Hillsong Creative Vocal Starter Pack:
Thank you for serving and for being part of our Creative
team. We appreciate you and value who you are and
what you bring. It’s an honour and great responsibility to
lead our church in worship which is why we take the time
to define the expectation of this role in such detail.
Please remember that ultimately it is a leadership position
and that we represent our church both on and off the
platform. We are all playing our part in a much bigger
picture, which is to lead people to Jesus. Bringing
excellence with our gifts is of great value. You may be the
first point of reference that a new person has with our
church, which is a pretty incredible opportunity. Let’s
always make effort to work together as a team, to honour,
treat people with kindness and to bring our very best!
We are so glad that we get to do this together and that
you are a part of it.
Annie Garratt
Frontline Vocals:
Key Responsibilities:
As a Hillsong Church Frontline vocal, you are in responsible for bringing
leadership as a vocalist in the church services that you are rostered on
for. Your leadership in this team includes (but is not limited to):
1) Serving the Creative team and ultimately the church by using your
God-given gift of singing
2) Being committed to working as a team and bringing a unified sound
to the platform
3) Being committed to servant leadership, supporting the WL and
being receptive to feedback from the WL and Vocal Director
4) Being committed to serving the congregation and leading them
through your passion, faith and expression of worship
5) Being committed to being an example in attitude and action both
on and off the platform and representing our team and church well.
6) Attending weekly team nights/rehearsals and being actively
involved in a Connect Group
During the Week
- Confirm (or decline) your rostered position as early as possible
- Review the songlist for your rostered service and ensure that you are
very familiar with the songs. If necessary, use PLANNING CENTRE to
listen to song demos and learn them.
- Attend and contribute to Team Nights
- Attend any vocal training sessions and masterclasses
Graphics
- As a frontline vocalist, you will be rostered to serve on Graphics
at midweek & weekend services.
- This is part of our vocal team responsibilities, so please be sure to
serve on the Graphics team when rostered
Pre-Sound Check
- Be familiar with dress code and make sure that your dress is
appropriate for the rostered service.
- Be early, get a seat and proceed immediately to the Green room
for warm-ups. When instructed by VD, go to side of stage to collect
your IEMs and packs -- IEM’s should be on before warm-ups so that
when they are ready for vocal check all they have to do is grab a
mic and plug in
- Put your IEMs in your ears (if applicable), listen to band sound
check and use the time to continue warming up your voice. If you
do not have IEMs (and your campus uses them), please see Stage
Managers for spares.
- When instructed by MD or Stage Managers, proceed to the stage
and do vocal check.
Sound Check
- Do vocal check and ensure that you sing confidently and at
SERVICE LEVEL. Don’t hold back!! Please sing your allocated part
(Melody/Tenor/Alto).
- Vocal Check Song: Alive in D (if rehearsal is running late you may
do the first song of the set as your vocal check)
- Run first praise song with the band (Please pay attention to your IEM
mix)
- After the first praise song, and when instructed by the MD,
communicate your IEM needs to the Foldback/Monitor operator (in
order of mic allocation).
Rehearsal
- Be listening to the WL and the other vocalists in your ears. Pay
attention to things like dynamics, annunciation, placement and
tone. Do your utmost to blend.
- Memorize the format of every song!!
- When unknown work as a team, with the vocal director, to
determine parts
- Be mindful of chatter – pay attention to the WLs comments to the
MD and to where the WL is taking the service.
- Take feedback from the Vocal Director and be prepared to adapt
what you are singing when requested with a great attitude
- When rehearsal has finished leave your IEM’s and pack side of
stage in the designated place!! Please do not take them to green
room!
- Be present in the green room after rehearsal and between services
connecting with the team.
Prayer Meeting
This is a really important part of our preparation for service! Please
make sure that you are there on time, contributing and supporting
prayer meeting. Your leadership makes a difference and often the
worship leader/service oversight shares specific direction and thoughts
for the service.
During Service
- Sing confidently, engage and lead the church in worship
o Stand forward on the platform
o Be expressive in your worship
o Connect with the congregation
o Let your face and body language show that you love Jesus
o Remember we set the atmosphere from the platform.
- Stand slightly behind the line of WLs so that you don’t block sight-
lines from side of stage
- Sing with excellence. Remember you are singing as a TEAM of
singers-creating a strong vocal blend. Please don’t let technique
go out the window once service starts.
- Be mindful of leading your “section” – Singers on each end should
be turning to face the side sections at times to include them in
worship.
