Your Christmas program is coming up soon and you've worked very hard. The rehearsals, the publicity, the late nights. It is essential that you take full advantage of this hard work. It would be a shame if all you have to show for it is some great photos!
What can we do?
First -- find someone to head up your follow-up program. I know that as a director you have many, many hats to fill, and it is tempting to take care of this yourself. But you know that as the time grows nearer you will be stretched very thin. You need an organizer that will take this bull by the horns and tame it! Talk to the pastor about this position. He will be in a position to advise you. Be sure to print off the ideas in this article and give it to him. He will have other ideas to add to the mix and together you can find the right person for the job.
Second -- it is essential to have an 'after program' reception. This is the time for the visitors to meet other members of your church on a social basis. Your pastor can mingle, shake hands and thank them for coming. You do not need to go to great expense. Simple coffee, punch and cookies is more than sufficient. Don't encumber the area with tables. Tables make mixing difficult. Make circles of chairs with an opening into the circle. People can go in and out and mix it up. Encourge your church members to not congregate with their normal crowd!!!! They MUST step out of their comfort zone and greet the visitors, ask them questions and get to know them. Consider taking 10 minutes during a service before to relate this to the congregation. If you have the opportunity you could even act out a situation or even role play. This is too important to leave alone.
Third- create a way to get names of visitors. A simple visitor card is one way, but some visitors may hesitate to fill one out. Make it more desireable by making it a give-a-way! What can you offer your visitor? The options are endless. Gift certificate to restaurants, oil changes, motel stays, ipods, bibles, teen work days, etc. Many stores will give discounted items to you or even donate for a notice in the bulliten, program or wall chart at the reception. Be sure to send a thank you later. These items are then given away at the reception using the visitor cards as the drawing card. Depending upon the number of items you have to give away you may or may not want to limit the give-a-ways to visitors only.
Fourth -- On the monday after the program send a "Thank you for Visiting Card" from the pastor to all visitors. With the card should be a list of service times and church programs.
Fifth -- On Wednesday or Thursday send a photo of the cast and crew, signed by the cast. This is not as difficult as it seems. With today's digital options you can have a cast and crew photo made (in costume) after one of the dress rehearsals. Count the visitor cards and make enough copies. Have the cast and crew sign the back and mail it to the visitor. With the right software you can even make this a postcard and save on envelope and postage costs. A postcard may not have enough room for all signatures.
Sixth -- YOU, director call each visitor and thank them personally for attending. Do this on the friday or saturday following the program. By this time they should have received both the pastor's and the cast's thank you notes.
Seventh -- Turn the visitor information over to your outreach director and he/she can begin the process of contacting them for bible studies or what have you.
Eighth -- keep the information on file for the next time you have an event - drama, music, missionary, whatever is out of the norm. Send invites and make phone calls to invite them to return.
These personal touches will make a huge difference in the reaction by the visitor. They will perceive you as a caring and loving church filled with individuals who go out of their way to make positve relationships - in otherwords - the kind of church they would want to be a part of!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
Organizing your Christmas Program
Christmas will be on us soon and it is not too early to get prepared. Whether you are using drama, music, adults, or children the more organized the less hair you will pull out in December!
Here are a few tips:
Create a flow chart of responsibility -- There can only be one director per event. Decide who that is. This person makes the final decisions about colors, volume or whatever.
-- Other positions include: Asst Director, Stage Manager, Music Director, Lighting Director, Set Designer, Publicity Chair, Costumer. As soon as possible arrange for people to fill these position. Spread the responsibility.
-- Create a practice schedule from now until performance. Go over it with the pastor, music leaders, SS Superintendent, etc to make sure there are no conflicts.
-- Set an expectation of completion date for ALL responsibilities. Let people know NOW when you expect props, set, costumes, memorized lines, memorized song movements, songs, etc. Leave nothing to chance. People are procrastinators. ALL elements should be ready at least one week before performance. Stop the last minute rush!
