process Archives - SALT Community

Faithful in the Small

kamil_hopeware — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 09:59:18 +0000

Faithful in the Small

We had the chance to chat with Meredith Andrews after her workshop, Faithful in the Small, at SALT19 and dive into some key points on being faithful in the small areas of our lives. If you have a few minutes to watch the video above, I think it will help you refocus and dive into what God is calling you, For Such A Time As This.

Meredith talks about learning to grow where you’re planted and how it’s so easy to set your eyes on those big dreams you have and want to skip the process to get there. Getting there can be hard, it can take time, and be a lot of work, but don’t fast forward through the process. God wants to do something significant in us before he does something through us. When we allow God to work in us, that is what’s going to sustain us in the long run. Be faithful where God has you.

A Godly vs. Worldly Perspective of Success:

A kingdom perspective of success is different than a worldly perspective of success. We are living in a time where everyone’s highlights are on display. We see a constant stream of the good, the bad, and the ugly. We can either compare ourselves to what the world is doing as our measure of success or we can look at what God has called us to. We’re called to what God calls us individually. To be uniquely what God called us to be, is how He’s asked us to serve. Success in the world is achievement and accolades but in the kingdom in God looks like faithfulness and obedience. Are we willing to say yes to God before he asks us to? So many of us are serving behind the scenes and behind closed doors more than ever before. Remember that God has called you as a creative to serve His kingdom purpose.

Success starts with intimacy with God. He’s the treasure of our heart and gets rid of our selfish agendas. From that flows identity…sitting and hearing the presence of God…who does He say I am? What is it about me that is unique? What is it that you’ve asked me to carry?

When we allow the words of Jesus to identify us and soak into our hearts, we don’t have to worry about what others think of me or compare myself to others. He’s gifted and designed me to carry out what he’s put on my life. Galatians 6:9 – And let us not grow weary of doing food, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (ESV) We need to be aligning our hearts daily and asking who do you say I am, how do I love on people you’ve placed in front of me?

Meredith has a full class on being Faithful in the Small on SALT University.

Sometimes we can overcomplicate the elements of success in worship. Join Meredith Andrews for a personal perspective on her journey as a worship leader. She will discuss a few of the things she has learned over the years, how to stay faithful to the small things and keep worship at the forefront of your focus.

Take a look and see how God is calling you to be faithful today. Click Here

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6 Tips for the New Creative

kamil_hopeware — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 20:11:51 +0000

The new creative? Is that really a thing? I am not sure if there is such a thing as a new creative (I believe we are born creatives in some capacity), but I do believe in the creative that is just beginning to find his or her voice in the creative space. Working at SALT, I get to work everyday with creatives that work in the church world as well as the commercial and non profit space and honestly it is a pretty sweet gig. In addition, being in this position has allowed me the opportunity to hear the struggles of the creative, like the loss of ideas or being overwhelmed with deadlines.

That said, I put together a short list, with the help of some of our SALT Community, that will hopefully help guide you to your best practices as a new creative.

Find Community.

Last year at SALT18 we had the privilege of having Matt Redman join us for worship. When asked how he gets inspired or refueled to write songs his first response was Community. There are several ways to find community, it can be as easy as a group inside your church or it could be connecting with others via the many FB groups that bring together creatives from many communities.

Of course, we are biased here, but another great way to meet and create community is to come to SALT Conference. We create environments that will allow you to connect with other people, whether that be during Community Group time or as simple as the colored wristband that identifies your ministry focus. Just in case you aren’t familiar with SALT Conference here is a quick recap video from last year and here is the link to SALT19 happening this fall.

Don’t Be Afraid To Fail.

This can be tough for many people. There is a fear attached with failure and that fear can stifle our creativity. However, every great creative that I have spoken to will tell you…failing means you took a risk, failing means you know what NOT to do next time. Remember, Thomas Edison failed 1,000 times before creating the light bulb. So take some risks, get outside the box and create.

Join Us At SALT19 Conference!

We want to help you grow in your creative, technical and musical ability so you can make a kingdom impact on your local community. So, we’re bringing in 50+ speakers and experts for 40+ workshops, sessions and labs so you can be more of who God made you to be.

Tickets are running out, so head over to SALT19.com for all the details and register today.

Read a book (or two).

Reading someone else’s story can refuel and inspire you. There are several great books that are must reads for creatives. A couple of good ones to check out are Creativity Inc, The War of Art, Creative Potential.

