The ChurchGear Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Lee Fields on Hard Conversations, Learning New Gear and Cowboy Boots [MxU] May 16, 2022

Show notes

You know him. You love him. We have Lee Fields with us this week!

We talk with him about his time co-founding MxU, church production trends and a mountain of antics and random opinions on (but not included to) cowboy boots and jet skis.

0:53 Toby’s dad should literally be dead after this story
9:45 We introduce MxU’s Lee Fields
13:10 Lee sits next to Justin Bieber (celebrities at church)
21:10 We FINALLY transition over to MxU’s origin story and purpose
34:48 Bootstrapping in the early days of MxU
36:22 Who originally raised the bar in the church production world?
39:25 Where will the next church tech trends come from in the production world?
43:10 The church setups Lee’s enjoyed the most over the years
45:00 Lee’s approach to learning new Tech concepts
50:10 Disaster story: Losing the PA during Bayside’s Christmas service
54:02 “Who said it” about Lee Fields
58:55 Lee builds his dream production gear setup
1:01:30 Tech Takeaway on vocals and hard conversations

Plugs

Get MxU's training videos.
Join us at an MxU live event this Fall!

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.

Connect with us:

Follow us on Facebook
Hang out with us on Instagram
See all the ways we can serve your church on our Website
Get our best gear sent to your inbox each Monday before it goes public via the Early Service

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Broadcasting Well with King Williams (Broadcast Engineer for the Grand Ole Opry) May 09, 2022

Show notes

The Grand Ole Opry is iconic and the venue's reach is immense.

King Williams stops by to tell his story of going from a guy fixing gear on Nashville’s Music Row to the Broadcast Engineer for the Grand Ole Opry.

In this episode you'll hear:

1:00 The dangers of setting a drink on a console
6:00 We introduce King Williams (Broadcast Engineer at the Grand Ole Opry)
11:00 King’s wife wants him to look like Keith Urban to “spice things up”
14:45 King’s path to becoming the Broadcast Engineer at the Grand Ole Opry
30:35 The session that got King the job at the Opry
37:00 The three mixes that happen at the Opry & King’s inspiration
38:00 King’s advice on broadcasting your services well
42:23 The Grand Ole Opry’s secret sauce to broadcasting well
47:08 King’s favorite artists that he’s worked with at the Grand Ole Opry
50:25 Tech Takeaway on phase translations

Plugs

Check out King's broadcasting skills on the Grand Ole Opry Circle Network or their YouTube channel.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.

Connect with us:

Follow us on Facebook
Hang out with us on Instagram
See all the ways we can serve your church on our Website
Get our best gear sent to your inbox each Monday before it goes public via the Early Service

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

FILO's Todd Elliott on Valuing your Time and Trying New Things Apr 28, 2022

Show notes

What if we’re the ones putting pressure on ourselves to work 80 hour weeks?

Todd Elliott joins us to discuss how to value your own time in the production process, how to try new things and how he realized the church tech community had similar problems and needed more community.
Todd Elliott is a writer, speaker, technical artist in the local church and the founder of FILO.

1:05 “There was murder in my wife’s eyes” story from Toby
5:30 Todd Elliott tells the first lie of his life.
12:30 Kindergarten Todd is held at gunpoint
13:45 Todd “runs into” the CEO of General Motors
15:28 Todd realized all Church Techs have similar problems and lacked community
22:28 The content, speakers and breakouts to look forward to at FILO’s conference
26:40 “I Love Jesus but I Hate Christmas” Todd on Tech Director’s being overworked
29:09 Near Death Disaster Story: Failing to counter balance correctly can be deadly
32:40 Live Sound Disaster Story: Running for the score (Prop problem)
34:43 Weighing your time, health and standing up for yourself
39:55 Tech Takeaway on being brave enough to suck at something new

Plugs

43:02 Join the FILO Conference May 10th and 11th
43:40 Download the “I Love Jesus but I Hate Christmas” book
44:18 Sign up for the FILO cohort training on leading volunteers, communicating with your pastor, saying no , etc.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.

Connect with us:

Follow us on Facebook
Hang out with us on Instagram
See all the ways we can serve your church on our Website
Get our best gear sent to your inbox each Monday before it goes public via the Early Service

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Maximizing Production Budgets with Alexa Ross [Fellowship Church Grapevine] Apr 25, 2022

Show notes

You're a freshmen in high school, and Bret Michael's monitor engineer has just asked you to take over for him.
Do you drop out of school to go out on tour?

Alexa Ross is the Audio Engineer at Fellowship Church Grapevine in Texas. She’s been mixing for most of her life and has been invited to go on tour more times than she can count.

