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Now when I say programming, I don’t mean 1980’s drum machines and synthesizers. I’m talking about the flow of the concert. I will briefly run over some things to consider when making out a program, which should include letting your sound guy in on the ideas.

Now there have been some great debates on if it’s right to pre program a concert or worship service ahead of time. The arguments are that if you pre program everything then you’re not letting the Spirit move or lead or guide or whatever. Hogwash!! Coming up with a program and set list, etc. helps avoid confusion between all involved in the service and results in a very smooth transitioning program.

So where’s God. He’s in your preparation, your song choice. Seek God and ask him to help you plan out a program that fits His will. God knows what’s going to happen in that service and who needs to hear what long before you step on stage. This means if you’ll ask for His guidance in setting up a program, everyone will be better prepared for the service ahead.

This doesn’t mean that if you feel the Spirit moving in a different way during the service that you ignore it. But you can’t force it either. But it’s never failed that in the situations I’ve been in when the program was laid out ahead of time in a reverent and prayerful way, not many changes had to be made during the course of the service, because God had already laid out His plans and ideas. If you stay close to God and He’s placed you a ministry position, He’ll show you where to go if you’ll just ask Him.

Now as a sound engineer this careful prep is icing on the cake. Knowing which song is coming next allows the engineer to alter the mix for who has the lead or the blend should be a certain way or the track needs to be really hot at the beginning to hear the guitar riff. A good engineer can see the name of the next song and know exactly how the first bar should sound and what should be heard and adjust things accordingly.

It’s the same thing when ending a segment. Turning verbs off when people are speaking and things like that are easier to catch as well, when there is a straight forward program. I hope this has shed some light on church and concert programming.

Josh Hoevelmann

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