Is Television right for your church?
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by: Julian Rocha
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Over the years I've seen an increased number of churches wanting to shoot their services for broadcast. Unfortunately, so has the rest of the world and this has made selling to churches a very easy and lucrative business for some. Now don't get me wrong, there are excellent companies out there who have been helping churches get their message across for years, and they have the reputation and credentials to prove it. I'm more concerned with the Great Deals, Turn Key, or Cookie Cutter systems people are selling to the mid-sized churches. Every church is different, and wants a different feel or look. It's okay for someone to come in with a "general plan", as long as everyone understands it's a starting point and not the ending one. I've seen churches spend from $5,000 to $100,000 on systems, only for it to become a hindrance and not a help, and they end up going through all of their budget and not getting what they want. And the company that you hired...sure they will fix your "new" problems...for a price.
Here is where I want to help:
I believe in excellence, honesty and integrity in my profession and I don't like seeing people taking advantage of others.
One thing you must understand is, a little bit of knowledge will take you a long way in making good choices for your church.
So whether you want to go on TV, have an internet service or just archive it for later use, there are questions you need to answer before you take on this endeavor.
1. What do you want to do?
You need to have a clear vision of why you are wanting to do TV and what do you want it to accomplish.
2. How much is your budget going to be?
There's a joke I tell people who are wondering about the cost of TV. I tell them think of a really big number, now add another zero.
It's not always the case, but it does make people take a step back and think how much will this "really" cost, the reason I say that is because there are a lot of details you need to take in consideration.
3. Can your building handle the extra electrical need?
The rule of thumb is for every 1000 watts of power, you need to have an available 10 amps, this keeps you in a good safe zone.
Now lets say you have a 40' stage and you want to light for "broadcast", for the keys, backs, and fills you pull about 42,000 watts. 18k for the keys, 12k for the backs and 12k for the fills, that will put you around 420 amps. To put it in perspective, most homes are wired for 100 amp service, 200 amp for a really big home. It might be as easy as putting in an panel in your building, but in some cases it might be necessary to put a new transformer in for the extra load, and that can get pricey.
Don't lose heart, If you just want to light your stage for a nice look, or your just starting out then there is a good chance your current electrical will be fine.
4. Can your H/VAC handle the extra heat from the lights you are putting in?
You know how much heat comes from a 100 watt light bulb, now imagine a 1000 watt light bulb, now imagine 42,000 watts! Got A/C?
Just remember, heat goes up, so the higher the ceiling the better.
5. What kind of camera are you getting?
A camera is a camera, isn't it? NO, not even close! The right camera purchase will be one of the best things you can do to save money in the long run. The reason I say this is because with the right camera you wont need as much light to make a good picture. Less light means less heat generated, less electricity, easier on the A/C, easier on the monthly bill, easier on the start up cost.
Seeing the domino effect yet?
6. What kind of lights are you planing to use?
The same kind of logic that applies to your camera applies to your lights. For an example: ETC makes a PAR light that runs on a 500 watt bulb, but puts out as much light as a regular 1000 watt PAR light. LED's do great with conserving electricity, and generate almost no heat. The down side is they don't have a long throw distance so you can't use them for a "key" light, but they are great for a wash. Also they can get very expensive, so weigh the decision carefully.
The Good: If you are going to be running 42,000 watts of light, you can cut it down to 21,000 watts, which will make a big difference in the pocket book.
The Bad: A more energy efficient fixture is going to cost you more up front, so unless you're doing a large project you would need to decide if it is worth the extra cost.
The Ugly: The difference between pretty and beautiful is usually the lighting.
Hopefully this helps answer some questions and avoid some unnecessary hurdles as you start your journey down the road of church television.
If you would like a consultation on a project you have for your church or help to come up with a design that will fit your style and your budget, please feel free to contact me. If I don't know it, then like I always say "I may not know everything, but I know people" and the people I know want to help you get your vision and message out.
Here is where I want to help:
I believe in excellence, honesty and integrity in my profession and I don't like seeing people taking advantage of others.
One thing you must understand is, a little bit of knowledge will take you a long way in making good choices for your church.
So whether you want to go on TV, have an internet service or just archive it for later use, there are questions you need to answer before you take on this endeavor.
1. What do you want to do?
You need to have a clear vision of why you are wanting to do TV and what do you want it to accomplish.
2. How much is your budget going to be?
There's a joke I tell people who are wondering about the cost of TV. I tell them think of a really big number, now add another zero.
It's not always the case, but it does make people take a step back and think how much will this "really" cost, the reason I say that is because there are a lot of details you need to take in consideration.
3. Can your building handle the extra electrical need?
The rule of thumb is for every 1000 watts of power, you need to have an available 10 amps, this keeps you in a good safe zone.
Now lets say you have a 40' stage and you want to light for "broadcast", for the keys, backs, and fills you pull about 42,000 watts. 18k for the keys, 12k for the backs and 12k for the fills, that will put you around 420 amps. To put it in perspective, most homes are wired for 100 amp service, 200 amp for a really big home. It might be as easy as putting in an panel in your building, but in some cases it might be necessary to put a new transformer in for the extra load, and that can get pricey.
Don't lose heart, If you just want to light your stage for a nice look, or your just starting out then there is a good chance your current electrical will be fine.
4. Can your H/VAC handle the extra heat from the lights you are putting in?
You know how much heat comes from a 100 watt light bulb, now imagine a 1000 watt light bulb, now imagine 42,000 watts! Got A/C?
Just remember, heat goes up, so the higher the ceiling the better.
5. What kind of camera are you getting?
A camera is a camera, isn't it? NO, not even close! The right camera purchase will be one of the best things you can do to save money in the long run. The reason I say this is because with the right camera you wont need as much light to make a good picture. Less light means less heat generated, less electricity, easier on the A/C, easier on the monthly bill, easier on the start up cost.
Seeing the domino effect yet?
6. What kind of lights are you planing to use?
The same kind of logic that applies to your camera applies to your lights. For an example: ETC makes a PAR light that runs on a 500 watt bulb, but puts out as much light as a regular 1000 watt PAR light. LED's do great with conserving electricity, and generate almost no heat. The down side is they don't have a long throw distance so you can't use them for a "key" light, but they are great for a wash. Also they can get very expensive, so weigh the decision carefully.
The Good: If you are going to be running 42,000 watts of light, you can cut it down to 21,000 watts, which will make a big difference in the pocket book.
The Bad: A more energy efficient fixture is going to cost you more up front, so unless you're doing a large project you would need to decide if it is worth the extra cost.
The Ugly: The difference between pretty and beautiful is usually the lighting.
Hopefully this helps answer some questions and avoid some unnecessary hurdles as you start your journey down the road of church television.
If you would like a consultation on a project you have for your church or help to come up with a design that will fit your style and your budget, please feel free to contact me. If I don't know it, then like I always say "I may not know everything, but I know people" and the people I know want to help you get your vision and message out.
The Difference Between Pretty And Beautiful.... Is Usually The Lighting