1:35 Toby goes to Lakewood Church (Pastor: Joel Osteen) to see their Sunday Service
5:30 Toby sees a familiar box at Fellowship Church Grapevine
8:00 Audio Engineer, Alex Ross, lies to us
15:10 Mixing on the road vs. mixing at church
17:20 Running monitors for Fellowship Grapevine vs. Bret Michaels
19:40 Alexa’s love for the PM1D
21:40 Flying under the radar with wireless gear next to the DMW airport
25:10 Communication between the band and the tech team during service
28:00 Maximizing your church’s production budget
30:40 Fellowship’s vision to redo the control room
31:55 Fellowship’s plans to upgrade their consoles
33:50 Live Sound Disaster story
37:08 Tech Takeaway on proactive communication with the worship team and pastor for their Sunday service visions

Links for the Guest

39:30: Ed Young Radio and The Dumb Ask leadership podcast

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.

Connect with us:

Follow us on Facebook
Hang out with us on Instagram
See all the ways we can serve your church on our Website
Get our best gear sent to your inbox each Monday before it goes public via the Early Service

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Ministry Burnout, Hard Conversations & Powering Through [Christ Community’s Caleb Loeppky] Apr 18, 2022

Show notes

How do you keep church tech directors from burning out in ministry before age 30?
Caleb Loeppky consistently counsels church techs on how to have hard conversations, how to change jobs, and how to stick it out in a tough season.

Caleb is the Tech Director for Christ Community Church and he also works with Slingshot Group to help churches find church tech director talent.
You'll hear:

1:05 A missed train stop nearly kills the ChurchGear crew in Chicago.
7:13 We introduce Caleb Loeppky (Technical Director at Christ Community Church)
8:58 Caleb lies to us (chest tattoos, being stalked, & 21 Pilots)
13:15 Missing the Mix: Caleb could have mixed for 21 Pilots
16:19 Caleb’s rapid climb in his Church Tech career
20:04 How young church tech directors can prevent burnout in ministry
26:06 Counseling Church Tech directors through tough ministry moments(Slingshot)
27:59 Amplio systems gives Christ Community Church an upgrade
31:00 Why you need a tent over your monitors. (Oh Crap moment)
36:10 Worst Sunday Service moment Caleb’s ever experienced
41:58 How Caleb counsels church techs experiencing burnout
44:20 Hard conversations with your pastor (Death by meetings)
49:00 Scratching your creative itch & making more money with contract work
50:45 Tech Takeaway on finding professional and personal satisfaction outside of work

Links for the Guest

Slingshot(56:20) Reach out to Caleb at cloeppky@slingshotgroup.org to talk about how he can help your church find a tech director for you.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.

Connect with us:

Follow us on Facebook
Hang out with us on Instagram
See all the ways we can serve your church on our Website
Get our best gear sent to your inbox each Monday before it goes public via the Early Service

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Knowing When to Stay or Leave Ministry [Amplio’s Dillan Howell] Apr 11, 2022

Show notes

Church creative teams have seen a mass exodus over the past three years. How do you know if its your time to leave or if you should double down in the area you’ve been placed?

Dillan Howell frequently speaks to church worship leaders and church techs all across the country on this issue. He gives us his advice for when to stay in ministry and when to leave, a near death disaster story and advice on doing your best work wherever you’re at.

He has been a church planter, weekend producer at Central Church and an Executive Producer at Faith Promise Church. He is currently serving as the Director of Church Relations for Amplio Group.

1:40 The church politics that play out when you sell the organ.
7:25 We introduce Dillan Howell
10:40 Love story: Dillan and his wife met in 2nd grade?!
15:45 A call to difficult, necessary conversations
20:55 The stress on church tech teams to do live streams during Covid
22:00 Advice for the worship leader who is contemplating a career change
24:30 Dillan’s story of leaving ministry to serve the church with Amplio.
27:10 Amplio’s approach to serving churches’ AVL Integration needs
30:07 Fun Install Story: Transitioning Saddleback from broadcast cameras to cinematic
34:55 Doing your best work, whatever the role or circumstance you’re in.
38:34 Disaster Story: A deadly Central Church Production story at Christmas
44:45 “Who Said It” Segment: Dillan’s friends anonymously grill him
47:59 Tech Takeaway on crushing the details Monday-Friday so Sunday is already set

Links for the Guest

Connect with Dillan on his website.
Connect with Amplio for your integration needs.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.

Connect with us:

Follow us on Facebook
Hang out with us on Instagram
See all the ways we can serve your church on our Website
Get our best gear sent to your inbox each Monday before it goes public via the Early Service

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Mixing under Pregnancy & Presidential Pressure (Bayside’s David Roediger) Apr 04, 2022

Show notes

Would you be able to focus on the mix for a US vice president when your wife is moments away from going into labor?

David's been serving in church ministry for 13 years and is a production manager at Bayside church in CA.

He has worked with three United States presidents, the Luis Palau Association, and more artists than we can count:

Thrive Worship, Newsboys, Lincoln Brewster, Elton John, Mutemath, For King and Country, Lecrae, Tool, Cake, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Toby Mac, NF, Crowder, Tim McGraw, We Are Messengers, Brad Paisley, Atreyu, and Mudvayne.