- Be sensitive and watch the WL frequently for cues
- Listen to the MD for direction
- Remember our leadership doesn’t finish when the worship set
finishes. Vocals should be watching the MC, praying during prayer
requests and supporting each part of the service.
- Sit in the service. (not side of stage near monitors - unless there are
no available seats) Take notes, be attentive and contribute to the
service.
- Come back on to the platform promptly at the conclusion of the
message and during the altar call, repeat the prayer into your mic.
Do not walk behind the preacher when coming back on the
platform.
General Vocals FAQs
Who do I call if I’m running late or if I need to cancel after confirming?
Contact the Vocal Oversight or Creative Pastor immediately to inform
them of your situation.
NOTE: After 3pm on Friday, the vocalist MUST personally speak to/call
one of the above contacts to cancel your rostered position. SMS is not
acceptable at this late stage.
How do I know where to stand and what part I’m singing?
Mic and parts allocations are done online before the weekend. Please
check on Planning Centre (the notes section on your service’s plan)
before you arrive for this information. Alternatively, the stage
managers will give you your mic allocations when you arrive. Looking
at the platform, mic allocations are:
3 4 WL (1) CL(2) 5 6
In the event that there are only 2 frontline vocals instead of 4, use mics
4 and 5 on either side of the WL.
What does a sound check consist of?
During the vocal check, you will be instructed to sing a song (currently
‘Alive’) with just the piano so that production can set vocal levels.
Be sure to have your IEMs in your ears and sing confidently, at service
level and according to the part you are singing (Melody/Alto/Tenor).
At the completion of the vocal check, rehearsal will begin with the first
praise song.
How do we get our IEM/Monitor levels adjusted?
During the first praise song of rehearsal, you should have your IEMS in
your ears and be listening to the mix. Please pay attention to your own
vocal level and to the other vocals. At the completion of that song,
the MD will instruct vocals to communicate their needs to the monitor
engineer. After that process, if there are any further needs during
rehearsal, simply raise your hand while making eye contact with the
person at the monitors desk OR tell your VD or MD.
Remember the point of IEMs is to hear yourself but also to blend with
the other vocals so that you can bring a unified sound. You cannot
blend if the only person you hear is yourself!
What should I have in my IEMs?
The minimum requirement for IEM levels is:
Worship Leader(s)
At least 2 other vocals (ideally different parts to you – ie. if you
sing melody, you at least need a tenor and an alto in your mix)
Bass
Piano
MD mic
Click
If you ask for anything less than this, you may be notified that your
request isn’t possible.
Remember the point of IEMs is to hear yourself but is also to blend
with the other vocals so you can bring a unified sound. You can’t
possibly blend if the only person you are hearing is you.
Where do I stand when I’m not singing?
When the MC comes on to the platform, please take a step back
towards the screens. If you have more questions on specifics, please
ask your VD and they will help you
Dress code
SUN AM
Dressy
Guys- Jackets, button up shirts, tie/bowtie, dark
pants, nice shoes
Girls- Blazers, nice top, makeup, accessories etc.
dark pants, nice shoes. No sneakers.
SUN PM
Youthy/More casual
Nice jeans and sneakers are ok. Tops must have at
least short sleeve. (no singlets or tanks)
SISTERHOOD
Smart casual
Guys- Jackets, button up shirts, tie/bowtie, dark pant,
nice shoes
Girls- Blazers, nice top, makeup, accessories etc.
dark pants, nice shoes. No sneakers.
- The goal of the dress code is to provide some guidelines to visually
representing the platform well. Please make an effort to dress
nicely, use good personal hygiene and take care in your
appearance. Feel free to bring your own individual style. It’s not
about a “certain look” but more about bringing our very best self.
- Please ensure clothes for all services are modest - not too tight or
revealing. Ensure that underarms, stomachs and underwear are not
visible. Guys (wear a singlet under V-necks please). No leggings.
Please also empty your pockets before going on stage.
Open toe shoes and skinny heels are not permitted on the platform
due to Health & Safety guidelines.
- In the event that something is worn that does adhere to these
guidelines the Vocal Director may ask you to change, call
someone to bring you new clothes, etc. This will always be done
with care and with the goal of finding a great solution!
Graphics
- The vocal team is responsible for the Graphics team at all churches
- Roster and train as many vocals as possible, and then begin a
graphics rotation.
o Try to roster vocalists onto graphics at least once a month
(adjust as necessary.)
