AUDITIONS: THE PRACTICAL
The audition process can be nerve-racking for both the person auditioning and the worship leader. Most important—be upfront and honest with people (in a nice way). Talent isn’t the hill to die on. You just want to see where people are gifted and get them into their best fit and function. I’m not a mechanic. I don’t fix my car. I sing. I let a mechanic fix my car. What are the gifts and talents that God has given them?
Here is the 4-step formula that Tony Crombie follows. (Keep in mind that his team has a weekly practice.)
OBSERVE: Invite them to a Thursday night practice to check it out. “Come see what we do and see if you like it.” If all goes well, tell them about step 2 that night.
RECORD: (This will be as awkward as you make it.) Have them record a voice memo or video of themselves playing/singing any song they want to do that you do on Sundays. Have them get that recording to you. For the leader, that gives you an opportunity to privately review and evaluate their baseline skill. (Side note: You should have a predetermined baseline that people need to be at to be on the team. Aim low. Make it so people can join. But don’t go so low that they have to be muted.) You can move them onto the next step or, if you have to, you can respond with a “keep working on it.”
JAM: Come to Thursday practice early. Have them do 2 songs, that you chose, with you and maybe one other person. It’s not American Idol. It’s not an audition. It’s a jam session. See how they hang with others. You are inviting them into a community. Give them feedback. (Talk about if they need to grow in an area that you didn’t see in step 2.) Lay out the expectations of the team, and ask them if they think they can meet those expectations. It’s not a job interview; it’s a conversation. Then explain what the next step is. Maybe have them attend practice for a few weeks before being put on for a Sunday.
CONNECT: If they get to this point, they are on the team, but there still is another step. Connect them. It’s hard to join a community if you don’t ever get knit into the community. Don’t just give them information. (Although they need that, too—like scheduling, attendance, practices, etc.) Help them make intentional connections. (Give them the inside scoop.)