1:10 Toby mixes side stage with a side of nudity
6:01 Five Truths & a Lie with David Roediger
11:30 Mixing for a Vice President during pregnancy
15:13 Working with the Red Hot Chili Peppers
17:55 Being a Production Manager at Bayside Church CA
20:30 Mixing for Newsboys in Nashville.
22:00 Live Sound Disaster story: Newsboys
26:54 Learning to mix while living in Alaska
29:26 How to build your church’s tech team
31:10 Recruiting church production volunteers in the youth group
34:10 David’s first job running sound at a church
37:34 David’s favorite concert of all time
44:50 Tour Time Machine: Which tour would you like to retroactively mix for?
47:50 Tech Takeaway on asking for new gear in a genuine way

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.

Connect with us:

Follow us on Facebook
Hang out with us on Instagram
See all the ways we can serve your church on our Website
Get our best gear sent to your inbox each Monday before it goes public via the Early Service

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Seeing the Light with Robby Kurtz Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

Would you read a Hog Two's entire manual over the weekend to be Natalie Cole's lighting director?
Robby Kurtz was thrown to the wolves on his first show, but he ran with the pack, used his skills across the globe, and became New Life Church's LD right before Christmas.
He has done the lights for Natalie Cole & Jesus Culture, worked in TV and his 6 truths and a lie segment has some adrenaline-pumping stories.

In this episode you'll hear:

1:38 The stickiest piece of gear we’ve ever bought
6:34 We introduce Robby Kurtz with his death-defying truths and lies.
11:10 John 3:16 > Border Security
12:45 A fifteen person van is carried by the Lord
15:02 Learning the Hog Two lighting board on the fly to be Natalie Cole’s LD.
19:40 How he nearly got fired on his first two shows
22:36 The difficulties of being a Christian on the road
26:34 Lighting Journeyman: trade shows, Daystar Television network, video editing
29:30 Becoming the LD for New Life Church right before Christmas
31:00 Do churches own all the fog machines they use at Christmas & Easter?
33:50 How 4Wall serves churches with gear rentals
37:00 Encouragement for current church lighting directors
40:32 Robby’s top 5 albums of all time
42:42 Tech Takeaway on the best place to place your lights in your service

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.

Connect with us:

Follow us on Facebook
Hang out with us on Instagram
See all the ways we can serve your church on our Website
Get our best gear sent to your inbox each Monday before it goes public via the Early Service

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Fixing your Gear Mid Show with Brian Boggs Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

How do you keep the church service going smoothly when production gear could break at any moment?

Brian Boggs guests to give us his advice on handling live sound snafus in concert settings and church services.

Boggs has been a touring audio guy for 20+ years, and worked with artists such as Fuel, Joe Diffie, Wynonna Judd, and Delbert McClinton. When he isn’t mixing on the road, he is serving as a church tech director or fixing production gear at ChurchGear HQ.
In this episode you'll hear:

1:00 Toby goes to Ben Rector’s listening party & hears how Snoop Dogg guests.
5:28 We introduce Brian Boggs
9:14 Boggs mixes the 2004 Super Bowl Afterparty
9:53 How Boggs learned to fix production gear on the road
13:45 The mindset you need to fix production gear mid show
15:00 Live Sound Disaster story: The console drops out completely.
21:10 Handling the pressures and personalities when you’re mixing for artists
23:25 Advice for church techs considering mixing on a tour
24:30 The difference between mixing on the road vs. mixing at church
27:00 Maximizing the gear your church budget can afford
29:27 Duct Tape Solutions: How Boggs survived a speaker snafu
30:40 Tech Takeaway on resiliency & gain structure

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.

Connect with us:

Follow us on Facebook
Hang out with us on Instagram
See all the ways we can serve your church on our Website
Get our best gear sent to your inbox each Monday before it goes public via the Early Service

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Quitting college to mix Michael W. Smith's Sessions [Rob Burrell] Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

Many Church Tech directors get job offers before they're even out of college. Should they drop out and jump into the tech booth early?
Rob Burrell decided to make the jump and it seems to have worked out!

Rob is currently mixing in immersive tech such as Dolby Atmos & Sony 360. He has mixed for MWS, Josh Groban, Charlie Daniels and Jennifer Nettles. Oh, and he has won some Grammys but didn't get invited to the ceremony.
In this episode:

1:17 Toby visits a Nashville artist's hangar to buy gear. We don't buy their jet.
7:04 We introduce Rob Burrell
11:55 Jennifer Nettles needs some Hertz taken out of her voice.
15:00 Dolby Atmos & Sony 360 system story
18:43 Rob’s start in tech
24:20 Rob’s transition from Rockstar to audio engineer
28:00 Mixing Front of House at church vs. mixing in a studio
32:06 Being a Pro Tools Op for the Country Music Awards
37:47 You can win a Grammy but not be invited to the ceremony?!
39:47 The fun of being a Focusrite brand ambassador
47:30 Tech Takeaway on being adventurous
49:57 Mixing at Skywalker Ranch with Michael W Smith story

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy brand new gear? You can get Certified Church Owned gear here.

Connect with us:

Follow us on Facebook
Hang out with us on Instagram
See all the ways we can serve your church on our Website
Get our best gear sent to your inbox each Monday before it goes public via the Early Service

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

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