Create Don’t Copy.

This idea was summed up so well by our friend Cole NeSmith at SALT16 “Sameness is the enemy of innovation.” This can be hard when we are overworked and under-staffed. Sometimes it is just easier to copy something we see on Pinterest or another church. Learn how aggregate ideas and then re-imagine those ideas. Inspiration breeds inspiration.

Inspiration In Everything.

Creatives should consistently look for inspiration, but not just in the usual spots. In the case of our SALT16 pop-up store we looked outside a “store” model and found inspiration in some cool museum spaces. Our theme had a very minimalist brand so we looked to the museum model and found some museums that had that same vibe and re-imagined it. We even felt inspired to create our “own” art for the store which is how the projection touch wall was created.

Find Your Creative Process.

I have heard from several creatives about this and there seems to be several ways to create a process for you and your team. One way (that we use) is the Creative Meeting. This is an excellent way to bring a select group of people and pull together ideas and themes and then begin to pair down the list of ideas into a cohesive brand and feel. We spoke to 3 different Creative Directors and got their take on how they conduct a creative meeting. If you are a one man team then you should always be aggregating content and filing it away so that you can look back to it for inspiration.

These are just a few ideas that you can hopefully use in your journey as a creative. Of course there are other ideas to consider so if you would like to share what you have learned then please feel free to comment below so that it can be shared with everyone.

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Set Design Planning Process

kamil_hopeware — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 09:59:19 +0000

We thought it would be fun to go back in time to our very first SALT Gathering and see what the process, elements and concepts were of the SALT13 Set Design and Visuals. If you were at SALT13, you know how exciting it was to be a part of the very first gathering… and the anticipation for what’s to come never seemed to end. Here’s the concepts and visuals behind SALT13:

Every year we put together the creative elements of SALT, we discuss the following key elements: How do we tell a story? What is the central idea? and how do we enhance the environment around that idea to invite people into that story?

We are creating for a community of artists, technicians, thinkers and dreamers, so we want to come up with something that’s not just going to look cool to them, but resonate deeper than just aesthetics. Our environments are designed to echo the story we’re telling. (P.s. here are more detail on the tech specs of the SALT13 set)

The Theme/Story

In 2013, our theme was Contagiousness. However our story mirrored the story of what God has done and is doing in our world in four parts: creation, fall, redemption, and recreation. We used the set and the visuals to illustrate this. The set went through several iterations during the course of the conference. When we saw it in the first two sessions, it had the form of a modular, grid-like structure. The main purpose of the set in this iteration was to use it to create a celebratory, exciting environment, mirroring the excitement and celebration that took place at creation.

ACT I

To accomplish this story, we decided to create a set with dual functionality. The first function was to allow a set that would let us display beautiful projection mapped graphics and visuals. We aligned two 12,000 lumen projectors onto the set, and allowed us to play into the individual squares that made up the set. Here’s a look at that look:

To accomplish our second functionality, we wanted to build a DIY, low-res LED Wall. Each panel was lined (inside the back frame) with white LED Strip Tape. This turned each square into an individually functioning pixel in the larger story. With Resolume and MadMapper, we were able to pixel map simple animations to be played across the entire wall. This was the entire basis for our set concept and visuals of sessions 1 and 2, which resembled the first act of our story: Creation.

ACT II

For the second act, and the second iteration of the set, we had to represent The Fall. Our keynote speaker, Cole NeSmith completely destroyed the set, by allowing it to fall to the ground. This was to represent the fallenness we have when we try to be God, and control our environments too much; knowing full well that God will pick us up and put us right back where we belong, by his side. Here’s a video of that stunning portion of SALT13 :

ACT III

It’s important to note that at each act so far, the same elements were used. We really didn’t introduce new or different elements. So in the third iteration, we brought the set back (just as Jesus did with all our own brokenness), in the form of a cross. Many of the panels were actually destroyed, ripped and broken in the falling that took place during Act II, which brought an added depth to this new setup. Of course we used those broken panels anyway, because it represented the brokenness that was our sin on the cross, and how Jesus redeemed it for His glory and our Grace. This was representing the “Redemption” part of our story.

ACT IV

In our final iteration (the fourth act), we simply cleared everything out of the room and hung a simple white Cyclorama where the set once hung. This represented that Jesus gives us a blank state, post cross. A chance to re-create once again. We used environmental projection to cover both the cyc and the walls on either side, projecting graphics that asked our community to reflect and wonder on both their new identities in Christ as well as the journey they had been on that week.

