Describe your P&W band and setup

[74 Deluxe]

We are called Crossfire. Although technically we're part of the "Worship Team" nobody ever calls us that, but the Pastor at practice. The closest thing we have to a musical director is our Pastor, she plans the music well in advance, and we practice on Thursday nites for the following Sunday's second service. We have no "sound guy" we use my old BFi PA board and my old school Peavey SP-3 speakers sitting on furniture dollies and we roll em' out before the service! We play current and classic P&W music and we all submit new songs to learn, Pastor picks songs that fit that weeks gospel message.
I'm the lead singer (male) and rhythm guitarist, we have a second/lead guitarist, and a bass player, who both, like me, are old classic rock guys with too many guitars and too much equipment. So any given Sunday we may have Hofners and Gibsons and Ibanez, or Alvarez and Hamers and Fenders... we have 2 electric keyboard players, Yamaha and Roland, and occasionally the acoustic piano gets in (Amazing Grace-My Chains are Gone) The lead guitarist's wife is one of the keyboard players and she also sings backup and so does the Pastor. We've had a couple of different drummers, my favorite being the older jazz guy who sits in some. That dude has some licks! We have a drum kit set up for who ever sits in.
We are set up on the right side up front. Took out a few small pews in front of the pulpit to create a place for the band. We have a old style church with a raised alter area, so no stage for us! But my old PA fills the church with Praise and Worship music every Sunday at 11 am. The mixer is next to me, so I have control over the mix. I think we sound like Crazy Horse, or Jesus Culture when they are crankin', and even though we could copy other band's "sound", we sound like Crossfire, always. Other than a rotating drummer, we've been together 3 plus years so we're getting pretty tight, we know a lot of songs, but we all use sheet music or tab. We don't have a powerpoint overhead display for the lyrics either, but our Pastor puts together a bulletin with the whole service in it, lyrics and all, every week!
I feel for you guys who have problems with your "music directors" and your "no amps on stage" and your P&W "Team" with a lack of commitment. Me, I'm grateful to be in the best band I've ever been in, Crossfire.

[SoVeryTired]

We have no name, we're the [insert musical/worship phrase of your choice here] team!

Leadership etc:
The worship pastor is a church employee although 80% of her time is pent on general church administration. She has overall charge of the team in pastoral matters, direction, selecting new songs etc. She is one of five worship leaders (and happens to be my younger sister). The worship leader chooses the songs for the Sunday, does the setlist on Planning Center and leads the rehearsal and music during the service. The music director (that's me) liaises with the worship leader to check arrangments and keys and translates their requirements into general guidance for all the players in the band that week.

On Stage: generally 3 vocalists, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, keys, bass and drums, plus an MD mic for me to yell into people's ears when we've got a change coming or we're speeding up! Amps offstage, ine-ear monitors.

Songs: Hills, Matt Redman, Jesus Culture, Bethel, Chris Tomlin, the usual suspects!

Church: large by UK standards - 2 morning services with around 900 people across them. Wide range of ages, backgrounds, ethinicities etc.

Think that's it but happy to fill in any details!

[SoVeryTired]

Oh yes, and my role as well as MD varies between acoustic, electric and bass. Vocals on occasion, sometimes without an instrument! Someone else will take the on-stage MD roles when I'm singing.

[justin.ramsey]

Ours is constantly rotating. We have three guitarists (me included) and three drummers (one of which is insanely good). A hodgepodge of singers. We will play about any style of praise music. We have even been known to cover Blind Faith and Doobie Brothers tunes in service as well.

[GeetarPlayer]

We have a FT worship pastor and a FT tech guy.

Our WT consists of acoustic, electric, acoustic drums in a semi-closed cage, bass, keys, electric piano, percussion, 2 or 3 BG vocals. We have enough depth that each person is on team about 1 or 2 times per month.

We use Aviom monitors, but we have wedges for vocalists. Guitar amp is either back stage or on stage facing the player. PA is a big'un - for 1,000 seats. We run an ambient mic to help with livening up the Avioms.

Stage is very spacious - we're spread out across it, which is sometimes hard, I think, to sync up and stay tight.

[GoldieLocks]

We play in a big College Theater. Seats about 700. We are blessed if 150 show up.
There are 3 different worship leaders. All with different collections of songs. Basically 3 husband and wife teams. Then we mix and match whatever instruments are needed. My wife and I are often in charge of a Sunday but I enjoy playing with everybody.
When i'm incharge we do some older songs and groovy jam choruses.