-- Talk up the program now to the church. This is an opportunity to evangelize. Some people never come to church unless it is a holiday. Take advantage of this.
-- Try to do the program more than one night. Some visitors may have conflicts with a single date. This opens up the opportunities.
-- Perform pieces for the congregation during the last couple of weeks. This builds excitement and anticipation.
-- Have an after-performance meet and greet. Nothing fancy, cookies and drinks. ESSENTIAL!
I highly recommend you get two books from my website. One is free and the other is only $10.00
The Director's Notebook - FREE!
You Want ME To Be In Charge? - $10.00
These will help you immensely. Go to http://www.christiandramaresources.com/
Here are a few tips:
Create a flow chart of responsibility -- There can only be one director per event. Decide who that is. This person makes the final decisions about colors, volume or whatever.
-- Other positions include: Asst Director, Stage Manager, Music Director, Lighting Director, Set Designer, Publicity Chair, Costumer. As soon as possible arrange for people to fill these position. Spread the responsibility.
-- Create a practice schedule from now until performance. Go over it with the pastor, music leaders, SS Superintendent, etc to make sure there are no conflicts.
-- Set an expectation of completion date for ALL responsibilities. Let people know NOW when you expect props, set, costumes, memorized lines, memorized song movements, songs, etc. Leave nothing to chance. People are procrastinators. ALL elements should be ready at least one week before performance. Stop the last minute rush!
-- Talk up the program now to the church. This is an opportunity to evangelize. Some people never come to church unless it is a holiday. Take advantage of this.
-- Try to do the program more than one night. Some visitors may have conflicts with a single date. This opens up the opportunities.
-- Perform pieces for the congregation during the last couple of weeks. This builds excitement and anticipation.
-- Have an after-performance meet and greet. Nothing fancy, cookies and drinks. ESSENTIAL!
I highly recommend you get two books from my website. One is free and the other is only $10.00
The Director's Notebook - FREE!
You Want ME To Be In Charge? - $10.00
These will help you immensely. Go to http://www.christiandramaresources.com/
Thursday, October 01, 2009
David Bernard - New Superintendent
First of all, let me say congratulations to Bro. Bernard and best wishes to him. I pray that he follows the guidelines of Mark 10:42-45. His scholarship speaks for itself and the few times I have met him he always appeared sober and diligent. I pray that his wisdom matches his intellegence.
Please DO NOT construe this post as a criticism of Bro. Bernard. I have none. His election only served as springboard for this commentary.
I am not a political animal. My general feelings for politicals is sadness and animosiity. The push and shove of men for self glory is both irritating and contrary to the work of God. Why cannot preachers in the same town, city, county, even state get along? My general sense, in talking to pastors across the nation, is a proprietary attitude toward the people in their community. I am amazed at supposed men of God who are fearful of other works in their community!
Is every citizen in said city saved? Why must there only be one church in a community of 10,000? Of 5,000? Do we not want a refuge of holiness on every street corner? Count the number of churches from other denominations in your community. They have muliple assemblies. They each thrive or die by the will of God. IF you are called to that city then God will keep that work. If you are there for your own gratification then you are doomed to failure by your own ego whether or not there is another Apostolic work nearby. We should be encouraging more laborers to the fields not marking our territory like mongrel dogs! IT IS NOT OUR TERRITORY! Are you working for tithes or God?
There is an old joke about lawyers. One western town had only one lawyer in town and he was starving. No business. One day a second lawyer moved to the town and hung his shingle. Soon both grew rich!
Though that example is negative, the same can be said of our churches. Let others hang their shingles nearby. It will create an atmosphere of growth! Preach from your pulpit the message you believe. Preach it strongly and with conviction. Jesus knows where the colts are tied to walls. And as they are loosened they will be brought to Jesus and He will do a work.