Using visuals to represent a story is one of the central ways we as artists are able to communicate and relate to our audience. Being intentional in how we choose and use these visuals — whether it be through set design, video, graphics, or other creative elements—allows us to focus on the most impactful way to tell our story. It also allows us to be intentional in how we share God’s story in our world and its relation to us as creative and technical people.

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The Creative Meeting Series with Seth Bartlette

kamil_hopeware — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 11:01:10 +0000

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We have been covering a series on Creative Meetings and we end it with our friend Seth Bartlette. Seth is a producer and has worked with many people on projects and events. Seth’s insight on the creative meeting process comes from his extensive work as a producer. If you haven’t had a chance to read Part One or Part Two in the series, I encourage you to check them out.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”1″][vc_column_text]

Invite The Right Mix of Attendees

Let me start by saying that inviting a specific variety of people into this process is key. I typically invite about 6-8 people into this group and in my mind they each bring a different skillset to the table.

For me, this group includes a designated note-taker (the most often over-looked person), the facilitator (which might be you), 1 or 2 people that generate new ideas, 1 or 2 people that connect ideas, and last would be storytellers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”2″][vc_column_text]

Accentuate the Experience with an Inspiring Environment

Most creative people their minds are influenced by their environment, so white walls, no windows, fluorescent lights and uncomfortable seats might not work. Of course I realize that there are times this is unavoidable but with a little planning ahead this can be achieved. Look for a space with natural light, unique architecture, warm or bright colors, texture and comfortable seating.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”3″][vc_column_text]

Begin by Building the Creative Canvas

A long time ago, I had a friend tell me about one of their favorite creative session facilitators. When I asked him about his most helpful takeaway, this is what he told me: “{The facilitator} spent the first part of the meeting building a canvas for us to paint upon.” I never forget that. If you properly define and explain the “canvas” by conveying the expectations, goals and values (of the client, event or project), you can create a more efficient process. Your team will be less likely to be “painting” outside of the canvas if they begin by hearing important factors and filters like: budget, feedback from prior experiences, schedule, etc.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”4″][vc_column_text]

Timing Can Effect The Process

Again, this isn’t rocket science, but I’ve found that strategically managing the schedule of the day yields better results. I’m not just talking about time management, but also energy management. Here’s some quick principles:

Movement – create shorter blocks of time (30 min) for different activities and focus sessions.
Post-Lunch – after lunch many lose steam so don’t plan those long conversations after lunch. It is best to plan fun activities during that time and keep people moving.
Time Zones – If you having invited someone that is from out of town and a different time zone make sure to be mindful of meal times, coffee breaks for them.
Spaces – Make sure to leave space for the brain to process. It has been my experience that some people need time to process and connect the dots. I have found that a 2 day session might be more beneficial, because you will give the attendees time to process and hopefully bring to the table feedback and ideas.

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Avoid the Temptations to Copy and Paste

Another favorite quote of mine is, “Steal like an artist” – Every Creative Ever. And yes, there’s definitely truth to the statement, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” But that being said, I’m often surprised by creative processes which resort to a copy/paste mentality. For me, it minimizes the power and potential of the group gathered to brainstorm. Now, I’m a firm believer in doing a “show and tell” with video clips, images, etc, where they’re used for inspiration. So, instead of simply copying what someone else has already done, go back to Tip #3. Apply the stated objectives, values and story to that inspiration and see if something new (or a variation of it) emerges from that process. Yes, inspiration is everywhere… but so is the ability for your group to innovate upon it.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”6″][vc_column_text]

Add Space for “Idea Crushes” to Fade

I don’t know about you, but I often “crush” on ideas. Do you know what I mean? Someone shares something in a group setting that blows my mind. Immediately everyone clings to it, falling in love. But, when you take that idea out on a first and second date, you realize you may have jumped the gun before you really got the chance to know it very well. Wow! What a terrible analogy. I hope you’re following what I’m suggesting. After a creative session is over and all of the ideas have been captured, do yourself a favor and walk away from it for a while. Do another project or task. Give it a couple days or even a week. Then, come back to it all with fresh eyes. Perhaps you can even vet that idea with some trusted creative friends who weren’t a part of the meeting. Make sure you’ve taken these ideas on enough dates before you’re ready to marry them. OK, I’m leaving that analogy alone. You get the point![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”7″][vc_column_text]

