11 Deadly Sins of the Worship Team, Part 6

By Jon Nicol

Let’s move from preparation to the platform for this next sin.

#9 – Fright Reading

Fright reading is also a condition known as head-in-stand disease.

So many worship musicians have their eyes Gorilla Glued to their music stand that I have to wonder if God isn’t sitting on the edge of their scratched-up Manhasset. That could be the only reason to stare so intently at the thing.

First, why is this is a “sin”?

Have you ever looked out at the congregation and seen the Sunday Morning Zombie Screen Stare? You know, the rows of glassy-eyed, non-moving gazes on the projection screen lyrics. You’ve got zombies in your church, too? (Don’t worry, if they were real zombies, you’d know it. They take the “eat the flesh” thing all too literal. Communion Sunday would NOT be fun at a zombie church.)

Do this: next time you look out over a sea of Screen Zombies, turn around and look at the rest of your team. How many of them are “Stand Zombies”?

We’re simply teaching our people – do as we do.

And please don’t pull the “we just need to disappear up there so the focus can be on God” card. If you really believe that with all your heart, put a curtain in front of the band. Or have them play in another room and just pump the sound in. Or forget the band and use tracks.

Corporate worship isn’t just an auditory experience. We experience it visually and relationally, too. Part of the visual experience is being led by and relating to other living, breathing (and non-flesh-eating) people.

Second, why do we commit this "sin"? Why are we so prone to the fright reading, the head in stand, the hunchback-stand-zombie routine week after week. There are really only two reasons when you boil it down:

Confidence and ignorance.

Confidence
There are a few contributing factors for the lack of confidence on stage:

1. immature musician
2. ill-prepared musician
3. insecure person (shy, stage fright, etc.)

All three are are pretty self-explanatory. But let me comment on the last one:

You don’t need to be a raging extrovert to have great platform presence.

Let me say that again.

You don’t need to be a raging extrovert to have great platform presence.

If you’re not naturally a person that likes to be in front of people, maybe you shouldn’t be the up-front leader. BUT - if God has called you to this place (remember, he called stuttering Moses to be His voice to Pharaoh), He will give you what you need.

And be encouraged that your platform presence and expression can (and should) look different from the extrovert who naturally shines in front of people. But just make sure there is expression beyond stand-staring (or the only slightly improved alternative introverts are known for: eyes closed tight/furrowed brow worship.)

Ignorance
If lack of confidence isn’t the issue, then it’s probably ignorance – ignorance to the fact that we should show expression when we worship. That ignorance may stem from the misguided notion of completely disappearing on the platform. Or the person just may not have been given the permission or taught to emote.

My guess is only a small percentage of our Stand Zombies fall in the ignorant category. For most, it’s a confidence issue.

There are lots of ways to overcome this sin. But here are three ways to get you started:

1. Record your worship service and have your team watch it.
I was just watching a video of a service from a few weeks ago. The number of people fright reading didn’t surprise me. I know who my usual suspects are. But I was surprised at how stationary I was. I think I move on stage a whole lot more than that game tape revealed.

I also got a kick in the tail as I watched myself continually glance down at my music during a less than well-practiced song. Every time I looked down to catch my chords or the next line, I broke connection with the congregation I was suppose to be leading.

2. Memorize your music.
The stand zombie will go away if there’s no stand (or its far off to the side as a safety net). Here's a two part-article that can help with memorization. Kick Your Charts to the Curb, Part 1 and Part 2.

3. As a team, rehearse being expressive and moving around.
Have fun with it. Get people used to moving and expressing in rehearsal and warm-ups. Ideally, that will (eventually) trickle into the service

I’d love to hear about how you’ve worked to redeem your team from the sin of stand-staring. What sort of anti-stand-zombie tactics have you used?

Return to "Turning Your Team Into a Band"

May 24, 2012