experienced
41:58 How Caleb counsels church techs experiencing burnout
44:20 Hard conversations with your pastor (Death by meetings)
49:00 Scratching your creative itch & making more money with contract work
50:45 Tech Takeaway on finding professional and personal satisfaction outside of work
Links for the Guest
Slingshot(56:20) Reach out to Caleb at cloeppky@slingshotgroup.org to talk about how he can help your church find a tech director for you.
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Knowing When to Stay or Leave Ministry [Amplio’s Dillan Howell]
11 Apr 2022
00:56:27
Church creative teams have seen a mass exodus over the past three years. How do you know if its your time to leave or if you should double down in the area you’ve been placed?
Dillan Howell frequently speaks to church worship leaders and church techs all across the country on this issue. He gives us his advice for when to stay in ministry and when to leave, a near death disaster story and advice on doing your best work wherever you’re at.
He has been a church planter, weekend producer at Central Church and an Executive Producer at Faith Promise Church. He is currently serving as the Director of Church Relations for Amplio Group.
1:40 The church politics that play out when you sell the organ.
7:25 We introduce Dillan Howell
10:40 Love story: Dillan and his wife met in 2nd grade?!
15:45 A call to difficult, necessary conversations
20:55 The stress on church tech teams to do live streams during Covid
22:00 Advice for the worship leader who is contemplating a career change
24:30 Dillan’s story of leaving ministry to serve the church with Amplio.
27:10 Amplio’s approach to serving churches’ AVL Integration needs
30:07 Fun Install Story: Transitioning Saddleback from broadcast cameras to cinematic
34:55 Doing your best work, whatever the role or circumstance you’re in.
38:34 Disaster Story: A deadly Central Church Production story at Christmas
44:45 “Who Said It” Segment: Dillan’s friends anonymously grill him
47:59 Tech Takeaway on crushing the details Monday-Friday so Sunday is already set
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Mixing under Pregnancy & Presidential Pressure (Bayside’s David Roediger)
04 Apr 2022
00:55:01
Would you be able to focus on the mix for a US vice president when your wife is moments away from going into labor?
David's been serving in church ministry for 13 years and is a production manager at Bayside church in CA.
He has worked with three United States presidents, the Luis Palau Association, and more artists than we can count:
Thrive Worship, Newsboys, Lincoln Brewster, Elton John, Mutemath, For King and Country, Lecrae, Tool, Cake, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Toby Mac, NF, Crowder, Tim McGraw, We Are Messengers, Brad Paisley, Atreyu, and Mudvayne.
1:10 Toby mixes side stage with a side of nudity
6:01 Five Truths & a Lie with David Roediger
11:30 Mixing for a Vice President during pregnancy
15:13 Working with the Red Hot Chili Peppers
17:55 Being a Production Manager at Bayside Church CA
20:30 Mixing for Newsboys in Nashville.
22:00 Live Sound Disaster story: Newsboys
26:54 Learning to mix while living in Alaska
29:26 How to build your church’s tech team
31:10 Recruiting church production volunteers in the youth group
34:10 David’s first job running sound at a church
37:34 David’s favorite concert of all time
44:50 Tour Time Machine: Which tour would you like to retroactively mix for?
47:50 Tech Takeaway on asking for new gear in a genuine way
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Seeing the Light with Robby Kurtz
28 Mar 2022
00:47:17
Would you read a Hog Two's entire manual over the weekend to be Natalie Cole's lighting director?
Robby Kurtz was thrown to the wolves on his first show, but he ran with the pack, used his skills across the globe, and became New Life Church's LD right before Christmas.
He has done the lights for Natalie Cole & Jesus Culture, worked in TV and his 6 truths and a lie segment has some adrenaline-pumping stories.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:38 The stickiest piece of gear we’ve ever bought
6:34 We introduce Robby Kurtz with his death-defying truths and lies.
11:10 John 3:16 > Border Security
12:45 A fifteen person van is carried by the Lord
15:02 Learning the Hog Two lighting board on the fly to be Natalie Cole’s LD.