Know When to Chase the Rabbit and Know When to Shoot It

Sounds violent doesn’t it? But, I promise I have a point. During the fun brainstorming process, the idea-sparking participants will propose an idea that seems to be headed down a metaphorical rabbit-trail – with no end in sight. Chasing the rabbit, isn’t a bad thing, original and innovative gems have come from this. However, it takes the facilitator to have the intuition to know when an idea is headed too far off topic or objective (once again Tip #3). When this happens it is up to you to shut it down (to shoot the rabbit) in a very polite way and move on. It isn’t personal.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”8″][vc_column_text]

Connect The Dots

One of the final steps in the process is to connect all of the dots. Look for connections and find the trajectory from all of the great ideas. Once you come up with a plan, I encourage you to present it to a small group before presenting it to your pastor, client etc. This will help in making sure the message is clear and compelling.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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The Creative Meeting Series with Colette Taylor

kamil_hopeware — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 19:00:27 +0000

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]SALT is exploring the idea of Creative Meetings for your team, so we asked 3 people in our community to give us their insight on how they like to conduct a creative meeting. Honestly we have done Creative Meetings several different ways and there isn’t a “right” way to do them. This topic is relative to what people you have access to and what you are hoping to accomplish.

We continue this series with Colette Taylor. Colette has worked with ReThink as their executive production director (Orange Conference) she has also worked with Catalyst Conference. If you haven’t read part 1 make sure to check it out.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I remember my first creative meeting. I walked into North Point Community Church having no idea what to expect. I liked to create, I thought, this shouldn’t be too hard. It didn’t take long for me to discover “creative” and “meeting” can mean many different things.

I quickly learned that a creative meeting is only as effective as its facilitator. Luckily, my first creative meeting had an excellent facilitator, Reggie Joiner. He had a strong vision for the event that he championed from start to finish. Reggie effortlessly juggled a diverse mix of ideas, somehow validating everyone’s thoughts from good to great to downright awful. And believe me, most of those awful ideas were mine (I took the phrase “there are no bad ideas” pretty seriously). Regardless, Reggie made sure nobody left feeling inadequate or insecure. He took numerous mediocre ideas and pushed us one step further towards our best ideas yet.

Since then, I’ve participated in countless creative meetings centered around planning events, designing family environments, organizing staff retreats and creating camps from scratch. Some made two hours feel like two minutes, and others left me wishing someone would set off the fire alarm so we’d have to evacuate and end early. Hopefully, these suggestions will allow you to successfully facilitate your next creative meeting without having to pull the fire alarm.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”1″][vc_column_text]

THE TEAM

First, let’s bust the myth that every creative meeting must have dozens of people to come up with endless ideas. In reality, too many people can actually hinder the process in a couple of ways:

More people, more distractions
More people, more side conversations
More people, more talking over each other
More people, more snacks to provide

How Many is Too Many?

There’s no definitive answer to this, however, my advice is to start with six or eight. You can even schedule a few meetings with different numbers and find your sweet spot. Bonus tip: I’ve discovered that it is a good practice to invite people to attend one or two creative meetings (although, you may have 12 scheduled). That way, you don’t have to awkwardly un-invite people if you realize it’s too many.

Who Should Participate?

Not everyone on your staff needs to take part. The beauty of working on a team is that everyone has different strengths. Some people would rather run across hot coals than to partake in a creative meeting. These are concrete thinkers who find brainstorming painfully tedious compared to the to-do list on their desk. Others are more “realistic” couldn’t stand to discuss how to get a camel through the front doors for the Christmas story.

Ideally, you want to invite people who are flexible with their ideas and understand that creativity is a process. They’re comfortable with knowing their thoughts may not see the finish line, but instead may be used to help shape the best idea to put into production.

Don’t be afraid to look outside of your department to invite. Remember my first creative meeting I mentioned earlier? It was for a program at North Point Community Church for a program called KidStuf. I wasn’t a staff member, I was simply a mom with two kids the age KidStuf catered to. That meeting also included two other moms, a stage host, an actor and a worship leader. Everyone came with a different personalities, talents and perspectives, but we came together to create an incredible family experience.

So you’ve got your first few creative meetings on the calendar and a handful of diverse thinkers invited. What’s next?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”2″][vc_column_text]

THE ENVIRONMENT

It’s important to be intentional about the space you hold your creative meeting in. Choose an environment that is warm and inviting; something with windows is always a plus. Allow it to be relaxing and fun.

