Dollars and sense
If your church is like most , funding resources are often a barrier to acquiring the proper audio equipment your church needs to meet the growth and vision of your ministry . It ’ s not unusual for finances and urgency to be out of alignment . The good news is , like most technology , quality audio gear with advanced features is now more accessible than ever before and available at substantially lower cost .
If you haven ’ t looked into updating your audio gear for a few years due to expense , there are likely better options available now with fuller feature sets and at considerably lower costs . Depending on the urgency , your best option might be to wait ; however , considering your church ’ s growth and your team ’ s pain threshold , you might not have the luxury of waiting any longer to acquire the necessary equipment .
Thankfully , in these cases , there are several helpful financing options available for churches . For example , consider looking into leasing options to bridge your financial gap . These are typically three- to five-year leaseto-own agreements with a $ 1 buyout at the end . Most churches can be approved for up to $ 250,000 with minimal paperwork . Sweetwater can help connect you with several reputable firms that specialize in helping churches finance equipment for ministry .
Beyond the gear , invest in relationship
Finding the right partner to work with you is as important a decision as choosing what gear you are buying . It ’ s not only crucial to find good value and be a good steward of your church ’ s resources , but also to establish a long-term relationship with the individual and / or company you purchase the equipment from — a relationship that will last for years to come . They will ( should ) be responsible for troubleshooting issues , handling warranty claims with the manufacturer , and assisting your team with future upgrades .
Great partners are more likely to maintain healthy relationships with their customers and can provide a consultative sales experience , several flexible payment options , free tech support , and a quick response to warranty and service requests . For example , Sweetwater provides a free two-year warranty on most products , regardless of the manufacturer ’ s original factory warranty .
During the initial design process , look for companies that listen more than they talk . A telltale sign of an unhealthy company is if they start recommending gear right away before completely understanding your needs .
For example , most wireless microphone manufacturers expect their equipment to last about five years . If you ’ re working with wireless microphones that are more than five years old , it ’ s probably time to look into upgrading your system .
Many wired microphone manufacturers will warranty their equipment for two to 10 years ; but if you ’ re like most churches , yours are much older than 10 years and are long overdue to be replaced .
Speakers also fatigue over time , which can vary depending on how much you use them and how hard you push them each week .
Training and maintenance
In the end , the value and benefits you realize from your audio system directly correlate to the training , skill and confidence of the team that is operating it . Whether on staff or a volunteer , few things are more frustrating to someone who is trying to serve your ministry than not understanding how to confidently use the equipment to meet your church ’ s objectives .
It ’ s important to budget both time and money for routine training for your team , making a meaningful investment in your staff and volunteers . Keep in mind , upgrading to more advanced equipment will require additional training for your team . Check with your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for helpful training resources for your team .
Your total cost of ownership goes beyond the initial expense of the gear . Another important cost to consider is the routine maintenance required to keep your equipment in top working order . That means your team needs to have a solid understanding of what is required to keep your equipment functioning at peak performance to avoid unnecessary service outages .
From cleaning dust filters on amplifiers , testing power supplies , replacing bad cables , keeping pots and switches cleaned and clear of dust particles , and replacing tubes and aging batteries to tuning and calibrating the system prior to major productions — especially around seasons such as Christmas and Easter — you ’ ll want to protect the investment you ’ ve made so you can maximize the service life of your audio equipment .
We ’ re here to help
Sweetwater Sales Engineers can help guide your team with unbiased recommendations from our vast collection of solutions that will truly solve your room ’ s challenges . We can also help connect you with competent local acousticians and installers to ensure that your new sound system is installed properly and will do what you expect it to . Give us a call at ( 800 ) 222-4700 .
Managing expectations
It ’ s important to maintain realistic expectations about the service life of your equipment . We would all love to buy audio gear that lasts 30 years , but that ’ s not within the realm of reality . Most people understand this point when it comes to their computers or smartphones , but they often expect much longer service times from their audio equipment , which is probably unreasonable .
Andrew Scriven loves the church . For nearly 20 years , he lived in Dallas serving in virtually every production role within the church . Since 2014 , Scriven has served as the Director of House of Worship Marketing for Sweetwater Sound [ www . sweetwater . com ] and works to build the Sweetwater brand within the worship community . Sweetwater Sales Engineers can help guide your team with unbiased recommendations from their vast collection of solutions to help solve your room ’ s challenges . They can also connect you with competent local acousticians and installers to ensure your new sound system is installed properly and performs as expected . Call ( 800 ) 222-4700 for more information .
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