Woman on Board
Right now my husband and I hold an annual "Throne Zone" Worship conference in Virginia Beach. We provide breakout classes from tech to practical and general sessions with international guests. We plan, organize and implement regional nights of worship, pulling together cities, breaking racial and denominational barriers. We also work with the Inspiration Television Network where my husband serves as worship leader and I work as a producer. We travel a lot teaching and training at local churches and of course, I usually find myself in the sound booth!
You didn’t start out as a television producer. In fact, you’re one in a very small pro audio sisterhood. How did that happen?
I actually started running sound for a rock & roll band. (That was BC, of course — before Christ!) My husband and I went to Lee University where we traveled with Campus Choir and Power Unlimited for two years, under the direction of Dr. David Horton. I was the sound tech, and to my knowledge, the first and only female to fill that position. From there, we served in local churches for ten years where I ran the audiovisual department of every one. More recently, I've acted as the Coordinating Producer for the Inspiration Television Network, where I produce three live events – two semi-annual weeklong camp meetings and an international New Year’s Eve broadcast.
Changing technology presents its own set of challenges. But being a woman in a field pretty much populated by men had to be difficult. Was it?
Absolutely! I can't tell you how many times I have been ostracized by men in a sound booth. It usually takes time to win them over. My attitude, knowledge of the soundboard and my ear are my saving graces.
I've learned a lot from my male colleagues, both good and bad. I've learned men sometimes experiment too much during a service with the system. I've seen them make huge changes to a mic and totally disrupt a service. Now, on a good note, I've learned to fly speakers and set up a system in less than 30 minutes. I hope that they have learned that women can be taken seriously in this role. From a practical standpoint, I hope they've learned to pay attention to the stage. That's my biggest complaint with most sound techs – male or female!
Could a single woman accomplish the kinds of things you have, or do you think the support of your husband was necessary to keep you focused and encouraged?
Yes, I believe any woman (single or married) can accomplish even more than I have. Women must be confident of who we are in Christ and in our God-given abilities. In my opinion, there’s no limit to what can be accomplished. I am personally speaking as someone who has the full support of her husband. Keith and I are a unique situation. He does the music and I run the sound or produce the event. I like to tell him, I make him sound and look good! I can't imagine doing this without him and his full support.
But you could if the situation required it.
Absolutely.
Most churches want to know if they have the right equipment, how to use it effectively, and if I can train their techs. Each church has its own challenges from a sound perspective so each scenario is different. Generally speaking, those are the three main questions they have.
You’ve talked about your early days as a sound tech with the Lee University Campus Choir. Did you travel with your own gear or did you use whatever was on hand? Any favorite stories?
We had our own system. I had a set-up that I called “idiot-proof”. It made more sense to use our own system all the time, since nine out of ten times, we’d need it. I knew the system and our people. My biggest challenge, without a doubt, was room acoustics. It took a few trips to get the hang of it, but I quickly learned what I could and couldn’t do. Stories? I could write a book! One of my favorites is a time when the bus broke down (which happened more than once). We were late getting to the event and I had 20 minutes to set up the system and with absolutely no sound check at all! Those years were full of learning experiences that could never have been taught in a classroom.
I say do it! Get in, dig deep, expand your knowledge with tech tracks from conferences and seminars, and realize that it might be tough but the rewards far outweigh the tough times. If you’re really serious about it, there are plenty of colleges and universities that offer the training you need to make it a career.
How has the transition from sound tech to consultant to television producer been? Does it feel like one career built upon the other?
It's really been a metamorphosis for me. Much of my transition was the result of whatever was happening at the time. Our church wanted to start a video department and go on local cable television. I was suddenly editing and producing a weekly 30-minute program. Churches wanted to know if we could help them with their sound issues or get them started with the proper editing suite. Keith went to work as Worship Leader for The Inspiration Networks and they needed a Coordinating Producer. So it just kind of happened for me. I am now in the process of establishing myself as a freelance producer. It is my desire to produce worship programs that air internationally and allow people in the comfort of their home to experience true worship and an unforgettable experience – not just music - with the Lord.
What do you do to keep learning and expanding your knowledge base?
I surround myself with people who know more than I do. I watch, listen, and learn from them. I take tech classes and read. Most of all, I'm not afraid to ask questions.
Given your success, are you called to motivate other Christian women to do the kinds of things you have?
Is there anything, do you think, about being female that makes you better at what you do than your male colleagues?
I'm glad you asked that question! I believe that women can hear frequencies that men can't. (I have no proof, just my opinion). I have also found that we tend to pay closer attention to the stage and the needs of those on the stage. I have probably just made some enemies, but again, this is my opinion.
Maybe that has something to do with biology – after all, women are nurturers. How does the future look for women in technical roles at houses of worship?
It looks good and I’ve seen evidence of it. I personally know a young lady who began running sound at her local church in her early teens. We worked together for a few years there and at statewide camp meetings. She will be graduating from Lee University with a degree in Communications. I see a bright future.
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