Ok; 140 characters isn’t enough.

This is an expanded explanation of my Tweet: Why do we (Church) feel like we HAVE to ALWAYS see the lyrics?! Learn the songs! And don’t say it’s cuz the newcomers. #frustrated

I’m not talking about getting rid of projected lyrics.  I’m talking about the mindset that we (Church-media-tech-artsy-worship) people are in, and if we don’t have lyrics, we are not effective.  We’re getting ready for a Sunday service or conference; and we put the lyrics in the presentation software to show on the screens  so we can read the lyrics and sing along…no problem with that. I’m not saying that’s wrong. What I AM saying is that there is a mentality that if we DON’T have lyrics; it’s the end of the world – and I think it’s not.  If the words aren’t on the screen on time; or if something technical fails; what usually happens?  Things scramble in the tech booth, and the congregation usually gets a little quieter.

So; (and this goes along with my previous entry) I just feel that we are relying on projected lyrics SO much; that without them we panic. I know that in my home church; there are songs that the congregation knows so well (for whatever reason) that we wouldn’t have to put lyrics up. But we do; and we read the lyrics – which, again, is fine.

What did the ancient church do before the printing press?

Do big secular band projects all the lyrics to their songs during a show?  (Yes I know we are not a show in worship, but that’s not the conversation right now)  The fans who go to the show usually know the lyrics because they listen to the band’s songs in a car (for example) where the can’t see the lyrics on a big screen. I have heard a lot of people’s stories who listen to worship music in the car and REALLY know the lyrics; and tell me they close their eyes during the service because the lyrics actually throw them off.  Truth is; for me; it’s EASIER to simply read the words on the screen instead of really set the words in my mind and heart.  I’m visual; so I naturally want to see the words.  But sometimes I feel like that prevents me from intentionally knowing the song and taking it with me during the week.  It’s like the words stay on the screen for me to come back to next week.  There’s no need for me to memorize the words!  They will always be there!

What if we thoughtfully and intentionally DIDN’T put lyrics up for certain choruses or phrases; or even whole songs – for example: Amazing Grace.  I think this would help people start really knowing and memorizing the words.

There are definitely times when you want ALL the lyrics up on the screens.  Maybe it’s a new song that the worship pastor wrote; or the song is very wordy and complicated.  But; be intentional with it! Sometimes it’s powerful to simply LISTEN.  I feel like I get too focused on making sure I’m singing the right words, I forget what they mean!

All this is coming from me being involved at all these churches and events and conferences and always seeing the exact same thing.  Myself, along with a handful of close friends and others are struggling with the “WHY”.  That helps us understand and OWN what we are doing.  We never want to do something simply because it’s always been done.  There is a shift going on in the Church visually; and this is part of that.

If I’m totally off on something – sorry.  But I don’t hear anyone else asking this kind of stuff.

Lately I’ve been wondering how to best remember lyrics to songs.  I know each person remembers and learns a different way; but I’m trying to figure out if it’s SEEING the words; HEARING the words; REPEATING the words…etc….

I have found that when I drive in my car, I sing along to the songs (let’s say…it’s  a U2 song) and I ‘remember’ all the songs.  Now, take the actual song away.  Can I repeat the whole song just by memory?  Usually not for me.  For example; at the U2 show, I was able to sing the words along with the band – but mainly because I was singing WITH them.  Put me alone in a room and I probably couldn’t even say the lyrics to a song.

This made me wonder about worship lyrics.  For conversation’s sake, let’s compare being in a church service to driving in my car.  The music is playing and there are other people singing the words.  Except now I can SEE the words too!  (Ya know, on those screen things)  So, that should be even better right?

Well; I have found that when I can see the words; I simply read them, but don’t actually remember them.  I mean that’s just much easier!  It gets the job done.

But I want more than that – I want to know the whole song by heart.  For me, the best way to remember lyrics is by saying or singing them by myself, with no other people ‘helping’ me.  It’s like I have to own them myself, and take charge in putting them in my mind.   Then, I feel like I can on a whim, bust out and say or sing or type the whole song.  I guess I have to memorize it first…then be able move past memorization to heart-felt.

And so, of course, this leads me to wonder if lyrics projected on a screen REALLY help people KNOW the songs in a worship service, or just provide an easy way to sing along, and make it comfortable for the newcomer. 

Thoughts?