At one time we had about 6 drummers. 10 guitar players. 5 bassists. But they sure come and go. Every week we manage to have drums in the middle of the stage. Acoustic guitar - or just me on electric. A bassist, and at least 2 singers. We have a keyboardist who fits himself in most of the time.
It seems the band is getting bigger. I hope the hired soundmen can handle it. I would like to have 10 people on stage everyweek. I hate 3 or 4 piece bands. I like to hear music go in many different directions.

I usually have my amp facing across the stage. The soundmen complain if its facing the congregation. Even though they are sitting in a little glass hut in the back and seldom some out to hear the whole mix. But it mostly sounds good.

[Teleworshipkid]

GL, believe me... It takes a TON of work to pull of a 10+ piece band. For most of the midweek youth services I play we have 2 drummers, 2 bassists, 2 electrics, 3 singers, 1 keyboardist/singer, and one acoustic/singer/worship leader. 5 mikes, 13 inputs total for the sound guy. 26 strings in all.

However, the reason we run this huge setup (our nickname is "Overkill") is because it adds to the energy and environment of a youth worship setting. With this many instruments, we can play any song in the world, any way we want, to maximize the overall worship experience. We use our own strengths to cover others' weaknesses, and the end result is a band that can set the mood for the night, from getting everyone up and dancing to raising their arms, closing their eyes, and truly experiencing God. And believe me, those extremes are pretty damn near impossible to reach for JH/HS students who think that they are the single coolest thing in the world. ;)

Now I realize that this differs quite a bit from the typical "big church" service in some aspects- but not many. If you've ever been to a Hillsong concert, you know how perfectly they can work together 8 or 10 different inputs into a modern worship environment.

But, at least when executed right, the results can be amazing. :)

[livinblood]

We have 2 guitars, bass, keyboard and two vocalists. I play lead, and sing either backup or lead depending on which song it is. Primarily the lead vocalist continues to lead the worship. We can pretty much play anything and many different styles. I also translate into spanish when the lead vocalist ministers during the worship service. We play to have the holy spirit come one down and man does it ever! I have seen miracles, salvation, and prophetic words go out while worshipping, its great!

[DoodlySquat]

Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums, piano, keyboard, singers

[Jhengsman]

Presently at full strength I'm on bass along with a guitarist, normally a tele player, a pianist, a keyboarder, violinist and drummer. Normally three mic'ed singers although we are experimenting with adding more. Occasionally a percussionist sits in.

The piano, keyboard, violin and guitar or off to the left in a space once designed for a small choir. The drummer off to right in an enclosure where an organ used to sit.. Before we started adding more singers I was centered with the percussionist to better see/hear the keyboard giving numbers and chords but have since moved closer to the drummer.

The guitarist keeps his own small amp and I have a powered monitor but everything, stage and house goes through the PA. If we cut back on members the guitarist usually pulls out his Taylor

[mrboson]

I play Saturday night and Sunday morning. The Saturday night service I am the WL, on acoustic with two other singers. Every other week we add a drummer and lead guitarist who are regulars at another church, but appreciate the chance to sit in with me twice a month. Occasionally (when his schedule allows) we add a bass. We do all kinds of stuff, from old 70's Maranatha stuff, to current Hillsong/Jesus Culture/ etc. I love arranging things for whatever instrumentation I have and figuring out how to make one acoustic sound "big" and doing my own percussion on the guitar.

Sunday morning I am 2nd guitar/lead in a band with a WL/rhythm guitar, bass, drums, percussionist, second vocalist (sometimes I am the third), and sometimes keyboards. We do mostly current stuff, very loud, very rockin'. Our sanctuary is small, it can hold nearly 200, but tight. When it is full, the volume in there is huge. It almost has a club feel, 'cept everyone is singing along. Sunday morning I got the best spot in the house, stage right and in front, in the spot where everyone who wants to come forward to stand and worship. Sometimes I like to go down there and play right in front of the FOH speakers. When I was a kid I don't remember church being so much fun :)

[Parma_TeleMon]

We have 3 campuses and rotate roughly 5 teams/bands between them. Most of the groupings are 5-7, including electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums, keys, maybe a second or third vocalist, plus the occasional flute, violin or cello. We went to IEMs last year and have not really looked back.

