Worship Team Auditions Part I: Good Enough?  by Clay Hecocks

Every worship leader should determine what level of skill he or she is willing to accept from someone auditioning for a specific role. For example, I use a group of 7 or 8 singers at a time on the worship team, each having their own microphone, to lead worship on a regular basis. I'm also able to feature them individually because of their abilities and skill level. While I hold the worship team members to the highest standard, I don't have as high a standard for the choir. With sheer numbers and group miking rather than individual miking, the need for blending and precision is not as critical and, in fact, lends itself to a unique "huge" sound very much like a gospel choir, so depending on how singers perform in an audition determines whether I will place them on the worship team, the worship choir, or neither. Other instruments have varying roles as well, so while I may hold the standard high for a guitarist to be part of the worship team, I may suggest, depending on the audition, that he or she lead worship for home groups, children's ministry, or other ministries that don't demand the same skill level.

I parallel all of this to Matthew 25:14-28, where Jesus tells the parable of the talents (in this case money, but a fascinating similarity). "To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability." As the story is told, all three servants are to go out and invest their talents and receive a return. The man with the five talents did just that, and his master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" The man with the two talents did the same, and the master responded word for word as he did to the man with the five talents. It's safe to say that if the man with one talent had done the same, his master would have responded word for word the same as well. To me this is one of the most powerful teachings in Scripture. So often I encounter musicians who strive to be the best or at least to be recognized as the best rather than investing in their gift in order to realize a return without regard to their placement or position. This is a critical point to realize and to relate. I'm looking for "five talent" musicians for the worship team; "two talent" musicians for the worship choir, home Bible study worship leaders, children's worship leaders, and other similar small group leaders and musicians; and "one talent" musicians to lead their own personal times of worship. Some might think God unfair in giving some five talents and others only two or one. God can do what He wants; He's God, and He's sovereign. The real beauty of this area of Scripture, however, is that regardless of the amount of talents one has been given, if one invests in his or her gift and uses this gift responsibly, the reward is exactly the same. That's beyond fair! Unlike the world, in God's economy, it doesn't matter where you serve, it's how you serve.

The key to an audition is to allow the auditionees to present their best performance, thus eliminating such phrases as "I'm a little rusty," or "I didn't know the song," or "I didn't know that's how you wanted it played," or the famous, "I'll have it ready by service." Don't have them come in and just play or "jam"; instead, give them specifics as to what you want them to do and play. What I have found that works is to give them a packet with charts and a CD of four or five songs that are most suited to the particular instrument that is being auditioned. I audition vocals in a two-step process: first, I have them sing of their choice any of the songs we use in service in order to determine their range. If they can stay on pitch and rhythm, then I give them a soprano, alto, or tenor packet with charts and a CD of a couple songs with their respective part emphasized to learn and sing at the second audition. When they're ready, they call for an appointment, and I accompany them on the piano; however, you can have them play along with a guitar, a track, or just about any other combination that is available. The purpose is to give them all the tools and time they need to prepare so that when I hear them, I'm hearing them at their best, no excuses, thus allowing me to determine whether they have a "five", "two", or "one" talent gift, and subsequently direct their future involvement appropriately. Again, since I direct them to call me when they're ready, if they are unprepared or present me with any other excuse as to why they are not prepared, I remind them that it was their responsibility to call me when they were ready, and since I won't be able to make a well informed decision, I send them away. Just as the servant with one talent, who hid it in the ground and did nothing with it, was sent away, so will the one who, given all the tools and time to prepare for an audition, does nothing with it.

The audition takes place, and now comes the moment when they finish and they're looking at you with hopeful eyes. You would love to be able to say, "You are truly a talented and gifted musician. What's your availability for weekends?" If, however, that's not the case, then I begin by sharing my observations with honesty and prayerfully with tact. I will explain where rhythms were uneven, if pitch was inconsistent, when tempos were rushed or dragged, if execution was sloppy or inaccurate, and anything else that will help explain and clarify where and what the discrepancies are. If they are a "two talent" musician, I will explain the options for service in music ministry other than the worship team, while sharing my previous mention of Matthew 25. If they fail to meet the criteria of a "five" or "two talent" musician, I then give them two options: one, if they really feel God is calling them into music ministry, then they first must go invest in their gift. They need to get extensive training, lots of lessons, and lots of practice, and if they can pursue their training consistently for at least six months, I'll hear them again at that time and evaluate the improvement and make a subsequent recommendation based on their re-audition; two, depending on the audition, I may strongly suggest that they pursue another area of service. I would share 1 Corinthians 12:20 with them: As it is, there are many parts, but one body. I would explain that, as an overseer in this area, I have a responsibility to be a wise steward with the gifts and talents presented to me, and that this would not be the best part of the body to invest their time and talents. I would then ask them what other areas of ministry they may be interested in, give them a name and number of that area's contact person, and then ask them to see me after contact has been made to let me know how it all went. I can't tell you how many times I've received letters, e-mails, and personal messages of thanks for steering them in the right direction rather than just blowing them off. That's how I can face them week after week, but now I get a smile and a greeting rather than a snub and a look the other way.

For you consideration,

Clay