If you increase your skills, can you get by with lower quality gear?

Jesse O’Brien joins us this week to reveal the Red Rocks playbook for stretching a gear budget and still delivering excellent production quality.

In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 – Toby crawls under the stage to fix church AVL integration issues
7:30 – Jesse O’Brien from Red Rocks Church joins the podcast
9:00 – How Jesse got into church production at Red Rocks Church
12:15 – The production gear Red Rocks Worship brings on tour
17:25 – Inside Red Rocks’ broadcast campus gear + setup
21:15 – How Red Rocks Church maximizes their production budget
23:20 – The best way to save big on your church tech budget
30:00 – Do speaker brands actually matter for church sound?
36:45 – Doing church production when expectations exceed budget
40:00 – Using event budgets to get new gear approved
44:00 – Disaster story: When the broadcast feed goes down
49:45 – Church Tech Takeaway
53:30 – Church Tech Confessional

Checkout HouseRight's solutions for your church and open jobs here. 

Preorder Toby's new book, "Sacred Spaces. Modern Production." here!  

Make Your Black Friday Shopping Count!

Help us hit 300 orders at ChurchGear.com, and we’ll be able to fund a $3,000 shopping spree for a church in need.

1. Grab the gear you need from ChurchGear.com
2. Nominate a church here (yes, it can be yours!)
3. Spread the word to your friends

When we hit our goal, one lucky church scores $3,0

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How important is it to have fellow church tech friends? 

Justin Firesheets joins us to discuss how production friends can help improve your church's production, your morale and keep you sane! 

In this episode you'll hear: 

0:00 – Intro: Why church techs need church production friends and community
1:00 – How many friends do you actually need in church production?
5:36 – How Toby’s church tech connections saved the day
7:00 – Justin Firesheets on building relationships in the church tech world
22:00 – Why connecting with other church production leaders is up to you
27:00 – Practical ways to reach out and network with other church techs
42:25 – Church tech disaster story: awkward guest speaker walk-out music
47:20 – Tech Takeaway: Why everything in church production is harder when you’re alone
50:30 – Church Tech Confessional: Real talk from the production booth

Checkout HouseRight's solutions for your church and open jobs here. 

Preorder Toby's new book, "Sacred Spaces. Modern Production." here!  

Make Your Black Friday Shopping Count!

Help us hit 300 orders at ChurchGear.com, and we’ll be able to fund a $3,000 shopping spree for a church in need.

1. Grab the gear you need from ChurchGear.com
2. Nominate a church here (yes, it can be yours!)
3. Spread the word to your friends

When we hit our goal, one lucky church scores $3,0

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How do you produce the largest Gospel presentation in history with less than 10 days?

Brad McCraw joins us to discuss how his team produced the Charlie Kirk Memorial Service with no time and the highest of stakes. 

In this episode:

1:00 — Moments When Time Stood Still in American History
5:45 — How Brad McCraw Became the Production Lead for Charlie Kirk’s Memorial Service
11:00 — How Secret Service Affected the Production and AVL Setup
12:00 — How Mosaic  Pulled Off the Charlie Kirk Memorial Service in Record Time
23:00 — Balancing Production Excellence While Grieving a Loss
26:00 — The Technical Workload Behind Producing the Charlie Kirk Memorial on Short Notice
27:30 — Behind the Scenes: Production Days Leading Up to the Memorial Service
34:45 — What Gear, Lighting, and Audio Equipment Were Used for the Memorial Service
38:45 — How Secret Service Protocols effect on the AVL and Broadcast Production
46:25 — When the Emotional Weight of the Event Finally Hit
1:05:00 — Finding Purpose: How Every Church Tech Role Can Serve the Gospel

Checkout HouseRight's solutions for your church and open jobs here. 

Preorder Toby's new book, "Sacred Spaces. Modern Production." here!  

Make Your Black Friday Shopping Count!

Help us hit 300 orders at ChurchGear.com, and we’ll be able to fund a $3,000 shopping spree for a church in need.

1. Grab the gear you need from ChurchGear.com
2. Nominate a church here (yes, it can be yours!)
3. Spread the word to your friends

When we hit our goal, one lucky church scores $3,0

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Are churches allocating their church production budget in the right places?