I’m excited to be a part of WFX this year in Charlotte – I’ll be teaching on projection the  uses of the technology.  It will be more technical than the ECHO breakout; and focus more on the technical side of projection, and what all the specs and numbers mean.

This is probably of interest to you if you’re just starting to use projectors in your church, or just want a few things cleared up!

More importantly; I’m excited to meet new people and connect with what’s going on your local church.  I love to share my experiences and help out with what I can in the visual-media-Church-world.  Hope you can make it if you’re in the area; and be sure to come say hi!

Some good friends of mine are getting married at the Crow Collection of Asian Art in November; and have requested some projection behind the wedding party.  So; look at this canvas! It going to be a double-wide image/video canvas; probably using a DualHead2Go.

We’ll be doing Asian-influenced imagery during the wedding and reception – which will fit perfect with the surroundings.  (Obviously.)

I met the person in charge of the exhibit to go over how to mount the projectors in the room; and it’s going to be interesting!  I’ll post the results once we get there.

ECHO CONFERENCE available on DVD!

The 2009 Echo Conference Disc Set is a great way to experience Echo again or for the first time. The set will include video of three of four keynote sessions (Phil Cooke, Ben Arment, and Mark Steele) and the church media & technology panel featuring Carlos Whittaker, Bobby Gruenewald, Cynthia Ware, Scott Hodge, and Conway Edwards. In addition, the set will include audio and presentation files from breakout sessions presented by Barton Damer, Shawn Wood, Carlos Whittaker, Brad Zimmerman, and more!

Speaking of ECHO; we (Stephen, Nate and I) always like to follow up and see if anyone who attended our class have any remaining questions that didn’t get answered or discussed.  Just leave them in the comments and one (or all) of us will be glad to respond!

Nate, Stephen and I had the privilege of speaking at the ECHO conference this year, and we have the class notes we used available for download!

I hope it’s a help and blessing to those of you who could not make it to the conference.

Visual Worshiper: Tools & Talent

Conversations on Visual Worship

(They are available in shiny PDF format; so you will need Acrobat Reader.)

Also, we have the live video streams from ECHO & GURUS on the UStream channel.

Share this with your leadership if your church is considering diving deeper into the visual worship conversation; we are so happy and blessed to be able to serve so please let us know if you have any thoughts or comments.

I’m so excited to finally have video content on WorshipHouseMedia!

I made the names of God rising loop for a tour almost 2 years ago and projected it on the walls of a church when we first started doing Environmental Projection.  It was one of the most powerful and moving worship moments of my life.  Since that first time, I’ve used that loop in almost every other event I have gotten to be a part of; and it’s always an indescribable moment of worship.  So, time to share it!  I hope it blesses you as well.

I also realized that content in Spanish is almost non-existent, for whatever reason.  Maybe I’m not in the loop with Spanish content creation, but that’s just what I see.  (Or…don’t see.)  So, they are available in Spanish as well here.  I’m excited for all the churches who have a ministry that focuses on the Hispanic culture; and hope this is a blessing as well.

There are too many pictures; so check out this link! Can someone loan me about $50 trillion so we can build a city made of light and video?!

Gateway Church in Elk River, MN recently completed their Environmental Projection install! AVE out of Maple Grove, MN did a FANTASTIC job making sure the right projectors were used for the job, and that the projection image filled the space.  I’m excited for the church and it was a pleasure to work with Kevin Crow from AVE. Check them out: http://www.audiovideoelectronics.com/index.php

Dan Peters from Gateway Church created some amazing imagery for the church, and I think you’ll agree it turned out beautifully.

One thing you can see in the pictures are the shadows cast by the lighting fixtures and speaker clusters – and I’m just amazed how I actually have to LOOK for those shadows. Every time I look at these pictures, my eyes simply gravitate towards seeing the whole picture and imagery, and not focus on how there might be shadows cast by the projection.
So, let that be an encouragement to you if you think shadows will be a deal-killer for you in your room. It might not be…

I just saw this on www.JimOnLight.com.

Hitachi has developed a film “that can be added to windows and other light transmitting surfaces that allows light to be transmitted when voltage is applied to the film.”

No voltage; and very little light passes through.  Apply voltage, crazy stuff happens in the ‘film’, and all of the sudden light passes through it.  Awesome!!

Imagine being in a board room meeting – you push a button and the windows fade.  Or a church setting!   Cover your stained glass with this, and have the ability to still see the beauty, but control the amount of lighting coming in.  Can’t wait to see this!  More info HERE.