This is a guide to properly and efficiently train your new tech volunteers! This is not a COMPLETE guide to the entire process that a volunteer will learn; however, it is a guide for the lead tech volunteer or volunteer trainers.
Observe
The best thing to do with a potential volunteer stepping into the booth for the first time is to have them simply observe a service. This allows them to see for themselves what the positions entail.
On rare occasion, you might have someone tell you that tech might not be for them. That’s okay, this position isn’t for everyone!
On the occasion they feel this position is for them, it’s time to schedule them for some training.
Do not feel the need to explain or teach during their observation period. If they ask questions, it's appropriate to answer but keep it simple.
First session
- Give a brief overview of the video equipment.
Turning on and off the equipment
-
Lyntec button (green on/red off master switch below tech booth)
- Newer locations will say, “Fire It Up” and “Shut It Down” just above the video rack
- Pro Pre boot up
- Resi, Hyperdeck
- Projectors
Spend the majority of your time going over ProPresenter
ProPresenter
- Opening/Quitting the application
- How to move through slides (pressing spacebar)
Teams
- Explain why we use this and when to use it
Resi
- How to load a message
- Manual play/stop
- Cues
Hyperdeck
- Play, stop, fast forward, rewind
Clock
- How to set clock (Saturday live campuses only)
- Explain the use of the clock and the importance of being on time when starting countdown and switching to message.
Weekend Playlist
- Go over the “weekend playlist." Sometimes this is called the Planning Center sheet or fancy marker board.
We don’t want to overwhelm new volunteers with too many details. Be encouraging and positive. Remind them that with practice and repetition, the details will come naturally. Before they leave, get their thoughts on how they feel about what they have learned so far. We don’t want to give them an out, but it’s good to give them a chance after each session to see if they still want to be on the team.
Second session
During this session, it’s time to let the trainee practice what they learned in session one. The goal of this session is for the trainee to become familiar with the start-up of the video equipment, the fundamentals of ProPresenter, the flow of the services and the use of the Switcher. Let the trainee sit in the “hot seat” and operate ProPresenter and the Switcher during rehearsal/services. You, as the trainer, should not leave their side for any reason. Be at their shoulder while they are working the controls so you can jump in at a moment's notice.
Review session one topics
- Powering up
- ProPresenter
- Resi
- Hyperdeck
- Clock
Use some of the non-service time to go over the Ross Switcher
Switcher Layout
- Multiviewer: shows different video inputs
- Switcher basic operation
- Hot buttons and service flow
Many trainees think the physical position of the “T bar” is what shows as Program. That is not the case.
- LifeKids Code - Jump back to ProPresenter and walk through how to show a LK number. Talk through the importance of clearing ProPresenter before showing the number.
Switcher Transitions
Below is the recommended workflow used in the training process. Many locations adapt this for their campus culture.
Worship/Stage Time Transition
- Trainer should take over before the end of the last song. Have the trainee watch this process.
- Bring down center screen
- Switch side screens to ProPresenter
- STG TIME hotkey
- Wait for cue (handshakes, fist bumps, etc)
- Punch "STG TIME" scenic hot key
- Select message source in Preview Row (Resi, Hyperdeck, SAT)
- Follow along with stage communicator on ProPresenter (Trainer stays on ProPresenter while reminding trainee about watching the clock)
- Punch "MSG" Hot Key at cue time (20:58 or 50:58, unless other time specified by WP)
- Immediately after the primary message is up and running, start the Pro Pre backup. The Resi and Hyperdeck should start on their own (provided they are cued up to the message start). The trainer will start the Pro Pre backup and then have the trainee select the secondary backup source on the Preview row of the switcher.
By the end of this session they should be more comfortable with ProPresenter and have some understanding of the Switcher. Remember: Encouragement is key here!
Before they leave, go over the primary and backup sources that we use for each service of the weekend. It’s best to already have those in your phone so you can email or text it to them (This is important for them to have at this point since next session is learning Resi, Hyperdeck and SAT).
Third session
By this session, they should be comfortable with session one topics. There might be some hesitation on the cues for the Stage Time/Next Steps graphics, but they should be less dependent on you. The goal of this session is to continue to build on the practice of session one and two topics, as well as practice operating Resi, Hyperdeck and SAT.
- Continue with their training by letting them work the switcher during rehearsal and services.
- Go over in detail the Resi, Hyperdeck and SAT.
Go over the primary and backup sources that they were given at the end of the last session.
It’s okay for them to use the source guide for now, but keep in mind that this should become second nature.
- Allow them to use the switcher, Resi and Hyperdeck during the services.
- It's critical that you continue to stay with them, especially during transitions to and from the message.
Satellite
- Test Audio and Video + Sync.
- Recap syncing the clock
- Discuss but don't act on Rebooting the Harmonic SAT receiver or ATEME SAT receiver
- The reasons why you might need to
- If audio and video are out of sync
- There is no video
- There is no audio
- The reasons why you might need to
At the end of this session, they should be able to run through Worship, Stage Time and Next Steps with ease on ProPresenter. They should have some knowledge about Resi, Hyperdeck and SAT as well as what sources to use as primary and backup for each service of the weekend.
Next Steps
Depending on the trainee, the number of sessions may vary. We never want to leave a trainee feeling uncomfortable about running things on their own. We need to work with them until the trainee is comfortable running things by themselves.
Get with your Worship Pastor or a lead tech person at your campus on training updates.
Special Training
You might want to schedule a veteran from the team during Baptism weekends so the newer team members who have not done a Baptism service can train on using the Baptism camera. Lead them to watch this video on the Baptism button before they train on the Baptism camera.
This also applies if the normal weekend is changed in any way that would confuse or prevent a trainee from doing their best. Provide them all the help they can get to feel confident.