One of the greatest things a truly creative person can do is to create the illusion that their idea is completely original. If we were to be totally honest with ourselves, we know that almost nothing these days is original. Rather, we have recycled, re-used, and re-formatted our own past creations or tweaked the creations of others. Here's a little secret I am going to let you in on, and I do this with great cynical fear of being chastised by the creative community; creativity happens in times of desperation!!! A few years ago, as a college student, I had the privilege of working with a couple of my friends; we would bring in national acts who were touring to have concerts on campus. During one such event, we brought in an act who was supposed to bring in its own lighting set up. Unfortunately, they did not and although this would not have normally been an issue, this particular event was being held in a gymnasium. I don't think I have to tell you the lighting situation in most gymnasiums. In a time of complete creative desperation, I asked two people working the event to run to every dorm room they could and to borrow any lamp they could find. The result was serendipitous, to say the least. What we had effectively done was create an intense, introspective setting which completely added to the music being performed. We weren't trying to be creative. We had a problem, and we had to fix it; but our solution would resurface years later in a much more intentional design. *On a side note while watching The Fray concert a few months ago, I saw the same set up....I have no written proof that this was my idea, but I believe I can trace back their stage setup to what we did. However, that is neither here nor there, and I fear my logic behind it would take us down a road that would only lead to utter emotional, creative heartbreak and eventual tears....let us not digress.
STAGE DESIGN
This past Sunday we launched into what will be a six-week series called "Hey Do I Know You". The character of this series is an intense look at the pursuit of God. Usually our Sunday Morning Experience is upbeat, seemingly off-the-cuff and energetic, but beginning this particular Sunday we wanted to change the feel completely. I was having some trouble thinking about what to do with our stage, and my mind was taken back to what we were able to do a few years ago. Rather than force anything, I used another secret creative people won't tell you; use what worked before! (Note: Don't overuse ideas or they lose their effectiveness. Also remember that we are using the same idea with two different audiences. People are smart...don't let your re-used idea be seen as laziness or lack of effort.)
We designed the stage by covering it with a variety of lamps. This created a very intense and dramatic look. Worship is a multi-sensory experience, and, although it is not vital to create elaborate settings, it can very much add to the feel of the room. What made this work was the fact that it was simple. Simple creativity can go a long way. The lamps on stage generate a simple yet powerful shift in the attitudes and emotions of people. We were able to allow the congregation to feel calm, yet there was a sense of anticipation as they walked in and saw the intense setup.
One of the keys to doing this stage setup is to not overdue it with the lamps. A few can be pointless and too many becomes tacky. The lamps are just one simple aspect of the service. They add a lot, but we don't want them to become distracting and take away from the overall worship experience. Another key is also to allow the lamps to generate the light on stage. You can even use a few colored light bulbs, but only use a few. We used six, which was a good amount for the number of lights we had on stage. Keep in mind that lamps are not very powerful; do not pull the regular stage lighting too high, and keep the lighting lower over the audience. The lamps are the last thing to be set up. First decide where all the instrumentalists and vocalists will be standing, then set up the lamps. This will make sure that the worship team has enough room, and it will also help the lamps be more effective. Again, remember, the lamps are to bring out the mood and enhance the overall experience; the moment they become distracting, they are not being used for their original purpose and should be taken down. Simple creativity is the key. If you have the capability to hook up all the lights so they turn on at the same time, it is a great advantage!!! I realize that not everyone has this ability, but, as hard as you can try, plug in all the lights to turn on together. This makes the service more seamless, and if you do any drama or other creative elements during the service, the lights allow God to take center stage.
Nirup Alphonse