[still_fiddlin]

Regular members:
Electric piano/keyboard + male singer worship leader (paid)
Co-worship leader - congregation member and female singer who started contemporary worship at our church. Full time teacher - honestly don't know if she draws any salary
Drummer - paid
Bass - congregation member
Acoustic guitars (2) - congregation members, one sings backup as required
Electric guitar - congregation member (me)

Other backup singers on occasion; occasional fiddle; and the guitar/bass group is a bit more fluid because work-travel, family-travel takes precedence.

We play one service/week on Sunday morning, and set up on the raised altar area, behind the altar. Everything (i.e., electric drumkit, Avioms, mike stands, music stands, etc.) packs away behind a large, roll-up divider/screen for other services.

[banjohabit]

we've got : a rookie 15 yr. old bass player who is coming along.
a twenty-something guitar player who is pretty good and plays some keys as well.
a worship leader rhthym guitarist/singer who is inexperienced at both of those duties, but who is coming along fine and is a very good sax man, harmonica player, and bass player,and an exceptional drummer as well.

FIVE female singers, three with some experience, who are now beginning to rotate week to week.
an excellent drummer. technically quite good, but musically just outstanding. he really can portray the emotion in a song with his playing, loud or soft.
an audio tech who also raps. i was a bit leary about that, but the guy is just awesome. never thought i would enjoy playing behind a rapper the way i do. fun !
and me, playing guitar, banjo, bass, and singing.

we are a brand new church that meets in a high school building. when i joined the church last year the band was the drummer, the other guitar player, and three of the female singers. we get to rehearse for about 40 minutes before service and once a month for about 3 hrs., though we couldn't rehearse this month due to the building being used for other things.

we have come a looong way in the past 9 months and i must say the sound we made this morning impressed even this jaded old picker. there is no doubt that we are all improving, collectively and individually. it's gettin' pretty exciting !

[74 Deluxe]

^nice!

[Thighbanez]

Our church is in a converted warehouse that has been sectioned off into 8 separate churches. (you can imagine the sound bleed on sundays...lol)

Our Worship team consists of the Keyboardist/MD on bass keyboard melody keyboard and drum machine/ipad, Myself on lead/rhythm guitar and pretty much anyone sitting in on drums (usually one of the deacons or the keyboardist's sister). We used to have a drummer but he got caught up in a scandal and decided to leave the church.

[SamClemons]

It is usually just me and my daughter. Her on acoustic and me on bass. I think we have one of the best sounding "bands" around. It is fun to have a large band, but the sound is often better, tighter, with a small group. Plus with us both being at home. We have all the time we want to practice. She is getting married in a few months so we may have to revamp.

[SBClose]

We worship space is a gym with a stage along 2/3rds of one of the long sides.
It's lively.
We use acoustic drums in an acrylic cage with a sound absorbing 'roof'. We mic the drums mostly to put some kick in the subs
Keys
Acoustic for rhythm
Bass
Lead- Me as main W/L and rhythm- 50/50 Tele or acoustic
One of our Bass/Rhythm players also plays a MEAN harmonica. I'll ask him to play on certain sets a few times a year.
Usually 2 or 3 singers besides me- we have a dozen that rotate in
All players use on stage amps pointed back at them as their personal monitor along with a wedge. Amps are either mic'ed (lead) or use direct out to the mix board with direction to 'turn it up till you can hear it OK then stop'... this works 60% of the time cuz...we like it loud.
Did I mention that it was lively?
I'm with GoldieLocks in that I want live music to sound live/directional/organic. So the stage amps are really part of the mix- a challenge for our longsuffering engineers

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by Thighbanez

Our church is in a converted warehouse that has been sectioned off into 8 separate churches. (you can imagine the sound bleed on sundays...lol)

That made me sad when I read it. I know that we have different styles and preferences and not every church suits every person but... well... heaven won't have sections!

Maybe you should all play so loud one Sunday that the walls fall down, Jericho-style, and 8 bands become one!

[leonard d rock]

our catholic community is divided into four districts. each district meets twice a month and the whole community meets once a month. we only play in our district which has the best music group. we dont have a name yet, so we just call ourselves district d band. i own all the instruments; guitar, bass, drums, amps and soon my daughter will play keyboard. we use whatever PA is on hand, but im trying to save to buy a small PA like the passport or stagepas whicj i like since its very stowable. we usually plan and practice songs to play and songs to teach the members. if the leader requests specific songs, we can do that. two members in the band( me and drummer are semi-pro, classic rock/metal guys) the bassist and the singers are amateurs. we sing old and new songs. we also play in mass when requested. God bless!