If you’re thinking, “Well, none of our spaces fit this description,” don’t fret. You can always make it playful by bringing in a few extra materials for people to engage with. For example, cover the table with craft paper, toss crayons in the center to encourage people to loosen up and freely share their ideas. At our creative meetings, we like to use storyboards and multicolored index cards. A whiteboard works great for this same purpose, too.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”3″][vc_column_text]

THE MEETING

Define the Meeting

While it may sound trivial, defining the kind of creative meeting at the beginning is one of the most important things you can do. This gives the attendees clear direction on what is to be accomplished. Planning any event or series will require several different kinds of creative meetings. Here are a few examples:

Blue Sky Meetings

A “blue sky” meeting encourages any and all ideas. This is the time to brainstorm broad ideas freely without concerning the group with budgets or space limitations.

Decision-Making Meetings

Your next step is to hold decision-making meetings where you and your team narrow down the previously brainstormed options. This is where it is important to consider location, facility, or budget limitations to help you eliminate unreasonable ideas and land on the best game plan.

Action Meetings

Now that the ideas have been brainstormed and decisions have been made, it is time to take action. This is the point where you can schedule follow-up meetings as necessary to examine everyone’s progress.

Defining the meeting makes a big difference. You don’t want to discuss action steps at a blue sky meeting or develop outlandish new ideas at an action meeting.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

FINAL POINTERS

Guard the Focus

“Focus? What does that do for creativity?” Believe it or not, focus fuels creativity. Therefore, it is important to start with clearly defining your goal for the creative meeting and writing it somewhere everyone can see. Doing so provides creative direction that will prevent you and your team from wasting creative energy on irrelevant ideas.

Some advocate for the mantra “anything goes” in a creative meeting, but creativity without focus can lead to confusion. The most effective meetings find a balance between relaxed brainstorming while holding enough order that even ideas you don’t use are worth keeping. This doesn’t mean you can’t chase rabbits in creative meetings. Focus just means you’ll only chase the kinds of rabbits that lead you down the right path. An effective facilitator is one that can guard the focus while encouraging an organic flow of ideas.

Capture the Ideas

You’d be surprised by how much you can miss if no one is taking thorough notes in a creative meeting. To avoid this, recruit two notetakers, one to take detailed notes on paper or laptop and another to write and organize the ideas on index cards or a whiteboard. The goal is to make sure no idea is missed, lost or forgotten. Besides, it is pretty entertaining to read the notes later. You’ll wonder why you even considered flying someone into the ceiling to represent Jesus’ ascension into heaven.

Debrief Next Steps

The event is over, but you’re not off the hook yet. There’s one step: a debrief meeting to celebrate the successes and discuss what could be improved. While it may seem contradictory, be sure to keep things positive as you talk through what went wrong. Avoid playing the blame game or beating something to death. Instead, encourage your team to brainstorm solutions if something didn’t go the way you planned. Whether everything went perfectly right or terribly wrong, in the end, you probably impacted someone’s life through the hard work your team put into the project.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Yes, the creative process can be a little overwhelming. But remember this: the God who CREATED all, including you, has called and equipped you to create in order to bring others to Him. There’s no better reason than that to dream up the very best ideas for your church.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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The Creative Meeting Series with Stephen Brewster

kamil_hopeware — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 08:29:27 +0000

We start this series with our friend and SALT alumni, Stephen Brewster. Stephen has worked as a Creative Director and offers his services in leadership, coaching etc. to churches around the country. *update read Part 2 in the series on Creative Meetings[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It’s Monday morning and the usual crowd strolls for your next creative meeting. You know how it goes: the pastor walks the five of you through the ins and outs of the upcoming series or event then asks for your best ideas in planning the creative elements.

You all agree this time the look and feel needs to be fresh and new. But after ten minutes, every one is glued to their Google browser, settling for clever “cultural” ideas to replicate.

A general list is formed, complete with a few predictably odd suggestions and a handful of concepts used in the past, and then it’s onto production. The meeting adjourns and everyone walks away unsure of how “creative” it all turned out to be.

You’re probably wondering how I know this – it’s because I did it this way for too many years! Here are three ways to put the creativity back into your creative meeting:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”1″][vc_column_text]

Speak with your pastor ahead of time.

Let him or her brief you with the critical information for the series or event so that his or her heavy voice won’t interfere with the creative flow of the meeting.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”2″][vc_column_text]

Conduct the creative meeting.

