Jack Ellis - Worship Band Dynamics

Ok, so we hear, and it’s well advised, that all members of the congregation should be focused on God. So then surely they don’t need to see the worship band at all!? Why don’t we just have the worship band hidden behind a big cloth draping from the ceiling? Or under the stage like a theatre’s orchestra area? After all, it’s a worship band, not a performance band where the ‘crowd’ would want to see the band to idolise and merely spectate. There is separation. Maybe, occasionally, some lucky fan would be dragged on stage (the lofty heights of the stage, the ‘tabernacle’!) to sing along with that perfect human up there in the unreachable. Or one of the band members would join us down here on earth to be touched and adored by their ‘worshippers/adorers’. But, how often at gigs/concerts have those times occurred where you as a punter have experienced sheer unity with those on stage worshipping something beyond all of you? like our awesome and gift-giving God!

So, back to our worship band. Let’s just hide them say behind a huge cloth hanging from the ceiling to the side of the stage (or the back of the hall, although this would probably give the ‘back-seaters’ the fright of their lives when the band hit that first, loud, crash-note of “Lord Reign in me”!)

The first problem is the worship leader needs to be watching over the congregation. So, how do we deal with that? hmm…. I know! let’s cut a hole in the cloth where his eyes can see through, but keep everyone else hidden. hmm... for some reason the congregation aren’t joining in on time with one or two songs and they’re continuing to sing during the fill or instrumental. You can see the Worship Leader’s eyes go bloodshot with frustration! Ok, we need to see the Worship leader’s face maybe? let’s cut a face-shaped hole from the previously ‘tailored’ eye hole. (It might be a good idea to do this for the next service as it’s already a colossal distraction!)

Ok, now the congregation know when and when not to sing. Great! we’ve achieved it! = aworship band hidden away, with a face in a cloth telling us when and what to sing. Now we can fully focus on God! 1st song passes, 2nd…. every one just seems dead and subdued. All except the red-faced WL showing clear emotion! We can’t follow our WL’s lead by being excited or still appropriately. Ok let’s just have the WL’s whole self…. wait for it…OUR side of the cloth! Now we’ve got it.

Hold it! God just told the WL that we need to bring the pace and volume down to allow him to minister to us in our pain and deeply sad issues. But the band are crashing along to “One way, Jesus” at top bpm and more decibels than a Concorde taking off. Forget it, we’re celebrating tonight- hide your emotions.

It’s just not right is it? Ok, another radical suggestion; let’s, just to keep things as hidden as possible still, bring out the bass player. Cool, let’s go…

No. Now the groove is suffering big time. Timing’s all out. The bassist can’t see the drummer! Ok, pull the cloth over a little just so they can see each other. Carry on.

All this time the motifs have been non-existent. It’s too risky; the elec guitarist can’t see the WL and as a result; doesn’t know when to start his/her haunting riffs that really help us go deeper.

OK! (now quite frustrated by my none less than amazing idea failing miserably!) pull the cloth across some more just so elec guitars can see the WL.

Right, are we done!? The WL gets a tap on their shoulder and a whisper in the ear “er.. what about Jemima?” oh flip! Jemima’s the BV! She doesn’t know what’s going on! You know what?... I give up! Tear the curtain down (biblical so….) but, again, do it for the next service! Do it during a song and you may as well have a dramatic key change, matching suits and a fireworks display! a bit like a westlife-esque show! Forget the flipping cloth!

However, hopefully now, we’ve learnt a big lesson in why we are at the front and in the same format as a performing band; Band members keep you’re eyes open and fixed on the Worship leader and occasionally at other members. Get better at your instruments so you can do this more. Contrary to what you may have heard, you CAN worship with your eyes open and even with another human as your view point. In fact, this is your worship. Worship leaders, get better at your instrument’s, vocals and learn as many songs off by heart as possible so that you are and have as little distraction as possible when you are leading. Seek what God is doing and follow that.

You are up the front for specific, God focused reasons – never compromise them.

Jack Ellis 2006