I always like to keep my audience riveted!

I once was working sound at a church for a new pastor (Let's call him Mike). Before the service started, one of the pastors came up and asked if Mike had been by yet. I replied no. The pastor smiled and said "You might not see him until one minute before the service starts. Sometimes he doesn't even put on his earpiece microphone until he is walking up to the pulpit". He then preceeded to prep me on some of Mike's habits that would help me record him better. As he was leaving, he told me that he "...might go track down Mike and have him come up and do a sound check". Less than five minutes after the associate pastor left, Mike was up there. But not for a sound check. Mike had to confirm how to turn on his microphone.

The service went without a hitch. As the sermon was over, Mike asked us to pray. He led the prayer. The moment it was over, Mike put his head down and walked off the stage. The entire congregation looked puzzled. Why? Mike had forgotten to invite people to the front to pray. The other pastors know to stand in front of the pulpit and wait for those who want to come forward and pray while the congregation sings. Then the go back, make announcements amd dismiss. Mike forgot this. The Choir Director waved him back up, where Mike thanked everyone for coming. He then prayed again, and dismissed everyone.

Mike broke a cardinal sin in any type of performance... Know your audience, and be prepared for them.

One example is the first time I was to conduct the Athens Symphony. I arrived two hours early, which is normal for me. I then practiced three times walking onto the stage and going to the podium. Why? I didn't want any glitches. I had to get up from my seat in the trombone section, come down risers, weave through the Double Bass section and make it to the podium. About twenty minutes before the concert, I did it again. Why? There were now players in their seats, and they like to move the chairs to the place they are most comfortable with. And this was my way of making sure I could still have a path.

Audiences watch everything on stage, You need to look professional not only in what you are wearing, but in the way you walk, talk and present yourself. It took Mike a while before people didn't talk about his first servive. And some still do.

Don't be a Mike.