Invite 20-40 people to gather an abundance of ideas. Divide and conquer into teams of five and give each group the complete freedom to brainstorm around the most important elements (title, sub-title, music, video, look, marketing, how do we involve other ministries, how do we create parking lot/lobby experiences?).

Let this be a fun, low stakes exercise. No idea is a bad idea! Be sure to especially focus on the creative elements that seem to be lacking most. This meeting should take about 90 minutes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”3″][vc_column_text]

Refine and simplify.

Gather a group of 3-5 of you and filter through all of the amazing ideas from the meeting. Filter the best concepts down to 2-3 pitches for your pastor. You will start with more content than you know what to do with but end up with better results than you could’ve imagined. You can even invite your pastor into this process if he/she or you prefers. Ultimately, this is where you solidify what to pitch or create for the upcoming series or event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Shoot for this process to happen the first week after you launch the previous series. For example, if series X started on Sunday, that following Monday, meet with your pastor about series Y; conduct the creative meeting for series Y that Wednesday; refine and simplify for series Y that Thursday. This allows for at least 3 weeks of production time.

Save yourself the headache and don’t try to jam three meetings into one. Don’t even think of it as a meeting – allow creativity to be a process. This way you’ll gather those fresh ideas you hoped for, reach more people and influence culture.

If I can help you at ALL with this process, reach out to me. B@StephenBrewster.me or on IG: @B_rewster. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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10 Must Have Apps for Filmmakers

kamil_hopeware — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 11:10:45 +0000

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Apple’s signature line is “There’s an App For That” and that’s absolutely the case for filmmakers who are looking to reduce the headache of planning a video shoot. Whether you’re filming an interview, series promo or anything else in between, you should consider grabbing one of these apps (for iOS) to help you cut the right corners on planning and maximize your time on the creative elements.

Filmmaking tools should help you create faster, better or stronger (okay, this is starting to sound like a lyric from Daft Punk…). They shouldn’t get in the way. So we scoured the web and interviewed some of our favorite filmmakers in the church to uncover the 10 must have apps for filmmakers. Take a look at our list:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11832″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”1″][vc_column_text]

Shot Designer (Link)

As described by the app developer, “camera blocking on steroids,” This app is a must-have for those filmmakers who like to plan out each shot of their scenes. If you typically shoot with a team and need to get the right shot while wasting little time, this allows you to do all your prep work and get the entire team on the same page.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11834″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”2″][vc_column_text]

ShotList- Movie Shoot Planning (Link)

After you have planned out your storyboard, you can easily input each of your scenes and location details into this tidy app and keep everything on schedule. Store the details, locations and notes for every scene and shot in an easily-viewable form. Break down a script and plan out a multi-day shoot in advance – the app will always be with you whenever you need to make an urgent change, and makes it simple to keep your team updated.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11835″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”3″][vc_column_text]

MagicHour (Link)

If you’re a true filmmaker, you’re very aware of the “Golden Hour” of the sun. Where it’s perfectly placed on the horizon to make your lighting well… perfect. This handy little app makes it easy for you to identify the exact hour for that magic timeframe via geolocation and weather patterns.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11836″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”4″][vc_column_text]

Cine Meter II (Link)

This app is was the top recommended app by filmmakers, as you measure light and color knowing exactly how to shoot and what you’ll get in your lens. Don’t be overwhelmed by the highly technical nature of this app, it’s a game changer for any filmmaker. Basically a spot meter, incident meter and shutter calculation app all in one.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11837″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”5″][vc_column_text]

WattPad (Link)

A new one for our team, but apparently this app will help guide you on your scriptwriting process. Got your own story to tell? Publish it on Wattpad and share it with their community. Create a new draft, add chapters to an existing story, or add a cover, all from the app. You can even get creative with one of their monthly writing challenges.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11838″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”6″][vc_column_text]

DigiSlate (Link)

This is a free app too! DigiSlate is a modern, free digital slate / clapperboard for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. DigiSlate uses either a swipe across the board or the volume buttons on your device to clap the board. This allows you to keep your hands well out of the way when the slate claps.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1486579867689{background-color: rgba(232,232,33,0.32) !important;*background-color: rgb(232,232,33) !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1529421153183{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}”]EXCLUSIVE BONUS:
We built a few FREE After Effects templates for lower thirds, titles and full screen call-outs. Grab this free resource by clicking here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11839″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”7″][vc_column_text]

Green Screener (Link)

