Just read this this morning after conversation with a friend I’ve mentored and hoped for for more than a decade now. I pray for us to have oneness. I pray with grand hope for humanity also... I will work hard at the former that I may have some bit of actual control of. I will pray for the utopian hope as well...

Event Pre-production Questions - A good Production Manager should be asking these questions

I was asked for my consult on what other options I could recommend besides truss to hang a banner for an event. This was my reply:

I’m always a fan of pipe-and-base. It certainly takes up less space in a vehicle and is quicker to set up. It’s not a design on its own (you can’t put an LED inside to make it pretty colors) but it certainly is a bang-for-the-buck way to have some banners or whatever have something to tie to…

Create something beautiful today. Whether a photograph, a spreadsheet, performance art, or leadership moment. Make sure to care...

I wrote this page about what my team would look like last spring when I was considering the request to lead the Troy Production Department. I'm reviewing it again this month now that I've hired the final member of my staff. I'm grateful for each of them; and for all of our incredible volunteers. Here's to a great season of thriving in ethos, mission, and vision as we push through our busiest part of the year these next couple months...

• Stage Crew
• Assistant Stage Manager
• Audio & Lighting Crew
• Setup of Staging & Equipment
• Programming & Operation
• Live Video Crew
• Camera
• Control Room
• Multimedia and Graphics
• KKids Crew
• Audio
• Lighting
• Multimedia and Graphics

A friend recently messaged me on my thoughts of how we evaluate our product after each event. I voice texted the following:

An indication of success is the observation of team celebrating that they had the privilege of experiencing the events together. That members of the team would offer self critique of the things that they individually remember missing and proposing their plan for how to improve it because they want to improve the overall win. That they would encourage the others in their successes in a posture of gratefulness to serve alongside such talent and attitude.

The greatest single indicator is joy. Do people like being part of the team? Do they celebrate that? Do they celebrate one another, even if they weren't part of the element? Is it a privilege to be part of the same team? Are they thinking about people that they want to invite along to the experience?

Another is adaptability. Are they willing to follow the leadership on a last-minute course correction without gripe or grumble or stressful freakout; but rather peace and even excitement.

Finally, and this is certainly more of a long-term evaluation: Are people working themselves out of a job? If the true culture is discipleship, then it will play out in the entire context of the persons life. Even to the point of training others to replace you in task and responsibility. The body of Christ is always evolving. Are we openhanded to however the spirit will move people and grow people?

I’ve been contemplating the thoughts that were presented in this video that a friend recently shared with me:
https://youtu.be/38Cy_Qlh7VM

I think it’s a good thought about "moments" vs. "scenes" - it’s a thought I realize I’ve been contemplating for years. It’s the reason why I don’t want to give up being part of Braintrust and some of the other Central responsibilities that I have in my portfolio. I care deeply about making sure that the "beauty" that I help coach and reveal has purpose in supporting/enhancing the greater story…