Church Tech Consultant, Jerod Togger, joins the ChurchGear podcast this week to discuss 

In this episode you'll hear: 

• 1:00 Toby’s thrifty upbringing shaped his gear buying habits 
• 6:00 Jerrod Togger joins us!
• 10:10 What’s the first place to start in church production in AVL
• 20:00 Where should you spend and save money on church production lighting? 
• 32:30 Does anyone watch the church broadcast? 
• 33:30 Should churches only broadcast the message? 
• 36:00 Do you know your church's broadcast purpose? 
• 44:00 Church production disaster story 
• 45: Tech Takeaway: Think about your stage first
• 47:15 Church Tech Confessional

Checkout HouseRight's solutions for your church and open jobs here. 

Preorder Toby's new book, "Sacred Spaces. Modern Production." here!  

Make Your Black Friday Shopping Count!

Help us hit 300 orders at ChurchGear.com, and we’ll be able to fund a $3,000 shopping spree for a church in need.

1. Grab the gear you need from ChurchGear.com
2. Nominate a church here (yes, it can be yours!)
3. Spread the word to your friends

When we hit our goal, one lucky church scores $3,0

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How can churches retain church tech talent when the secular world can offer them so much more financial compensation? 

Todd Elliott joins us to discuss the importance of valuing your church tech, finding your calling as a church tech and the theology of church production. 

In this episode you'll hear:

1:00 — Are church tech directors still treated poorly? 
4:45 — Todd Elliott on leadership and church production
11:00 — Finding your calling as a church tech
18:00 — The theology behind church production
24:30 — When church techs feel valued by their pastors
36:50 — How churches can retain church tech talent
48:40 — Church production disaster story: Portable church gone wrong
51:00 — Why every church tech should attend the FILO Conference

Checkout HouseRight's solutions for your church and open jobs here. 

Preorder Toby's new book, "Sacred Spaces. Modern Production." here!  

Make Your Black Friday Shopping Count!

Help us hit 300 orders at ChurchGear.com, and we’ll be able to fund a $3,000 shopping spree for a church in need.

1. Grab the gear you need from ChurchGear.com
2. Nominate a church here (yes, it can be yours!)
3. Spread the word to your friends

When we hit our goal, one lucky church scores $3,0

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How can we recruit church tech volunteers beyond a preservice slide?

Alexa has recruited a full army of volunteers and joins us this week to discuss how your team can finally recruit the church tech volunteers you need. (And even more importantly, how to train them up!)

In this episode you'll hear:

1:00 – Challenges of Recruiting Church Tech Volunteers
6:30 – Guest Interview: Alexa Paige on Church Volunteer Culture
12:00 – How to Recruit and Keep Church Tech Volunteers
19:25 – The First Role to Place a New Church Tech Volunteer In
25:25 – How to Show Church Volunteers They Matter
37:30 – Developing the Skills of Your Church Tech Volunteers
49:10 – Church Production Disaster Story
1:00:30 – Church Tech Confessional

Checkout HouseRight's solutions for your church and open jobs here. 

Preorder Toby's new book, "Sacred Spaces. Modern Production." here!  

Make Your Black Friday Shopping Count!

Help us hit 300 orders at ChurchGear.com, and we’ll be able to fund a $3,000 shopping spree for a church in need.

1. Grab the gear you need from ChurchGear.com
2. Nominate a church here (yes, it can be yours!)
3. Spread the word to your friends

When we hit our goal, one lucky church scores $3,0

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How does production bring souls to Christ?

Bryan Bailey joins us from Prestonwood Baptist Church to tell us how excellence in production brings people closer to the Kingdom. 

In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 Did ChatGPT Write Toby’s Church Production Book?
4:00 The Most Overlooked Element of a Successful Church Production
7:25 Creative Church Outreach Idea: Build a Fence for Your Community
15:45 How to Cast Vision That Inspires Your Church Production Team
24:00 Maintaining Excellence with a Large Volunteer Production Team
52:00 Counting the Cost: Balancing Budget and the Gospel in Production
56:00 Tech Takeaway: Learn from Other Churches, Don’t Copy Them

1:01:40 Church Tech Confessional 

Checkout HouseRight's solutions for your church and open jobs here. 