If you ever use green screen when you’re making videos, then this app will soon become your best friend. By using your iPhone camera, you’ll be able to see the areas that aren’t “green enough” for the camera and may cause issues when you go to remove it. Basically helping you see how smooth the lighting is for your green screen environment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11840″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”8″][vc_column_text]

Hyperlapse from Instagram

Our friends at Instagram have a great app that may help be the glue to hold together some of your highlight videos. When you shoot a time lapse video with Hyperlapse, your footage will be instantly stabilized to smooth out the bumps from the road and give it a cinematic feeling. Capture an entire sunrise in 10 seconds – even from the back of a moving motorcycle. Walk through the crowds at an all-day music festival, then distill it into a 30-second spot.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11841″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”9″][vc_column_text]

pCAM Film+Digital (Link)

This app gives you access to 24 cinematography and photography tools that will help you create great shots. From depth of field to camera angle of view, and everything in between, this app is chocked-full with amazing tools for your next shoot.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”11842″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”10″][vc_column_text]

Story Planner For Writers (Link)

Lastly, this is a great app for those who are script writers. Instead of worrying about all the nit-picky format issues of a film script *specifically if it’s a narrative script*, this app will take all that worry off your plate. You also outline your stories wherever you are making this one of the best story-mapping and organizational stories tools available.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The post 10 Must Have Apps for Filmmakers appeared first on SALT Community.

6 Portable Church Tips

kamil_hopeware — Wed, 31 May 2017 20:59:26 +0000

I have spent a lot of time (over 4 years) working with a local portable church meeting in coffee shops, a high school auditoriums, and even a local bar/restaurant. We learned a lot over the years of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to portable churches. How many volunteers do you actually need to effectively run a portable church service? How much money do you spend on transportation, storage, gear, cases, and more? When do you find enough people to give your volunteers a break?

Below I have provided 6 portable church tips. These tips will hopefully help your team to think beyond just getting things done. Spend some time as a leadership team to think through these ideas and more to ensure you are operating efficiently and effectively so that you can serve your community well.

Tip #1: Cases for Your Equipment

As soon as you can, get cases for your equipment. (Here’s a great place to look at) These don’t need to necessarily be molded for each individual piece of gear you have, but need to have wheels and should create a safe and firm pack to keep items from being jostled around and breaking while in transit/storage.

Wheeled cases move quickly and easily. You’ll be able to save your back and the backs of your team while moving thousands of pounds of equipment around each and every week. We started out with only a couple of cases, and in full disclosure, our speakers never ended up in cases, but we had a two wheel dolly to move those. If your budget is limited, identify the key pieces of gear you need cases for…i.e. computers, monitors, projection equipment, lighting, consoles, etc. The investment will be well worth it in the long run.

Tip #2: Know Your Truck/Trailer Pack

When I was serving with a portable church in Nashville, we had a handful of folks who knew the exact order and placement of the trailer pack. This saves time, energy, and frustration for you and your volunteers. This savings will reflect directly to your congregation. A team that isn’t struggling with the backstage items is able to spend more time ministering and serving the congregation. Plus, this gives you more time to get out to the local Mexican restaurant to stock up on chips and queso!

Tip #3: Take Ownership in Your Space

Whether you’ve been in a space for a few weeks or a few years, it’s easy to take for granted the payments you’re making and the service you’re expecting from those payments. I worked in event management for the better part of ten years. We had numerous clients that left the venue trashed. However, there was one client (a major touring act) that continuously went above and beyond to leave the space better than they found it upon arrival. They didn’t have to do this; we had a large custodial staff fully prepared to help pout the venue back together. However, it was important for this client to leave us each time on the right note.

As you go into a space week after week, you’ll be tempted to get in and out as quickly as you can. “Cleaning is someone else’s job.” “We’re paying the venue for cleaning services.” “It was there when we got here.” Don’t fall into these traps. Take ownership of your space and create an atmosphere that shows how much you care not only about your congregation, but those you serve in front of or next to. You never know who’s watching and who will be impacted by the care you take in someone else’s space. We had an amazing relationship with the restaurant we were at because we took the time to care about the space, call it our own, and leave it better than we found it. Picking up trash, mopping up after someone else’s night of heavy drinking, or wiping down the bathroom stalls goes a long way towards being a witness in your space.

Tip #4: Train & Rotate Your Volunteers

The easiest way to lose folks is to burn them out. I spent the first 18 months running audio pretty much every week. I might have taken 2-3 Sundays off during that run. Fortunately I had bought into the vision of the church and wanted to be there. However, I was running myself ragged. It was also hard to relinquish control to others. (p.s. SALT University is a great training resource to help with training volunteers!)