- Graphics will be needed for all rehearsals and services. Whoever is
rostered to do graphics for a particular service is to be there for the
allocated rehearsal. (Especially if for a special event or creative
item)
Rostering
For rostering, the forum we use is called Planning Centre Online.
Below is an example of what a rostering matrix looks like on Planning
Centre
There are a few ways to Roster a Vocalist:
Option 1:
1. Click on “Person needed” box (yellow box in photo)
2. Find vocal you would like to roster and click on their name
3. Once you click on their name they will automatically be put
in the allocated box.
4. Repeat until done with roster
Option 2:
1. You can also go the side bar where it says “Songs, Music,
People”, click on People and it will come up with a search
bar.
2. Search for the vocalist you wish to roster
3. Drag and drop their name into the allocated box.
4. Repeat until done with roster
Option 3:
- Once you get the hang of rostering you can use the “auto
schedule” option.
o In this option you choose how many weeks you’d like to
roster for and with the team you’ve already allocated
onto planning centre it will create a roster for you.
1. All you do to allocate someone onto the vocal
team is go to his or her name in the “People”
option in the Dashboard.
2. Click on their name
3. Click on the “Details” tab
4. On the right hand side you’ll see a “Tags” option.
Where is says “Teams” add them to Vocals and
lower down where it says “Vocals” add them to
their specific team (ie. Choir, FLV, Vocal Directors,
etc.)
o When people are added to your team and you have
auto-rostered, take a look at the roster and make any
tweaks and changes that are necessary (ex. Sometimes
it’ll put the same person on 4 weeks in a row or for every
service)
Tips for Rostering:
- We usually roster 4 FLV’s per service (2 Male and 2 Female)
- Aim to have half of your frontline “strong and experienced”
vocals for all services to give as much support as possible.
o See Example Roster below: There are always just as many
“experienced” vocalists on platform as there are “growing”
vocalists
Worship Leader Co-Worship Leader
Male Vocal Female Vocal
Andrew Hemsworth (growing) Nora Willis (strong)
John Smith (strong) Chelsea Cummings (growing)
Vocal Director
Key Responsibilities:
As a vocal director, you are in responsible for overseeing the vocals in
the services that you are rostered for. Your leadership of this team has a
two-fold purpose:
1. To bring leadership to the vocalists and ensure that everyone knows
when they are singing, what parts they are singing and that they are
correct, as well as receive clear communication from the Worship
Leader about songlists and other necessary requirements to ensure the
service is as a strong as possible.
2. To give feedback to vocalists about their areas to work on (how well
they blend with other vocals on the team, how they communicate to
the congregation, stage presence, energy, etc.)
Pre-soundcheck:
- Make sure all vocalists are on time according to the predetermined
call time
- Lead warm-ups in order to activate each vocal register and prepare
the vocals for the range needed to sing the songs on the setlist
- Go over any unclear parts for any songs on the setlist
- Inform vocalists on what you’d like them to sing for the service
(Melody, parts, shadowing, etc.)
Sound Check:
- Ensure that each vocalist has appropriate pack and mic according
to their location on stage
- During the vocal check song, have whoever is singing harmony, sing
harmony and whoever is singing melody, sing melody.
- At the completion of the sound check song, the band will run the first
song. Have the vocals listen for any adjustments they will need for their
IEM or wedge mix.
- Head back to FOH and have a quick conversation about what the
morning looks like vocally (Ex. Jane is singing parts, Michael is on
melody)
During Rehearsal:
- Listen to the individual vocals and ensure that the team is blending
well together
- Speak to appropriate production team members in order to have a
clear listen to the vocal blend (FOH and broadcast). If possible, ask the
monitor engineer if there is an extra pack that you could use to listen to
the vocal blend
- Communicate with the vocal team about any incorrect melody or
harmony lines, any blending issues, phrasing, pitch, timing, technique,
tonal issues, etc.
- Be encouraging — your words should bring out the best on our team.
During Service:
- Continue listening to vocal blend and take note of whether the team
made the necessary adjustments according to your feedback during
rehearsals
- Observe the stage presence of each vocalist (energy, engagement
with the congregation, how emotive they’re being, if they’re singing
out in free-worship moments, etc.)
Following Service:
- Communicate with the vocals their strengths/weaknesses with
encouraging steps on what to work on for the next time they are
rostered.
- Fill out the vocal director report for the service that you were serving
for (you can find this on Planning Centre, located under Media)
- If there are any pastoral concerns, please notify the vocal oversight so
we can assist.