Will people jump from church to church? Yes, let them. Pray that they find the assembly that best suits their needs. Do the work that God called you to do and He will reward you accordingly. But casting your eye on the church across the way that has different standards, doctrines and mores will only expose your envy. But as Gamaliel said, "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."
I am not a pastor so I understand if you look on this post with scorn and deride my ignorance. And if I have offended any, I apologize. But I weep at the thought of brothers not in unity. It harms our children, our teens and ourselves. Please teach your saints to wash their neighbor's window, to mow neighbor's their lawns and to shovel their neighbor's walks. Teach them to give the shirts off of their backs, not the venom of their selfrighteousness.
Should we change our holiness and doctrine to accommadate the community? NO, a resounding NO! But please, pastors, teach your saints to embrace Mark 10:42-45 as well. Teach them to be servants.
Sometimes I am afraid that Jesus is sitting on a hillside in heaven repeating to us the words he spoke in Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
Please DO NOT construe this post as a criticism of Bro. Bernard. I have none. His election only served as springboard for this commentary.
I am not a political animal. My general feelings for politicals is sadness and animosiity. The push and shove of men for self glory is both irritating and contrary to the work of God. Why cannot preachers in the same town, city, county, even state get along? My general sense, in talking to pastors across the nation, is a proprietary attitude toward the people in their community. I am amazed at supposed men of God who are fearful of other works in their community!
Is every citizen in said city saved? Why must there only be one church in a community of 10,000? Of 5,000? Do we not want a refuge of holiness on every street corner? Count the number of churches from other denominations in your community. They have muliple assemblies. They each thrive or die by the will of God. IF you are called to that city then God will keep that work. If you are there for your own gratification then you are doomed to failure by your own ego whether or not there is another Apostolic work nearby. We should be encouraging more laborers to the fields not marking our territory like mongrel dogs! IT IS NOT OUR TERRITORY! Are you working for tithes or God?
There is an old joke about lawyers. One western town had only one lawyer in town and he was starving. No business. One day a second lawyer moved to the town and hung his shingle. Soon both grew rich!
Though that example is negative, the same can be said of our churches. Let others hang their shingles nearby. It will create an atmosphere of growth! Preach from your pulpit the message you believe. Preach it strongly and with conviction. Jesus knows where the colts are tied to walls. And as they are loosened they will be brought to Jesus and He will do a work.
Will people jump from church to church? Yes, let them. Pray that they find the assembly that best suits their needs. Do the work that God called you to do and He will reward you accordingly. But casting your eye on the church across the way that has different standards, doctrines and mores will only expose your envy. But as Gamaliel said, "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."
I am not a pastor so I understand if you look on this post with scorn and deride my ignorance. And if I have offended any, I apologize. But I weep at the thought of brothers not in unity. It harms our children, our teens and ourselves. Please teach your saints to wash their neighbor's window, to mow neighbor's their lawns and to shovel their neighbor's walks. Teach them to give the shirts off of their backs, not the venom of their selfrighteousness.
Should we change our holiness and doctrine to accommadate the community? NO, a resounding NO! But please, pastors, teach your saints to embrace Mark 10:42-45 as well. Teach them to be servants.
Sometimes I am afraid that Jesus is sitting on a hillside in heaven repeating to us the words he spoke in Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Leaving Jerusalem - From the couch to the pew.
Drama is a total event. In otherwords it utilizes all aspects of the audience's senses. This is good, yet has it's challenges. The most powerful sense is not one of the physical five, but a mental one - imagination. We want the audience to be transported to a place of suspended belief. While there we want them to be free to examine what they see and compare it to their lives. This comparason is the key to awaking their soul to God's plan for them. If they identify with the characters on stage we can guide them through to what they should or should not do. It is so essential that each element of the evening contributes to that goal.
Unfortunately, we often neglect aspects of the evening that may end up having a negative effect on that goal. Below is a list of things to think about. It takes the visitor from their home to their car to the church to the pew. Each moment gives you the opportunity to create the atmosphere of change - or create a feeling of "why'd I bother."