19:40 How he nearly got fired on his first two shows
22:36 The difficulties of being a Christian on the road
26:34 Lighting Journeyman: trade shows, Daystar Television network, video editing
29:30 Becoming the LD for New Life Church right before Christmas
31:00 Do churches own all the fog machines they use at Christmas & Easter?
33:50 How 4Wall serves churches with gear rentals
37:00 Encouragement for current church lighting directors
40:32 Robby’s top 5 albums of all time
42:42 Tech Takeaway on the best place to place your lights in your service
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Fixing your Gear Mid Show with Brian Boggs
21 Mar 2022
00:35:12
How do you keep the church service going smoothly when production gear could break at any moment?
Brian Boggs guests to give us his advice on handling live sound snafus in concert settings and church services.
Boggs has been a touring audio guy for 20+ years, and worked with artists such as Fuel, Joe Diffie, Wynonna Judd, and Delbert McClinton. When he isn’t mixing on the road, he is serving as a church tech director or fixing production gear at ChurchGear HQ.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Toby goes to Ben Rector’s listening party & hears how Snoop Dogg guests.
5:28 We introduce Brian Boggs
9:14 Boggs mixes the 2004 Super Bowl Afterparty
9:53 How Boggs learned to fix production gear on the road
13:45 The mindset you need to fix production gear mid show
15:00 Live Sound Disaster story: The console drops out completely.
21:10 Handling the pressures and personalities when you’re mixing for artists
23:25 Advice for church techs considering mixing on a tour
24:30 The difference between mixing on the road vs. mixing at church
27:00 Maximizing the gear your church budget can afford
29:27 Duct Tape Solutions: How Boggs survived a speaker snafu
30:40 Tech Takeaway on resiliency & gain structure
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Quitting college to mix Michael W. Smith's Sessions [Rob Burrell]
14 Mar 2022
00:58:55
Many Church Tech directors get job offers before they're even out of college. Should they drop out and jump into the tech booth early?
Rob Burrell decided to make the jump and it seems to have worked out!
Rob is currently mixing in immersive tech such as Dolby Atmos & Sony 360. He has mixed for MWS, Josh Groban, Charlie Daniels and Jennifer Nettles. Oh, and he has won some Grammys but didn't get invited to the ceremony.
In this episode:
1:17 Toby visits a Nashville artist's hangar to buy gear. We don't buy their jet.
7:04 We introduce Rob Burrell
11:55 Jennifer Nettles needs some Hertz taken out of her voice.
15:00 Dolby Atmos & Sony 360 system story
18:43 Rob’s start in tech
24:20 Rob’s transition from Rockstar to audio engineer
28:00 Mixing Front of House at church vs. mixing in a studio
32:06 Being a Pro Tools Op for the Country Music Awards
37:47 You can win a Grammy but not be invited to the ceremony?!
39:47 The fun of being a Focusrite brand ambassador
47:30 Tech Takeaway on being adventurous
49:57 Mixing at Skywalker Ranch with Michael W Smith story
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Balancing Work & Drinks on Consoles [Summit Church's Conor Hale]
03 Jun 2024
00:46:39
How do we balance our work life well?
Conor Hale is a church tech at The Summit Church and he joins us to discuss work life balance.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Disrespecting Consoles, Studios and Pappy Van Winkle
5:30 Conor Hale joins us!
13:00 Conor’s journey to being a Summit Church Tech
16:00 Summit Church’s system setup
22:00 Finding a healthy rhythm of work
27:15 Production hacks used at Summit Church: PCs
32:00 Disaster Story
35:45 A legendary Production Person Reveal
43:30 Tech Takeaway on balance
43:38 Church Tech Confessional “I wasn’t doing anything.”
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
FOH Engineer and Allen & Heath Install Empress [What can Samantha Potter not do?]
07 Mar 2022
00:54:33
Industry Insider Samantha Potter joins us to discuss all the church tech trends and news:
The impact of chip shortages on mixing boards
Inspiring young girls to try tech
How Allen & Heath customized new mixing boards for houses of worship specifically
Samantha Potter is a FOH & Broadcast Engineer, Senior Editor for ProSoundWeb magazine, Install Empress at Allen & Heath and is the host of the ChurchSound Podcast.
