PREBRIEFS
Process Overview
The Prebrief thread has all WLs, MDs, VDs, Production Lead and CWD in the thread.
Once a setlist is complete (five days before the service), the Worship Leader puts a message in the service-prebrief channel to:
Let everyone know songs are up (as well as the date the service is for to provide extra clarification)
Give Vision around the set
Start the conversation around what Variables people see.
They also tag the MD, VD and Production Lead for that week in the post to notify them. The rest of the team then replies in a nested thread (VERY important so we can visually organize the conversations of each service!) with any variables from their areas from the week and chats through anything that needs clarification. The goal is for all team leads to feel STRONG going into that service and pivoting if needed.
Vision
Worship Leader gives brief idea of why he/she chose the songs on the setlist and what we’re looking to accomplish in the service. Sharing a more expanded vision before worship rehearsal on the day of the service is still a great practice but this allows for the leaders and team to have a general idea of where we’re going (and why) and to be preparing their hearts and minds for the upcoming service.
Variables
We need to pay close attention to balancing variables as a team. On one hand, we can’t grow as a team without variables. They’re how we grow and develop our worship family members. At one point, we were all new to the team and being on stage was rightly considered a variable to our leaders, and now we’ve been entrusted to MANAGE them! On the other hand, too many unmanaged variables on stage will likely not set us up for success. On these prebrief threads, it’s all our responsibility to identify variables from the area we’re overseeing in that service to bring to the table. As leaders of that service, we then look at all the variables on the table and see if there’s too many. Two variables is a good rule of thumb, but it depends on the level of variable. Both a newer WL and MD on for the service is already too many. Same with both a new drummer and bassist on the same week. There’s generally six types of variables found in a Sunday/Wednesday service:
Who’s in leadership roles (WL, MD, VD)
Who’s on your team that week (vocalists, musicians)
What songs we’re singing (is there an unfamiliar tag? a new song?)
Who’s on Production that week? (FOH engineer in training? new screens operator?)
Who’s preaching? (guest preacher? someone who always flows the entire service?)
Our processes (are we trying a new soundcheck method?)
As a best practice, it’s beneficial for people to further OWN their areas by bringing up the variables in the area entrusted to them for the week:
Worship Leader would bring any song variables and if who’s preaching counts as a variable (as well as their confidence level themselves if they’re newer)
Music Director would talk through any musician variables (as well as their confidence level themselves if they’re newer)
Vocal Director would talk through any vocalist variables (as well as their confidence level themselves if they’re newer)
Production Lead would talk through any Production team variables (as well as their confidence level themselves if they’re newer)
NOTE: Let’s be careful with our verbiage as leaders not to call PEOPLE variables. Our language as leaders have It’s the freshness of them operating in the new role that’s considered a variable.
Example
Here’s some great examples of Prebrief messages from worship leaders