Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Leading Worship: 3 Ways To Win the Congregation




When I set out on my professional music career in 1980, the first thing I learned from my mentors was to connect with the audience. I was taught that the stage is not like a fish bowl, where the audience peers statically at the action happening on stage. The potent energy that flows back and forth from performer to the audience is a very important aspect of the presentation. That is why live performances haven't been completely obliterated by movies and television; people still desire that back-and-forth, “being there” camaraderie of a live program.

The concept of "entertainment," in the context of church, is forbidden in certain circles. But as I've said before, using musical and dramatic techniques to enhance the art of storytelling can help create a flowing and enjoyable experience--one that allows the audience to lose self-awareness, to the point where they are fully engaged in the action on the the stage. To make sure that I'm not misunderstood, I want to emphasize that delivering the message of Christ and His redemptive power is, by far, the most nobel and virtuous use of the stage, cutting-edge technology, and excellence in all genres of performance.

Performance Myths

The perspective of the audience differs from that of the performer. Tom Jackson, a professional live performance producer, helps bands develop their live shows to effectively deliver a powerful performance. In a teaching from one of his DVDs entitled Stage Performance: Making Our Services Rock, Tom spoke of several myths from a performer's point of view:

  1. If we feel the music then the audience must feel it, too.
  2. It's all about the song [that the song is strong enough to carry the performance].
  3. If we play well, sing well, and the audience hears the words, we win.
  4. There are no performance rules—we just “wing it” because we are spontaneous.
  5. “I've been doing it for 'X' amount of years; I know what I'm doing.”
  6. I feel comfortable onstage, so it must be great.
  7. If I'm uncomfortable, it must not be “me.”
  8. If it worked for a bigger church then it will work for me.

The difference between a great performance and an average or poor performance is essentially the connection with the audience. Jackson made a humorous but accurate observation of a great performer, using Bono, lead singer of U2, as an example. He said Bono is “married” to the audience, when most of us are just “dating” the audience. It takes a great amount of work and skill to create a great performance, and in doing so, we earn the audience's respect. I've personally seen U2 perform live and Bono had that huge indoor sports arena in the palm of his hand!

Three Performance Basics:

1. Connect WithYour Audience (Love Them and They'll Love You Back)

2. Lead Your Audience (They're Gonna Follow You!)

3. Your Audience Is Less Aware Than You Think (Keep Your Flubs to Yourself)  

The #1 thing to remember in a performance is: Connect with your audience. Thereforebe prepared and confident. Practice to the point where everything you do flows from the subconscious—as if the effort was second-hand. That way, your body language will emit an air of confidence and fluidity rather than being stiff and awkward. A performer's ability to be authentic, warm and engaging, yet humble toward the audience, helps them build confidence in you. When you exude a lack of confidence, your audience feels unsure, expecting you to make a mistake,  or misspeak. Preparedness begets confidence!

The #2 thing to remember is: The audience wants to be led. We help the audience along on our journey through:
  • Directing their attention toward important aspects of the performance through visual and verbal cues (please stand; please sit; “let's welcome to the stage X, Y or Z;” “Please direct your attention to the video screens;” musical cut-offs; receiving applause, etc.
  • Giving them permission to respond appropriately
  • Helping them move through transitions in the performance without losing focus
Don't take for granted that the audience knows what to do...they don't! Your job as a leader is to lead them!

The #3 thing to remember is: The audience is unaware. I could say ignorant, but that seems a little harsh. What I mean to say is that the audience is not as aware of the intricacies of our performance as we are. Things aren't always as obvious to our audience until we direct their attention toward something. Many times our mistakes will go unnoticed if we simply don't bring attention to it. Therefore, we must remain confident and in control.

I once heard it said, “My play was a complete success but the audience was a failure!” Sometimes as performers we may think that way, but in reality we cannot blame our poor performance on the audience. Our lack of preparation and planning will hurt our performances. Very few great artists “wing it.” A wise performer's every move and spoken word is scrutinized for effectiveness, whether in worship or on a secular stage. The key for every performer, worship leader and preacher, is to make what they do seem effortless!

James Taylor, the great singer/songwriter, has said that a live performance is a common emotional experience for the performer and the audience. As performers, we must plan, prepare and practice for a performance. But there comes a time when we must surrender to the moment--to be fully “present” in our live performances and let things unfold. That's why each performance, even though they contain the same elements, can be received and enjoyed in various ways by different audiences.

Connect   >   Lead   >   Make It Look Effortless   >   Worship!


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