In this episode you'll hear:
0:28 A story of a dead mixer and a burger that could kill your heart.
8:22 Two Truths and a lie to introduce Samantha Potter
16:34 The late night life of a production manager
18:06 Samantha’s start in tech & Toby gives a date disaster story
24:06 Samantha’s work at Allen & Heath for install and applications
27:51 The chip shortage created from the supply chain change ups
30:31 Samantha’s favorite Allen & Heath Gear
33:45 Being a senior editor at Pro Sound Magazine
39:56 Inspiring young girls to consider a career in church tech
44:46 The importance of auditing your system regularly
47:58 Tech Takeaway on calling cues and maximizing liquids in the booth
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Mixing for Joe Pesci with Ryan Sutton
25 Feb 2022
00:49:21
When you’re working with musical icons like Frankie Valli, Adam Levine and Jeff Beck, how do you set the pressure aside and focus fully on the mix?
Ryan Sutton is a producer, musician and engineer. Throughout his career he has worked with: Frankie Valli, Jersey Boys, Jeff Beck, Adam Levine, For King & Country and Joe Pesci!
In this episode you'll hear:
How Ryan mixed the track for “Baby Girl” by Joe Pesci featuring Adam Levine.
How Ryan recently did the live stream mix for Miss America for Peacock.
How to handle Twitter criticism when people blame you for things that aren’t your fault.
The differences between running live sound and doing studio recording.
A vintage gear story about a U47 Telefunken microphone that was allegedly used by Neil Diamond and Frank Sinatra.
A Tech Takeaway about not being married to your ideas.
Resources for your ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to pay full price? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
A Lifetime of Church Tech with Brian Cigainero
21 Feb 2022
00:54:49
How does a high school student running his choir's sound board go on to produce over 5,000 radio programs?
Our very own sound engineer, Brian Cigainero, jumps out of the editing chair and into the guest chair in this week's episode to tell us how.
In this episode you'll hear:
A successful celebrity sighting followed by an unsuccessful sighting
A literal ‘shocking’ story
How a high school student ran the board for the very choir shows he was singing in
The 'proper' way to dress like a rockstar
Toby throws his dad under the bus, backs up over him and then drives off
Lessons Brian's Tech mentor taught him.
The immense opportunity Tech Directors have to train middle/high school students to become tech directors
How small churches can improve their church’s setup on a budget
About the creative challenge Brian faced when he needed to create sounds we all know in our minds but have never heard with our ears. Ex: the Red Sea parting.
Advice to young techs: If you're a young tech director in college but you're already getting job offers, should you leave school early?
A philosophical Tech Takeaway
Resources for your ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to pay full price? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Lighting Keith Urban’s shows with Nathan Alves
16 Feb 2022
00:54:11
How does a teenager volunteering as a lighting tech at Calvary Assembly of God Church go on to design shows for Barry Manilow, Keith Urban and John Mayer?
Nathan Alves stops by ChurchGear studios to tell us.
In this episode you'll hear:
How Nathan lights shows for some of the biggest names in music like Barry Manilow, Keith Urban, John Mayer, Richard Simmons, and tons more
The difficulties of being a tech on tour
His process for creating arena shows
His opinion on Full Sail University
His top tip for new lighting grads
Stories where everything that could go wrong did
Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
A Tech Takeaway on approaching challenging requests
Resources for your ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to pay full price? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
The Church Tech Director’s Podcast [Who we are]
16 Feb 2022
00:11:10
Welcome to the ChurchGear podcast!
In this episode you'll learn:
How ChurchGear got started
Why this podcast will be fun and educational for a Church Tech Director
Who your hosts are.
Resources for your ministry
Sell your gear:
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Buy gear:
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to pay full price? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Lighting Life Church [Live at FILO with Caleb Darago]
27 May 2024
00:48:19
How does one of the biggest churches in the country approach lighting design?
