Doug Gould will be presenting seminars dealing with sound and tech topics at both West and East WorshipGod conferences this year. Doug has been a veteran of the Pro Audio and Music Technology Industry for almost 30 years, serving in management roles at Shure, Tascam and E-Mu Systems. He has also been a worship leader, musician and tech at various churches for almost as long.
At WorshipGod conferences this year Doug will be covering sound basics, lowering stage volume, mixing, and more. His clear, personal, and knowledgeable workshops have served many WorshipGod attendees in the past. I expect this year will be the same.
Doug graciously answered a few questions about himself and what he’ll be doing at the conferences.
1. Briefly share your testimony of conversion with us.
My parents divorced when I was 12 and although our family went to church, I had never really had a relationship with the Lord and I believed that if there was a God, He wouldn’t have allowed my parents to fight and to separate. I was angry, my whole life. After high school I joined the Navy and I remember seeds of the gospel being planted there. After discharge I played in bar bands and sold stereo equipment simultaneously. I did many abusive things to myself and it was at the stereo shop that I met an Episcopalian priest who had been filled with the Holy Spirit. To this day this man who witnessed and demonstrated the love of Christ and the joy of our salvation more than in any person I have ever met. He would always tell me how very close to the Lord I was and that if at any time I wanted to know more about Him, that he wanted to be the one to introduce me. He gave me his card and said to please consider him when ever I came to a place where I wasn’t sure of where I was, where I was going, here or in the future, in the physical or in the unseen.
Two years later, I was playing in rock bands and had become totally despondent. I found his card, ran to his church the next day, and was introduced to Jesus Christ, my Savior, my redeemer, my healer, my King, my Creator, my provider, my guide and trusted friend, my high priest. My life is now His.
2. Why do you think what you’re teaching on is an important topic?
Whether you are serving on a creative or technical team, chances are you don’t do this for a living. Our worship and tech teams rarely practice their craft for more than an hour a week before the service every weekend and yet are expected to sound as polished as a professional touring band. My aim is to be a launching pad to help them find ways to strengthen the team and to improve their skills. There are many common sense approaches to accomplish this but because our teams have never done this professionally, they don’t know what they don’t know. I want to illustrate these things to them and show them some very practical exercises they can do to facilitate a more satisfying experience for them and the church.
3. What do you hope will be filling people’s minds and hearts as they walk away from your message?
Wow! That was helpful. I can do this!
4. Is there any passage of Scripture that sums up what you’ll be sharing?
“Faith comes by hearing.” Also: 1 Corinthians 14:7-9
5. Can you expound on one point that you’ll be making in your message?
Build relationships outside of the church walls with the people you are in closer contact with in church. Strong relationships will build trust and confidence in each other. A worship leader and musician need to know that the audio guy has his back and that they both want what’s best for the church. This doesn’t happen or get strengthened 10 minutes before a service. It takes time. Spend time, over coffee or a lunch. Get together as often as possible, talk things over, record your services and listen to them together. Set benchmarks and take note of your progress.
6. How has what you’re going to speak on affected your own life?
The things I will be sharing are the result of a lifetime of doing it the wrong way and my hope is that I will be able to spare some years of trial and error and to help them to establish some better ways to accomplish their goals without wasting any more time.
7. Can you recommend any books, articles, websites, or materials on this topic?
The Ultimate Church Sound Operators Handbook by Bill Gibson
Live Audio Basics DVD by Ron Davis
Critical listening development:
Quiztones for Mac
Train Your Ears (Link on my website)
8. What would you say to someone who is trying to decide whether or not to come to WorshipGod2013?
Don’t miss an opportunity to build strength and fellowship with your entire team and with others who share the same calling and at the same time learn new ways to accomplish your goals, in very practical ways. You’ll be inspired, you’ll be motivated and you’ll have fun. WorshipGod is one of the most real and authentic events of this nature and it’s affordable enough to bring your entire team, which is rare in this world of profit-centered events.
Go here to check out the details on WorshipGod West or WorshipGod East.
Great interview. Loved this: “A worship leader and musician need to know that the audio guy has his back and that they both want what’s best for the church. This doesn’t happen or get strengthened 10 minutes before a service. It takes time.”
Thanks for sharing, Doug!
Please, this is powerful, but we need you people in my country Nigeria. I will run it to come to pass.