Do a Playback
If you are one of the churches that has been live-streaming, have you been watching the recorded versions of your services? Are you checking to see what your viewers saw?
It’s incredibly easy for a viewer who is watching you through a television or a device to be disengaged. It’s your job to engage them with singable songs and relatable teaching presentation. Distance viewing creates a different set of needs for the viewers. Your preparation for a service and follow-up afterward need to be thoughtful. Keep the viewer in mind.
Some years ago, I sang with a group that regularly watched recordings after our events. By watching myself sing, I became aware of what I needed to change in my facial expressions and hand gestures. I also clearly saw where I needed to improve my posture. Over the following years, I continued to review my recorded teaching and worship leading. Watching myself has increased my perspective. I no longer just focus on what I’m singing or saying, but I’m constantly aware of how the congregation and distance viewers see me.
When you watch your recorded service, you’ll want to put yourself in the position of your audience. When you’re reviewing the video, don’t sit there and say, “Oh wow, I sounded so good.” Instead, honestly and critically evaluate your posture, hand gestures, and facial expressions. Then ask yourself, “If a speaker or singer did that and I was watching, how would that make me feel?”
Here are some areas to evaluate.
Hand gestures
When you gesture, are you pointing your finger at the audience? Do you look confrontational? Pointing can imply that you are superior and authoritative instead of being inviting and encouraging. If you’ve been pointing, try using an open, flat, palm-upward hand gesture. It looks inclusive and welcoming. Here’s a link to a great TED Talk about hand gestures and body language by Allan Pease.
Facial expressions
Evaluate your facial expressions. Are you grimacing? I saw a pastor once who continually squinted his eyes and scrunched his nose while preaching. In normal conversation, his face was relaxed. I wondered if he ever watched his videos. We don’t want to distract the people who are viewing us.
Sometimes when I teach or sing, I forget to smile. I like to put a note where only I can see it with a big smiley face on it so I remember that even though what I’m saying or singing is important, my face continues to express the joy that’s in me. You can smile fully or just lift the corners of your mouth, or you can lift your cheeks and eyebrows to look awake and engaged. I recommend that you look at yourself in a mirror and try smiling in a way that’s natural and still allows you to speak or sing.
Eye contact
Are you looking at the camera when you’re speaking or singing? If you aren’t, then you’re not connecting with the people who are watching you in a separate location. If your goal is to reach people who are not with you, then you need to look at them through the camera lens.
Sound mix
Check the mix that will be (or has been) broadcast. I’ve seen some services lately where there are multiple instruments in the mix, and the keyboardist is playing with passion, but I can’t hear it in the broadcast mix. I’m just hearing the drums and the lead guitar. Someone didn’t check the mix beforehand. Just because something sounds good live doesn’t mean that it’s being heard that way by your viewers.
One more thing that pertains to sound and what’s being sung: when you’re leading worship, I strongly recommend that you sing each song’s melody line. If you have more than one singer with you, at least one of you should be singing the melody line, and that person should be heard above everyone else, even over you if you’re a leader who likes to sing phrases that augment what the congregation should be singing.
To wrap it up, we all need to be aware of our viewers and what they need to see and hear. With a few adjustments and fine-tuning on our part, distance viewers can connect with the church service and have a great experience.