Caleb is the Senior Lighting Designer for Life Church. He tells us about Life Church's approach to lighting, some disaster stories and more on our final live FILO episode.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Toby and Blake go to a baseball game before FILO
6:30 Caleb Darago joins us live at FILO!
14:00 How to have AR/VR/XR at church!
19:00 Caleb’s journey as a lighting and video tech at Life Church
21:15 How does Life Church do lighting design?
37:00 “We put the Furman at shoe kicking level”
41:10 Tech Takeaway: “Pastor first, tech second”
44:45 Church Tech Confessional on baptism
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Stewarding Gear & Community [Live at FILO with Matt Kotthoff]
20 May 2024
00:47:47
What production upgrades should you recommend to your church leadership?
Matt Kotthoff joins us live at FILO 2024! We discuss gear stewardship, community building and wrap with a disaster story that has us all wondering if there is ever a right time to allow software updates to go through.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 “Toby! Unhand that woman!”
6:19 Matt Kotthoff joins us at FILO Live!
12:40 Matt’s FILO teaching session topic
14:15 Todd Elliott cameos!
17:00 What is Sun Valley Community Church's production setup like?
22:30 What PA does Sun Valley Community Church use?
24:10 How do you decide to sell or keep your church’s used production gear?
25:50 What level of production gear should your church upgrade to?
29:10 How much “backup gear” should you have on hand?
32:10 What common production mistake does Matt see in other churches?
36:20 What’s the most important church production element to improve first?
38:40 Disaster story: Can’t delay or do updates!
41:40 Tech Takeaway on asking for help
43:20 Church Tech Confessional: “That was rough. But no one has questioned my mix decisions since.”
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
FILO After Party [Amplio Studios 2024]
13 May 2024
00:57:39
We took over the Amplio Podcast studio after day one of FILO to recap the conference and bring the party to you!
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 FILO Amplio After Party Pod!
4:00 What happened at FILO 2024 Day 1?
7:00 Toby’s horrific Gene Kim introduction
11:00 FILO pre party activities
15:00 Amplio’s podcast has launched!
20:00 Game: Classic Rock pop quiz!
26:00 Game: Name that song for Toby
29:15 Game: Songs the Government plays to torture people
33:00 Rapid round questions
40:00 Worship Sound Guy joins us!
43:00 The Rest of the ChurchGear Crew & Jeff Vandergiessen joins!
53:20 Church Tech Confessional: "I shouldn't have listened to my pastor's wife"
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Lighting that Welcomes Guests [Highlands's Griffin McCravy]
06 May 2024
00:56:36
How do we customize our lighting design to draw people to God?
Griffin McCravy joins the podcast to tell us how Church of the Highlands is adjusting their lighting design to create a more welcoming environment for potential believers.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Blake’s first time in the tech booth
6:00 Griffin McCravy joins us!
12:00 What is Griffin teaching about at FILO this year?
18:00 How do you rethink your church production approach?
23:30 How does The Church of The Highlands Approach Christmas?
34:15 How does Church of the Highlands do their lighting design?
39:00 Where is the global church going with lighting design now?
43:30 Disaster Story: “I’ll never use a snow machine again.”
49:10 Tech Takeaway: How do you set good expectations for church production?
51:51 Church Tech Confessionals "My pastor walked off and didn't fire me"
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Speaking Pastorease [Cottonwood Creek's Will Chapman]
29 Apr 2024
01:04:24
How do you speak your pastor's language?
Will Chapman is the Online Pastor for Cottonwood Creek Church and he drops by the ChurchGear podcast to discuss communication methods, advancing in your role and how to transition a church's production style over time.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 The Church Tech Mecas in Texas
6:00 Will Chapman joins us!
16:45 How do you get into church production ministry?
21:00 How do you grow and advance in church production?
27:00 How do you communicate with your church pastor better?
36:30 How do you keep the production gear from being distracting?
43:30 Why is video over IP so important in church production now?
51:20 Disaster Story: No stage design for Christmas
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Fall Out Boy’s FOH Engineer [Chad Olech]
22 Apr 2024
00:53:45
Chad Olech has been Fall Out Boy's front-of-house mix engineer for the past 11 years and he joined us on the ChurchGear Podcast this week!