1) Be sure your guests know what time the drama starts and how to get to the church. Any advertising must have this information boldly.
a) How many times are people late and we hear, “well, I wasn’t sure how to get there.”
b) If they are guests of non-performers teach your church to meet them at some common place and follow them to the church. Better yet, the church member should chauffeur them.
c) For guests of performers, assign someone to do this task for you.
d) As a last resort, be sure the guest has a simple, understandable map with the time of the performance on it.
2) Preferred parking must be created for the guests.
a) Don’t let performers or church members hog the closest spots.
b) Have escorts with umbrellas in inclement weather.
c) The first contact by a church member should be OUTSIDE the door of the church.
i) This lets the guest know where to go.
ii) Obviously, in the dead of winter this is not feasible.
3) The foyer sets the stage.
a) NO performer should be seen before performance time!
i) It is so tempting to run upstairs to greet your guests or to say ‘hi’ to your friends. DO NOT ALLOW THIS! This is SO disruptive to the dramatic process.
ii) Also, do not allow friends and family of performers to sneak downstairs to talk. Place a guard – seriously.
iii) The audience deserves to view the performers as their characters. When you allow them to appear outside of the performance environment in costume, then the joy of discovery is lost. There is no ‘surprise’ and belief is not suspended.
b) Decorate the foyer.
i) Pictures of the current and/or past performance.
ii) Create a feeling comparable to the set
iii) If you are performing “No Room” the foyer could be a wayside oasis.
iv) If you are performing “The Throne” the foyer could be the antechamber of Herod’s throne room
c) The ushers and greeters may be in costume. What’s the difference between an usher and a greeter?
i) Usher: Acts as a servant by taking guests to chairs, preventing squabbling children from getting out of hand. They control the environment off of the stage.
ii) Greeter: Acts as a friend to everyone. Hands out programs, gets guest cards filled out and turned in, show the way to the bathroom and nursery.
4) Upon entering the auditorium the guests must be allowed to assimilate the environment.
a) No one is to be seen going on the platform! – actors, directors or technicians.
b) No one is to be seen going across the platform!
c) No one is to be seen peeking out at the audience from the platform!
d) No one is to be seen … you get the picture.
e) Let the audience absorb the atmosphere. Let them begin their journey from reality to belief!
f) (This idea also applies to the intermission)
Keeping these concepts in mind will help your production in it's true goal - Altar Calls!
Unfortunately, we often neglect aspects of the evening that may end up having a negative effect on that goal. Below is a list of things to think about. It takes the visitor from their home to their car to the church to the pew. Each moment gives you the opportunity to create the atmosphere of change - or create a feeling of "why'd I bother."
1) Be sure your guests know what time the drama starts and how to get to the church. Any advertising must have this information boldly.
a) How many times are people late and we hear, “well, I wasn’t sure how to get there.”
b) If they are guests of non-performers teach your church to meet them at some common place and follow them to the church. Better yet, the church member should chauffeur them.
c) For guests of performers, assign someone to do this task for you.
d) As a last resort, be sure the guest has a simple, understandable map with the time of the performance on it.
2) Preferred parking must be created for the guests.
a) Don’t let performers or church members hog the closest spots.
b) Have escorts with umbrellas in inclement weather.
c) The first contact by a church member should be OUTSIDE the door of the church.
i) This lets the guest know where to go.
ii) Obviously, in the dead of winter this is not feasible.
