Wanna see how we run out Worship Team Auditions? Check out this informative video that we made about the process from last years group of hopefulls.
Ok, Seriously though. I’m wondering if and how you all do worship tryouts and if you don’t then why you dont. Just wanting to get a conversation started about it. So lets talk, How do you do it?
That was hilarious!
I love the wanky guitar solo and the flag twirling bit was brilliant. Did you just make this video for you blog or for some other purpose?
As far as try outs -
I’m all about it. Mine tend to be informal which works in a smaller setting. I ask people to “jam” a lot, with no promises of being on the team. I like it to be informal and to get to know the person and a bit where they are at spiritually while we jam.
If they are good to go I ask for availability and put them on the next schedule rotation.
If they need a little work - I invite them to hang out for our band practice and play “unplugged” off stage along with the band. After they’d had a chance to learn some of the songs we jam again and evaluate if they are stage ready or need more practice and coaching.
If it’s really apparent their gifting is not in worship arts or if their heart is not in the right place then I try to be honest about it and keep the conversation going. If they are not ready for the Sunday morning stage where can they fit in and use their gifts for God?
I don’t really lead worship, but at the churches I’ve been involved in, for what I did (play guitar or drums), I showed up and got started fairly quickly. I didn’t really have a try-out or rehearsal period.
When in San Antonio, at the time they really need a drummer and I happened to say I played the drums for a practice which basically got me the drummer’s chair for half the year even though I showed up to play guitar.
At my current church we have a 4 practice policy before a Sunday morning service coupled with a vocal evaluation for the choir. If you sing front-line, you have to be in the choir for at least one semester before auditioning for that spot.
I don’t sing in the choir or front-line, so I’m not real sure how it goes from there.
I kind of like the idea of tryouts, sort of. I like what Billy says about a low-key jam time to make sure the heart is right and there is a cohesiveness beween players. In a creative group, there can be a lot of opinions/styles/personalities, so its responsible to make sure it is a fit for the rest of the group. Seems too that a recommendation from a few people, who can testify to the commitment level, reliability, skill, is pretty important. It doesn’t have to be American Idol or anything, but sometimes a little formality can help show the value and importance of what we do and why.
I have the prospective client, I mean worship team member, slip 2 Gs in a brown bag and leave it in my mailbox at the church office. It also helps if they like to buy my espresso and can score great seats to the Coldplay show.