He told us how he mixes Fall Out Boy's shows, the stories that have come with that and more! Don't miss this week's episode!
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Recording studios and celebrity crushes
5:30 Fall Out Boy’s FOH Engineer of 11 Years, Chad Olech joins!
11:20 Having a Kidney stone mid show!
13:20 How do you get into live production mixing?
17:20 Chad’s adventures with Fall Out Boy
18:45 What kind of tracks is Fall Out Boy using in live shows?
20:00 How does Chad mic up Fall Out Boy?
24:00 How do you recreate a studio sound in a live environment?
28:58 What gear is Fall Out Boy using for their live shows right now?
38:00 The most enjoyable and difficult Fall Out Boy songs to mix live
41:00 Advice to your younger self
43:45 If you could only pick one “good piece of gear” what would it be?
45:00 Disaster Story with Fall Out Boy
46:40 Disaster Story “I lost all of my plug-ins.”
48:30 Tech Takeaway on not being too precious with what gear you have
50:40 Church Tech Confessionals “I woke up at 4:00 AM"
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Henry Seeley & Andy Rushing Of Belonging Co [Pastor & Production Relationship Series Pt.4]
19 Aug 2024
01:03:20
How do you pastor people who tour every weekend and are A level artists/production people?
Henry & Andy join us from The Belonging Co Church to discuss pastoring creatives, handling expectations and managing salaries for folks who could earn more at the drop of a hat on the road.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Trading places
5:30 Andy Rushing and Henry Seeley join us from Beloning Co Church!
9:45 How did the Belonging Co Church come to be?
13:30 How do you determine your church's production style?
19:45 Is it tough having a pastor that knows production so much?
23:00 You ran Waves through a Behringer X32?
26:00 How have you handled conflict amongst yourselves?
35:00 What is it like pastoring creatives?
40:40 Bridging the gap between worship, vision and production
44:15 Is it tough to pay a competitive salary when your tech people could leave church and go on the road?
49:15 Educating fellow pastors on how to recruit production people.
53:30 What would you have all church techs know about their pastors?
56:15 As a church tech, what would you like all pastors to know?
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Harvest Crusades & Church Tech Confessional's Debut [Chris Eguizabal]
15 Apr 2024
00:52:33
What's it like doing production for the Harvest Crusades?
Chris Eguizabal is the Production Manager at Harvest Riverside Church and he joins us to discuss production for The Harvest Crusades, lighting design approaches and he wraps our episode with a mic mix up story that you can't miss!
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Toby isn’t fancy enough for a benefit dinner
6:45 Chris Eguizabal joins us!
14:45 How did Chris get into church production? (Started at Disney!)
19:00 What’s it like doing production for the Harvest Crusades?
24:00 How do you do production “in a circle” for The Round?
28:30 How do you communicate the tension between vision and production?
33:45 How should you approach your church's lighting design?
38:45 What advice would you give to a young church lighting director?
40:30 Church Production Disaster Story: Mixed up Mics
44:30 Tech takeaway on Sleep
48:00 Church Tech Confessional “Then my Pastor questioned me”
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!
Matching Budget to Vision [Northside Christian Church's Chris McDonald]
08 Apr 2024
00:54:25
How do you create & steward a church production budget well? How do you communicate your budget needs to leadership?
Chris is the Production Director at Northside Christian Church, and he joins us to talk about how to make a budget that fulfills your church's vision.
In this episode you'll hear:
1:00 Taxes & Budget Complaints
6:15 Chris McDonald joins us! Chuck Norris & Parachutes
14:45 Chris’s journey into church production
20:00 How do you make a church production budget?
24:15 How do you talk to church leadership about your production budget?
30:30 How do you get a large church production budget item approved?
33:45 How do you build a great church production team?
36:45 How do you onboard a church production volunteer well?
44:30 Disaster Story: “I tried not to run”
49:00 Tech Takeaway
Resources for your Church Tech Ministry
Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!