Uniting Tech & Worship Teams to Work Better Together

A bonus session that picks up the relational thread the course keeps returning to: the worship team and the tech team are one team, shooting for the same goal — and when they truly work together, the local church is nearly unstoppable. Alex sits down with Todd Elliott, founder of FILO (First In, Last Out — one of the largest church tech and production conferences in the world), to talk about why the divide exists and how to close it.

Send this to your tech director and watch it together, then talk it through. “They will know us by our love for one another.”

Why the two halves clash

The people on the platform and the people behind the scenes could not be more different — personality, the way they think, what matters to them. Put them together and instead of pulling toward a common goal it can feel like butting heads and not trusting each other (surprise instruments at the production meeting, last-minute song changes vs. “arbitrary” deadlines and a wall of no’s). It’s not going away — in God’s wisdom these two very different groups have to function together — so the work is making it better.

People over excellence

Aim for excellence — let’s make it amazing — but never at the expense of people. People aren’t a commodity to be utilized; they’re precious souls to be loved, and when people feel loved they give more. The polished online mixes and lighting you envy on social media aren’t a switch you flip; they’re the fruit of a team, trust, years of relational battles, systems, and rhythms. Like the Musical Excellence principle: many small wins stacked over many years.

Improving the relationship

• Notice the good, specifically. Tech people usually only hear from you when something breaks. In your debrief, deliberately call out what went well — and be specific (“that transition timing was perfect”), because a vague “good job” doesn’t land when you already feel unseen. Bonus: people repeat what you specifically praise, so you get more of what you love.
• Spend non-crunch-time together. The only version of each other you know is the one under rehearsal pressure. Take a walk, grab lunch, “happen” to drop by the office for a casual chat. Build a storehouse of trust that has nothing to do with crunch time.
• Pray together. Praying with your tech director means a lot.

As the relationship grows, the tech person learns what you like, starts offering ideas, and you move from fighting each other to collaborating.

Application

• Watch this with your tech director and discuss one thing each of you can do to support the other better.
• At your next debrief, name something specific the tech team did well before you raise anything that went wrong.
• Schedule one non-crunch-time hangout (walk, lunch, or coffee) with your tech director this month.