Blog | Hospitality at the Heart: A Pep Talk for Tech Directors

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I once worked with a tech director who was supremely talented and could solve any fix in the nick of time. It was actually quite impressive. The problem? All of these saves could have been preventable with a little bit of forethought. However, this director thrived on the attention he received for “saving the day” and consistently failed to put in the preparation necessary to avoid issues. Instead, he’d rely on his instincts and skill to solve problems as they appeared.

Being skilled and able to troubleshoot on the fly are obviously essential to directing tech. However, preparation and finesse are what makes an experience as a whole truly successful. Winging it and solving problems when you’re down to the wire should happen in the case of emergency, not on a regular basis.

Though it might not sound quite as glamorous, tech directing is at its best when it’s behind the scenes. Under the radar. When nobody else on your team or in the congregation has to think about it at all. And though it’s exciting to deactivate the bomb (so to speak), ultimately, a tight ship, every I dotted and T crossed, is what will really stand out over time.

When you think about it, directing tech is all about hospitality. Whether you’re managing tech for a church service, a concert, or events like a wedding or funeral, you are part of creating an environment and experience for others.

Imagine if you showed up to a hotel and find that there’s no toilet paper in your bathroom. Even if someone arrives with toilet paper 90 seconds after you call the front desk, it would have been better if the toilet paper was there before you got there. You expect toilet paper. You shouldn’t have to think about toilet paper. Toilet paper is the bare minimum. The speedy correction, though it might be impressive, doesn’t signify great service but rather damage control.

When you leave the hotel, you aren’t going to remember the bell boy’s speed, you’re going to remember that your hotel room never had toilet paper to begin with. The same goes with tech. Though accidents and emergencies happen, thinking on your feet, winging fixes, and troubleshooting with 2 minutes to go shouldn’t be the default.

Now, as more and more churches are opening up and welcoming more members back, is a great opportunity to refresh your hospitality mindset. How are you setting yourself— and your entire team— up for success with tech? How are you supporting a worshipful environment? How are you setting up processes to avoid routine issues?

And, if you find that you’re routinely overwhelmed with preventable problems, it might be time to brainstorm support. Is it possible to arrive 30 minutes earlier, or prepare the stage and sound system a few days before services? Is there a volunteer to whom you can delegate responsibilities?

Working with technology and working behind the scenes are essential to creating worshipful environments. When you do your job as well as you can, you’re minimizing distractions and curating an atmosphere where people can experience God. Your work— and your work well done— is worship. It matters.