3) The foyer sets the stage.
a) NO performer should be seen before performance time!
i) It is so tempting to run upstairs to greet your guests or to say ‘hi’ to your friends. DO NOT ALLOW THIS! This is SO disruptive to the dramatic process.
ii) Also, do not allow friends and family of performers to sneak downstairs to talk. Place a guard – seriously.
iii) The audience deserves to view the performers as their characters. When you allow them to appear outside of the performance environment in costume, then the joy of discovery is lost. There is no ‘surprise’ and belief is not suspended.
b) Decorate the foyer.
i) Pictures of the current and/or past performance.
ii) Create a feeling comparable to the set
iii) If you are performing “No Room” the foyer could be a wayside oasis.
iv) If you are performing “The Throne” the foyer could be the antechamber of Herod’s throne room
c) The ushers and greeters may be in costume. What’s the difference between an usher and a greeter?
i) Usher: Acts as a servant by taking guests to chairs, preventing squabbling children from getting out of hand. They control the environment off of the stage.
ii) Greeter: Acts as a friend to everyone. Hands out programs, gets guest cards filled out and turned in, show the way to the bathroom and nursery.
4) Upon entering the auditorium the guests must be allowed to assimilate the environment.
a) No one is to be seen going on the platform! – actors, directors or technicians.
b) No one is to be seen going across the platform!
c) No one is to be seen peeking out at the audience from the platform!
d) No one is to be seen … you get the picture.
e) Let the audience absorb the atmosphere. Let them begin their journey from reality to belief!
f) (This idea also applies to the intermission)
Keeping these concepts in mind will help your production in it's true goal - Altar Calls!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
"Leaving Jerusalem" - Back stage or in Front?
One of the difficulties in church drama is that we too often focus on ourselves and not the congregation. Yes, we have all of the platitudes down and in our hearts want to see people saved and lives changed, but are we really doing all we can to accomplish that?
If we are doing church drama just for the entertainment of the local church, then, okay, throw this blog out the window, but if you are serious about evangelizm of your city and/or helping those in your church strive for a closer walk with the Lord, then read on.
Your drama team has spend hours and hours putting together an anointed and powerful presentation. You have prayed and fasted for God's Spirit to sweep through the house. And He is willing! But there are so many little things that hamper most church drama presentations. Worst of all is when we do things that cause the audience to "Leave Jerusalem". In other words their attention is off of the message or worship and they focus - even briefly - on the fact that they are sitting on a church pew instead of at the stable in Bethlehem or viewing the Last Supper. Here are a few things that can cause your congregation to Leave Jerusalem.
Cameras flashing, people entering or leaving, babies crying, long scene changes, actors peeking out between the curtains, actors in costume seen before the drama, dropped lines, fidgity sign or dowel presenters, tech problems, yada yada yada!
I will address these all in future posts and how to solve them, but let's look at one item - Presenters entering from the audience and returning after they are done. Seems like no big deal, right? It is to those trying to worship and it definitely slows down the presentation. Now if you are doing one piece as a special during church, no major harm done, but if you are doing an evening concert, then this can get out of hand.
Ideally all presenters should remain out of sight and ready to enter during the entire evening! Ooh, but then they don't get to see the service. And your point? I thought this was about the congregation? The lost? The visitor? Are you willing to focus on their needs or is your desire more important? Popping up and down from the audience is a sure way of disrupting the flow of the Spirit. I am especially concerned if people reenter from the back, walk to the front DURING ANOTHER GROUP'S PRESENTATION! Arrrrrggggh! But that's for another post.
If at all possible train your team to stay out of sight, praying and worshipping from the sidelines until it is their turn to be on the platform.
If we are doing church drama just for the entertainment of the local church, then, okay, throw this blog out the window, but if you are serious about evangelizm of your city and/or helping those in your church strive for a closer walk with the Lord, then read on.
Your drama team has spend hours and hours putting together an anointed and powerful presentation. You have prayed and fasted for God's Spirit to sweep through the house. And He is willing! But there are so many little things that hamper most church drama presentations. Worst of all is when we do things that cause the audience to "Leave Jerusalem". In other words their attention is off of the message or worship and they focus - even briefly - on the fact that they are sitting on a church pew instead of at the stable in Bethlehem or viewing the Last Supper. Here are a few things that can cause your congregation to Leave Jerusalem.
