Why is planning so important for an audio/visual system?

It is critical to engage today's society with the Word in a worship setting that is vital and connecting. Many churches are increasingly relying on state-of-the-art systems to do just that. Unfortunately, these technical tools are often last considered and poorly applied during the construction of many worship facilities. Many individual elements of church building design need to come together in critical unison to make the end product function smooth and seamless. This means all the building trades; electrical, mechanical, HVAC, finishing, and audio/visual must be fully coordinated from a buildings conception to completion. In as much as it wouldn't be wise to go into a church building project without a blueprint for the plumbing, we feel it is equally important to have a well integrated plan for the audio, visual and theatrical lighting design. After all, it is all about the Word! We want to help you preach it, sing it, and show it clearly.

Here are some key points we would like to stress if you are planning a new installation or an upgrade to an existing structure.

Choose you're A/V consultant before the blueprints are set!

The selection of an A/V consultant in the early stages of your project can save many headaches down the road. For instance, a good A/V consultant will be able to look at the proposed designs and project what the sanctuary will "sound like" before it is even built. Some simple changes to the geo-metrics of the "sound chamber" could make a huge difference in the end result. Poor choices can make the spoken word nearly unintelligible regardless of how expensive a sound system is installed. It is also much more costly to correct an acoustic problem with the application of acoustical treatments than it is to alter the design before hand. The same principle of course applies to the projection and lighting systems.

Often times the selection of the A/V contractor is made after the cement is down. With today's systems, both above and below grade conduit runs are needed in critical areas of booth and stage. Pre-planning of the pathways for cabling can save thousands of dollars in additional labor and material costs on a project. Sometimes there is no alternative than to jackhammer brand new cement to get the job done. Nobody wants to go down that road!

Be sure your building committee includes
someone responsible for A/V items

Most churches have at least one or two "sound gals or guys". It is important to include this expertise in your building committee. This also helps provide a go-to personal contact for you're A/V consultant. Few building projects are simply put on paper and constructed without change along the way. It is important that a good line of communication is established both prior to and during the construction phase of the project.

Look at the present but . . . Open yourselves to new worship horizons!

Building projects are an opportunity to think outside the box. A good A/V consultant will help you put some structure to this process by examining your present worship style and exploring some new worship possibilities. It is important to think about possible changes in worship as it can have a huge bearing on the selection and placement of equipment. This process begins with a pre-planning meeting with the consultant that will not only present new possibilities to the building committee but will also help the consultant understand the specific needs of the church. This is so very important to insure that the system is not "miss-targeted" resulting in the lament "a great system, just not what we needed". Of course, you must also "consider the cost" to keep things in balance.

Pre-contracting consulting can bring clarity into the project.

There are so many considerations to a building project that are easily overlooked. Simple things can unfortunately get in the way of a "job well done". A short, well organized initial meeting with a good A/V consultant can focus the whole process from the very beginning. It's a good time to discuss questions like, "can we supply some of the labor", or "can we use some of our old equipment". It's also a good time to talk about project flexibility and expectations.

Give us a call!

It's a great place to start. We're not the "high pressure" kind of folks and would be glad to talk you through some of the issues and questions you may have. Give us a call at 608-726-0105 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Let's talk!