Fits and Starts Productions Spreads the Audio Word
Oct 5, 2004 5:35 PM
Fits and Starts Productions (www.fitsandstarts.com) is heading down the aisle into churches to marry technology and education. Partners Hector La Torre and Mike Sokol tour the United States each year to over 36 sites in 6 regions, preaching the gospel of technology and the importance of knowing how to use it. Host sites include Full Sail, Tempe Conservatory, New York University, Peabody Conservatory, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Institute of Audio Research, Seattle Art Institute, Berklee College of Music, and NARAS (Grammy) chapters.
Fits and Starts Productions began educating consumers five years ago, when it realized that the sophistication of audio technology was increasing rapidly, but manufacturers weren’t spending the time or the money to educate their consumers. Although equipment sponsors change from tour to tour, current sponsors include DTS, Steinberg, SRS, Sennheiser, DPA, Turbosound, Rane, Electro-Voice, Crown, Midas, and Tannoy.
Two types of audio workshops are offered during the year: HOW-To Surround Audio Workshops and HOW-To Church Audio Workshops. Both workshops offer participants the opportunity to touch, feel, and hear live audio systems. Workshops are scheduled at local university, college, or continuing-education facilities and often earn participants credit hours while they simultaneously serve their church. A large percentage of the HOW-To Church Audio Workshops participants are female music ministers. "We love working with women because they are excellent listeners and great learners," says La Torre. "We make a point of offering a calm environment, keeping our sessions at levels that everyone feels comfortable enough to ask any question, no matter how basic."
The goal of an eight-hour workshop is to educate church audio volunteers and music educators so they feel confident running live sound systems, recording worship services, and getting the best sound for the entire congregation. All workshops stress the importance of hands-on training. Upcoming tour dates include six dates between December 2004 and January 2005 and 12 to 18 sessions between April 2005 and August 2005.