Cameras flashing, people entering or leaving, babies crying, long scene changes, actors peeking out between the curtains, actors in costume seen before the drama, dropped lines, fidgity sign or dowel presenters, tech problems, yada yada yada!
I will address these all in future posts and how to solve them, but let's look at one item - Presenters entering from the audience and returning after they are done. Seems like no big deal, right? It is to those trying to worship and it definitely slows down the presentation. Now if you are doing one piece as a special during church, no major harm done, but if you are doing an evening concert, then this can get out of hand.
Ideally all presenters should remain out of sight and ready to enter during the entire evening! Ooh, but then they don't get to see the service. And your point? I thought this was about the congregation? The lost? The visitor? Are you willing to focus on their needs or is your desire more important? Popping up and down from the audience is a sure way of disrupting the flow of the Spirit. I am especially concerned if people reenter from the back, walk to the front DURING ANOTHER GROUP'S PRESENTATION! Arrrrrggggh! But that's for another post.
If at all possible train your team to stay out of sight, praying and worshipping from the sidelines until it is their turn to be on the platform.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Keep It Moving!
One of the most irritating parts of many plays and drama events are the transitions. These may be scene changes or one group preparing after a different group finishes a presentation.
Your audience wants to see as tight a presentation as possible. You've worked hard to present a sign language piece or song interpretation with acting or dowel rods and the audience is responding as desired. They are worshipping and God is touching lives. Then we have to wait while the signers walk off the platform and the next song is set up or the choir files in. How frustrating!
Often churches will have an emcee step into the program and speak to bridge the gap. Still frustrating. You have advertized this as a drama and/or music event. Don't force us to listen to the same person come up between EVERY single piece! Save that person for the opening prayer and altar call. If your presentations have been prayerfully prepared then the emcees are doing your evening service more harm than good.
There is no reason that each piece should not flow from one piece to the next with no interruptions other than the worship of the audience. But this takes planning. Where do the microphones need to be placed? What door does each group enter or exit from? Are props for the acting pieces in convenient and accessible places?
Practice moving one group off and the next on. The effort will be well worth it. This way each piece will build off the previous and as the evening concludes there will be a powerful move of the Spirit!
Your audience wants to see as tight a presentation as possible. You've worked hard to present a sign language piece or song interpretation with acting or dowel rods and the audience is responding as desired. They are worshipping and God is touching lives. Then we have to wait while the signers walk off the platform and the next song is set up or the choir files in. How frustrating!
Often churches will have an emcee step into the program and speak to bridge the gap. Still frustrating. You have advertized this as a drama and/or music event. Don't force us to listen to the same person come up between EVERY single piece! Save that person for the opening prayer and altar call. If your presentations have been prayerfully prepared then the emcees are doing your evening service more harm than good.
There is no reason that each piece should not flow from one piece to the next with no interruptions other than the worship of the audience. But this takes planning. Where do the microphones need to be placed? What door does each group enter or exit from? Are props for the acting pieces in convenient and accessible places?
Practice moving one group off and the next on. The effort will be well worth it. This way each piece will build off the previous and as the evening concludes there will be a powerful move of the Spirit!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
New Blog for Christian Drama!
Welcome to DramaCODE!
Using drama in the church is an effective tool for evangelism as well as teaching and inspiration.
This blog will show you how C.O.D.E. (Conference of Drama Evangelism) is furthering the kingdom of God by training churches in acting, mime, directing, set design and construction, scenery painting, playwriting and much, much more!
Videos and photos of CODE events will be posted soon so keep checking us out!
http://www.terryvik.com
http://www.dramacode.com
Using drama in the church is an effective tool for evangelism as well as teaching and inspiration.
This blog will show you how C.O.D.E. (Conference of Drama Evangelism) is furthering the kingdom of God by training churches in acting, mime, directing, set design and construction, scenery painting, playwriting and much, much more!
Videos and photos of CODE events will be posted soon so keep checking us out!
http://www.terryvik.com
http://www.dramacode.com
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