Have you ever missed a slide change? I know I have. Timing worship lyric slide changes isn’t always easy. Especially during fast songs or when the worship leader spontaneously sings an additional verse or skips ahead.
What’s even harder than making difficult slide changes yourself is instructing others on when to make them. Larry Wilcox asked this same question to our Facebook Group (source) and the discussion that resulted is very valuable.
Larry Asked…
How does anyone “instruct” the person changing the slides for the songs when to change to the next slide? Often times they change the slide after the people start singing.
Saying to change it one or two words before the end of the slide sometimes is too quick and sometimes you need to wait some time before changing because of the song.
Also I often get inaccurate sequences so I change a slide and they start singing a chorus over again. How do others coordinate all this?
Getting the song list and sermon outline sooner than Saturday night or Sunday morning would certainly be a help but that request is usually met with resistance.
The community responded…
Ideally, I have my operators run slides during rehearsal. This way they also get to rehearse and have a sense and feel for the songs. Additionally, I explain to my operators that the brain reads ahead. So I ask them to be singing along, at least in the head, and once their brain has read to the end, switch. ~Michelle Weger
I think it’s important for the person to know the songs being sung… When you yourself are familiar with the timing of the songs you can change it at the right pace… Either request the song list earlier and listen to it in your own time, attend band practice (more effort but worth it). ~Angela A Saint-Truth
Also, if your band uses IEMs, get yourself a feed so you can hear the ghost mic. It will change your life. ~Joe Skarwecki
We have song arrangements set by Tuesday night so that they can be arranged in Pro6 prior to rehearsal on Saturday morning. Attending rehearsal is mandatory for our techs so that the lyric slides can be checked to match what the worship band chooses to do if they make any changes to the song arrangements. Anyone that wants to be a tech at my church is told up front that Saturday rehearsal is just part of the ministry. As for when to change the lyric slides I generally say on the last word or second to last word depending on the pace of the song. It comes down to knowing the songs for the weekend. Sermon points as hit and miss for me depending on the pastor that is giving the message that weekend. I try to get them to give me any content they want to use by Wednesday night but no later than Thursday night. ~Frank Boller
As far as the too early thing goes, I agree. The operator has to find that balance. I think the thing that bothers me more than lagging behind is “hanging lyrics”. That is, lyrics hanging up on the screen during pauses or instrumentals. Put blank slides in where those take place in a song. ~Joe Kelley
We have rehearsal on Thursday nights and I get everything programmed and ready for Sunday, including the PowerPoint. Then on Sunday morning during the run through before service I follow along with the band. Once you get a feel for the songs and know them, you’ll be able to switch and know where to go. Also, our worship pastor will nod his head or make eye contact with me. He also gives signals with his guitar. Or I listen to who ever is on talkback. ~Stefanie Baker Haas
The computer tech should set up the slides and learn the song during rehearsal and switch slides prior to the end of the last word. He should also pay attention to cues from the worship leader. You know when you hear a worship leader say the first word of a verse? That is a cue for the upcoming verse and should be done if he or she is changing things up or the tech is dropping slides. ~James Lee
