Yeah man! When we do new songs, a lot of times people will say that they didn't think it was new. And then I know the playlist has worked! haha Gonna miss you when you're gone man!
For auditions, I usually do them whenever folks let me know they're interested in worshipping with us. Like you, I arrange them around our normal practice day / time.
I love your work flow. Always paying attention to lyrical content, as well as keeping in mind the congregation that you’re leading, and having a schedule for your week so you are not overwhelming yourself.
Hey Jimmy! So I'm one of our worship leaders (Picking songs, leading songs, etc) but our Worship Pastor handles auditions (Usually has me present to assess their playing since she's only a vocalist) but right now we're short handed on guitarists and soon to be drummers. I keep trying to get her to announce to the congregation that we need people because I know we've got a half dozen guitarists who are just chilling in the service bare minimum. She says she doesn't want to offend people and hurt their feelings if they don't make the cut. My approach when I was a worship director (for a much larger ministry as well) was to train and equip people bringing them up over the course of months to prepare them if they weren't ready initially after audition. Myself and one of our other acoustic players are also 2 of our 3 electric players. We both prefer playing electric but obviously we serve where we're needed. Generally given the choice between having no electric or having no acoustic, we always choose to fill acoustic. This is why I bought a PRS Hollowbody II SE Piezo so I can run both outputs at the same time. Any advice on how to handle this and how you'd approach it if you were me? I desperately want to grow our team, not just so that we can cover all the instruments but so we can more effectively minister to our church body. Some of these folks including some of the Ukrainian refugees we've taken in just need to be asked. We already have 1 Ukrainian guitarist who used to be a worship pastor but he's been very under utilized.
Thank you for showing how far out you have services planned. As a bi-vocational leader, it's one of the key things that keep my life in order and respects how complex my team's schedules can get as well. Collaborating with the teaching pastor is key, just like you mentioned.
That's amazing to hear. Great job man. When you build trust like you are doing, then when you fall behind, your people will give you grace! Keep it up!
When I joined worship team.... I was talking to my buddy who is also the bass player for our worship team and told him I had just gotten back into playing and was looking for some people to jam with. He told me to show up for practice. I said that wasn't my intention. He said too bad. I have been on the team for I believe 5 years now 😂
@HeyWorshipLeader lead electric. It's been quite a trip. Used to play punk/metal now im all setup with ambient old school fendery tones lol. Awesome though couldn't live without it now.
Ha! We've done new songs in back-to-back-to-back weeks. Recently we did two new songs on one service. I recommended (urged) that we not do that again. Not that it can't be done but it's a lot if the songs require a more serious breakdown study of the lead parts. We rehearse on Thurs night and then a run through Sun. morning prior to the first of two services. Getting the music at least a week in advance should be standard practice.
I typically hold auditions as people express interest. The process starts with a brief questionnaire that tells me about their areas of interest/ability and faith journey (seems excessive but it has weeded out a few potential people - if you can't take 5mins to fill that out then it'll be hard to trust you to learn multiple songs for a service). Then I give them 3-4 songs to choose 2 from and 2-3 weeks to learn them. We typically stay after a Sunday service to talk and run through the songs together. If they can handle the ability side of things then we schedule a week where they just come to a rehearsal and get acquainted with how we work together before they serve on an actual week.
-- "if you can't take 5mins to fill that out then it'll be hard to trust you to learn multiple songs for a service" --- SO TRUE!!! This is awesome man! I love it.
I used to use Spotify but switched to a service with lossless Hi-Res streaming. I can hear a difference. Spotify's highest-quality setting isn't bad though.
My church had a huge audition on a Sunday at around 2pm. They sent out a few songs a couple weeks ahead. They bought us pizza and then each potential member broke out with current band members for a list of questions for a job type interview. I had to play all the instruments I know with a keyboard player and the group took notes while we played.
This is also a great approach, especially if you have a full team already and need to add people periodically. Being able to play with other people is always best. Since I do mine as needed, I have them play along with Ableton so they can get used to the in-ears, cues and click and dialing in other instruments. Both work great.
