Text the Sound Guy

**Staccato** · #1 05-23-2011, 02:34 PM

Two of us were working at/near the big board during church, Sunday. There was so many, changing details with the special service, it really helped me appreciate phone texts from the balcony board to/from the musicians & leaders before the service started.

Jimbob Jones · #2 05-23-2011, 02:55 PM

When I'm on sound at church, the other (off duty) sound guys in the congregation often spot for me and text me if there's anything going down that I should be aware of; I of course do the same for them on my weeks off.

jaywa · #3 05-23-2011, 02:59 PM

That's fine before the service, but if ANY singer or musician on my team is texting while they're onstage, they're off the team tomorrow.

I can't think of anything more unprofessional, but you see it all the time anymore. And not just at churches.

Stingray89 · #4 05-23-2011, 03:22 PM

Technology...where would we be without it?

Jimbob Jones · #5 05-23-2011, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

That's fine before the service, but if ANY singer or musician on my team is texting while they're onstage, they're off the team tomorrow.

I can't think of anything more unprofessional, but you see it all the time anymore. And not just at churches.

I agree; even during practice time. We had to have a chat with our drummer about texting during rehearsals.

MNAirHead · #6 05-23-2011, 06:42 PM

I sent a solo acoustic guy a text during a song ... he stopped to read it.

Ban them during pro time

jaywa · #7 05-24-2011, 07:22 AM

Best policy AFAIC is, no cell phones on stage, period. Removes the temptation.

Kenner · #8 05-24-2011, 07:37 AM

A friend of mine came to watch my band play the weekend after the earthquake in Japan. The bar had a TV on behind my head and he was watching the footage. He sent me a text to "move my head".....lol

...which I caught after the set...good yucks

Electricblue · #9 05-24-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

Best policy AFAIC is, no cell phones on stage, period. Removes the temptation.

And the weird beeps coming through my bass

jaywa · #10 05-24-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

I sent a solo acoustic guy a text during a song ... he stopped to read it.

Lolz... epic fail.

curly bassist · #11 05-24-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stacatto

Two of us were working at/near the big board during church, Sunday. There was so many, changing details with the special service, it really helped me appreciate phone texts from the balcony board to/from the musicians & leaders before the service started.

How can you do this without the noise of triplets coming through the amp? In my band we turn our phones off / airplane mode to avoid this!

**Staccato** · #12 05-24-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curly bassist

How can you do this without the noise of triplets coming through the amp? In my band we turn our phones off / airplane mode to avoid this!

The bass & 2 guitars were connected to individual DI boxes. There were no amps on stage.

**nutdog** · #13 05-24-2011, 03:02 PM

Nobody's paying me enough to have authority over my cell. I'm fairly considerate and responsible with it. Go ahead. Kick me out. Please.

Would texting the soundman be less professional than him not pressing the mute button and then not noticing that no vocals or guitar were present in the mix? Maybe doing jumping jacks to get his attention looks better.

**Staccato** · #14 05-24-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutdog

Nobody's paying me enough to have authority over my cell. I'm fairly considerate and responsible with it. Go ahead. Kick me out. Please.

Would texting the soundman be less professional than him not pressing the mute button and then not noticing that no vocals or guitar were present in the mix? Maybe doing jumping jacks to get his attention looks better.

Jumping Jacks, definitely!

Kidding!

jaywa · #15 05-24-2011, 03:21 PM

At my church, the production team is texting each other up to (and through) the services. But that's the production team. Onstage team members sending or receiving texts? NFW.

**nutdog** · #16 05-24-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stacatto

Jumping Jacks, definitely!

Kidding!

For the record I've never texted at a service, to the soundman or anyone else. But the WL has. It's actually a pretty cool way to communicate discretely.

I opted to run my own amp/cab after attempting to play with no bass or too little bass in the monitor on many occasions. If I can't hear it I don't want anyone else to. If the mic is dead I just sing until they figure out. Sometimes they don't. I'm OK with it. Really.

mccartneyman · #17 05-24-2011, 09:02 PM

WWJT?

KingRazor · #18 05-25-2011, 01:05 PM

The youth pastor/lead guitarist/band leader at my church has texted me before while I'm in the booth to let me know something is too loud or too quiet or whatever, but never during worship. During practice he just talks to me through his mic if there's any issues.

**Staccato** · #19 05-25-2011, 01:31 PM

Our Associate Pastor unplugged 1 of 2 lecturns to help us with different setup on Easter Sunday. This was before the svc.
We thought he would wave first, then he disconnected, and it went Boom! (A loud pop.) He later told me that he didn't
realize how much noise would happen.

Before a service if the sound guys are a long way from the alter, or stage-communication can help.

walker rosewood · #20 05-25-2011, 09:05 PM

...well maybe worship musicians texting while on stage is a bit much. But when I'm at gigs with the crew and there's no clear-coms texting is a huge tool -- From FOH to monitor world, to the greenroom, etc.