Preorder Toby's new book, "Sacred Spaces. Modern Production." here!  

Make Your Black Friday Shopping Count!

Help us hit 300 orders at ChurchGear.com, and we’ll be able to fund a $3,000 shopping spree for a church in need.

1. Grab the gear you need from ChurchGear.com
2. Nominate a church here (yes, it can be yours!)
3. Spread the word to your friends

When we hit our goal, one lucky church scores $3,0

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Did church production only start in the past few decades during the worship wars?  Or did church production start centuries ago instead of decades? 

Kent Morris of Sweetwater joins us this week to school us in the history of church production. 

In this episode you'll hear: 

• 1:00 – Toby’s new church production book release
• 6:20 – History of church production and how it evolved
• 26:00 – Theology behind church production and worship tech
• 29:20 – Why church production is essential ministry
• 35:00 – Future trends in church production and AVL ministry
• 44:00 – Church tech takeaways for production teams
• 48:25 – Church Tech Confessional: real stories from the booth

Preorder the book "Sacred Spaces. Modern Production" here! 

Checkout HouseRight's solutions for your church and open jobs here. 

Preorder Toby's new book, "Sacred Spaces. Modern Production." here!  

Make Your Black Friday Shopping Count!

Help us hit 300 orders at ChurchGear.com, and we’ll be able to fund a $3,000 shopping spree for a church in need.

1. Grab the gear you need from ChurchGear.com
2. Nominate a church here (yes, it can be yours!)
3. Spread the word to your friends

When we hit our goal, one lucky church scores $3,0

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How do you pull off a massive event like the Passion Conference? 

Makenzie Collins has worked on the Passion Conference multiple years and joins us this week for the principles it takes to execute a big event well. 

In this episode you'll hear:

1:00 – How Toby and Blake landed their wives (Church Meet Cutes) 

5:45 – Interview with Makenzie Collins (church tech & AVL insights)

10:00 – What AVL gear and production does it take to run Passion Conference?

15:15 – Principles for pulling off massive church AVL events

19:45 – Why your church AVL production team needs women

24:30 – “Baffle Blake” segment sponsored by HouseRight

30:45 – Transitioning from church tech to full-time mom (Makenzie’s story)

38:00 – Church tech disaster story (when things go wrong)

42:00 – Church production disaster story: The Giant Hand

47:00 – Tech Takeaway (practical AVL tips for churches)

50:00 – ChurchTech Confessional (behind-the-scenes stories)

Checkout HouseRight's solutions for your church and open jobs here. 

Preorder Toby's new book, "Sacred Spaces. Modern Production." here!  

Make Your Black Friday Shopping Count!

Help us hit 300 orders at ChurchGear.com, and we’ll be able to fund a $3,000 shopping spree for a church in need.

1. Grab the gear you need from ChurchGear.com
2. Nominate a church here (yes, it can be yours!)
3. Spread the word to your friends

When we hit our goal, one lucky church scores $3,0

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How much should you prioritize live streaming? 

Resi's Steve Kaminsky joins us to discuss live streaming, multisite streaming and the pro/cons of 4k. 

In this episode you'll hear: 

1:00 Toby’s “friendly gesture” gone wrong 
7:15 Steve’s journey into church production
10:30 Does church need to be in person vs. livestream church services?
22:00 Should a new church livestream at launch?
26:45 How Resi helps churches stream to multisite campuses
29:30 What’s new and upcoming with Resi church streaming
37:00 Should my church stream in 4K? Pros & cons
42:40 Church production disaster story
45:40 Tech Takeaway for church production teams
50:15 ChurchTech Confessional: Stealing the church van

Checkout HouseRight's solutions for your church and open jobs here. 

Preorder Toby's new book, "Sacred Spaces. Modern Production." here!  

Make Your Black Friday Shopping Count!

Help us hit 300 orders at ChurchGear.com, and we’ll be able to fund a $3,000 shopping spree for a church in need.

1. Grab the gear you need from ChurchGear.com
2. Nominate a church here (yes, it can be yours!)
3. Spread the word to your friends

When we hit our goal, one lucky church scores $3,0

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!