I've played electric guitar in a very small church (like 40 people) a few times now. I don't think I was really auditioned, just told to turn up to a practice night. I think they're just happy to have anyone (there's no one else to play electric, but then I don't think the older folk there really enjoy it in the songs. The younger ones seem to like it). Also, I don't know most of the songs yet, so have to learn about 5 songs in 4 days. It would be nice to get them earlier
Yeah, getting songs earlier really shows appreciation for the team in my opinion. I've made a commitment to "make everything as easy as possible" for my volunteers. And that includes getting them songs early. As far as how you got on the team, that works. You're probably a great player and person to have on the team. The trouble comes when you get a sour apple that brings down the team in one way or another. If the onboarding process is too relaxed then so will the off-boarding. And I've seen feelings get hurt, and people leave the church over stuff like this. It can all be handled way easier if we have systems in place that help us DISCIPLE people along the way, rather than treat them like a commodity. (not saying that's your situation, I've just sene it a bunch)
@@HeyWorshipLeader I think the problem is there's no dedicated worship leader (I'm guessing there's no budget, it's just a tiny church) so the leaders are volunteers mostly with full time jobs too. I came across your channel the other day and have been learning stuff already (also learning from the sound guy you had on too, but I've currently forgot his channel name...). Maybe if I keep learning from you guys, I'll be able to help them more at this church
For auditions, we do them when there's interest. We first have a one on one discussion with the individual to find out where they're coming from, where their heart is involving worship, etc. since this isn't meant to be a rock band it's leading people through the veil. Every member of the team is a worship leader, they may just not be THE worship leader, so we need to make sure whoever joins has their heart in the right place and is mature enough to handle the responsibility as well as the extra attacks from the enemy who does NOT like worship. Once we go through that process, we'll send them the song list for the week and see how they do running through it with the band.
Oh man...sorry to hear. If y'all use planning center send him this link: jimmy-cooper.mykajabi.com/Planning-Center-Checklist-Form-Page Even if not, he can learn from it!
Joe, I had a leader before were we rehearse then Sunday comes. The entire list is changed. So on the spot I had to catch the key he's playing, formulate familiar progressions. I didn't took it as discomfort, but as an ear training. It helped me a lot with the coming worship bands I joined. They can slam me at moments notice and have a blast. God bless!
How do you “advertise“ for new worship musicians? Our church is in need of more keyboardists and acoustic guitar players. We’ve made a couple announcements but have had no responses.
we have a process that shows needs from the time someone is a new member to generate "leads" from our new members class. From there, it's just word of mouth and every once in a blue moon we'll make an appeal to the church that we need help in these certain areas. I always tell people that we are never full. Sometimes people see a full band think there is no need, but that's not the case...most of the time people are just stepping up because we don't have enough!
I wonder what kind of level are the journey wo/men musicians in a church band? I'm guessing they are all advanced players with degrees? Or would you basically admit anyone who can strum?
This is a great question. As I've gotten older, I've realized I'm not trying to have a stage full of American Idols or rockstars. I look at the worship leader job as a missionary helping a certain group of people sing to their creator. What this means for me is that if the person is connected to the body (in that they attend regularly, in a small group, a member), and they have skill in their instrument (not expert, but wouldn't be a distraction for everyone), then they should serve where needed. It may not and probably won't look like the mega church RU-vid or livestream, but it will be authentic, because it'll be the people in that context coming to the Lord in song. I've made big mistakes way back in the olden days, trying to make my people look like another group of people. that never works. Not on the mission field. Not in worship ministry.
@@HeyWorshipLeader - God Bless You. What you are trying to do is noble, good, true. My temptation would be to only pick the best for my own personal glory. You are a better man than me. Keep walking the walk, not just merely talking the talk. Jesus guide you.
My experience in a worship team was an absolute nightmare. Small group of little Hitlers formed, constant berating, put downs and down right emotional abuse . Action taken by Pastor to fix the problem, zero. Put me off playing, didn't touch a guitar for 5 years. Left the church ( not the Lord).
That sounds horrendous and I'm really sorry that was your experience. Humans kinda suck sometimes. I do hope you'll find a healthy faith community to try serving at again one day. We're all jacked up but some of us are trying to be less so lol.
I hate to hear this, but I know your story is like many others. Hopefully we can come together and change the norm. What a blessing to hear you haven't left your faith. So many have over stuff like this. I pray you find a solid group of believers soon!
My church rarely does songs in the original keys. Do you mess with this for your spotify playlists (I dont know if it's even possible) or do you feel them hearing the songs to learn lyrics and rhythms are more important?
@KAR006 oh I wouldn't worry about that. It's just familiarity that you're trying to give them. They'll sing along in whatever key you lead them in as long as you're singing in that key with them.
Hey man! actually no! I love doing giveaways, but I also get a bunch of questions about gear I giveaway and then I can't answer them because I no longer have the unit. So I asked for this one to keep so I can help people. but I will have some other things to give away soon!