As a leader, pastor, or volunteer coordinator, it is your responsibility to create an environment where people can serve. More than that, it’s your job to create an environment where your team can also learn, worship, and grow personally. Make sure that you have enough trained volunteers in each area to be able to effectively run those areas and reduce the chance of burnout for your volunteers. If you don’t have enough volunteers for that new idea, it’s better to hold off until you can do it right.

Tip #5: Everyone Helps Tear Down

From your children’s team, to parking, from your FOH audio tech to your pastoral staff, everyone helps tear down. The portable church is a hard gig. You never know how long it is going to last. We operated as a portable church for about 4 years, in 3 different locations. It was exhausting. 200+ Sunday’s of meeting early, staying late, and finding time to serve and minister. Those are the reasons that everyone helps tear down. You need to be in as a team.

Tip #6: Invest in Portable Signage

The first item out of your trailer in the morning should be your signage. This will accomplish a few different things. First, it’s not an after thought that gets forgotten or placed too late. Second, it helps new volunteers find your space quickly. Third, it showcases your church. From my experience, people are looking for what makes the church different. Showing hard work, a fun/team environment, and dedication can go a long way towards a new visitor walking through your door. We met in the back of a bar for about 2.5 years. It was different. Most Sundays it smelled bad in there. We mopped, swept, cleaned counter tops, and transformed the space from a bar to a church.

Bonus Tip:Cable Looms / Snakes

Cable looms or snakes are a great way to save time and keep things moving. Beyond just your audio snake, spend time grouping or looming any cables you can to save time on your setup. If you can save ten minutes of setup time then you can add ten minutes of rehearsal time, ministry time, or more.

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4 Ways to Be More Creative

kamil_hopeware — Thu, 25 May 2017 20:42:42 +0000

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ideas are like a currency for creatives. The more you have, the more valuable you are to those in your organization, and without ideas, you begin to feel completely out of place. If you don’t want to be a creative nomad, roaming around without any money in your bank account, then take a look at the list of ways to be more creative we’ve put together. By implementing some of these ideas into a regular weekly schedule, you’ll find that you always have a wealth of creative ideas at your disposal. Furthermore, you’ll be recognized by those on your team as the “idea guy” or “idea girl”.

Here are 4 ways to be more creative:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”1″][vc_column_text]

Bad Ideas Aren’t Bad.

When I was growing up I had a neighbor tell me that the first girl I date will not be the person I marry. It was a pretty sad thing to be told when you finally get a chance to take that elementary school crush to the local sonic to grab a soda with your parents, knowing that you won’t marry her. Well it was true. I don’t talk to her today… And it’s also true with the first idea you have in any project. It’s likely that the first idea will never become the final idea. Because ideas always birth ideas. And you have to be okay with a bad idea to get to the good ideas. Once we recognize that bad ideas aren’t bad, we actually open up the floodgates for more ideas to come in, because we train our brain to dream and explore, not analyze or criticizes ourselves. So the first way to become more creative is to be okay with bad ideas.

[bctt tweet=”ideas always birth ideas. And you have to be okay with a bad idea to get to the good ideas.” username=”lukemcelroy”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”2″][vc_column_text]

Always be Aggregating.

When you get hungry, you don’t usually get in your car, drive to the grocery store and purchase one uncooked chicken breast, one green pepper and a slice of watermelon to have a bar-b-que for one. That would be amazingly inefficient. Instead, people who cook fairly often, go to the grocery store and buy groceries for the whole week, or even longer. This way it’s in their pantry or cabinets when they want to make dinner. The same is true with the most creative people in the world. They don’t wait to find an idea when they need an idea, they store them up in the pantry of other ideas, so they’re ready to share that idea when it matters. The best way to do this is to become an aggregator of ideas. Constantly collecting ideas on a regular basis, sets you up to be creative whenever you need it. The best ways to do this is making sure to capture ideas in an aggregation tool like Evernote, Google Drive, Pinterest, etc. A place where you can organize ideas is essential to being more creative.

A great idea would be to pick up a Mod Notebook (like the special edition SALT one we sell here) where you can jot actual notes down on paper, and when it’s filled up, you can ship it into the company and they’ll digitize it for you. Then you can import those notes, drawings, ideas, etc into your Evernote, One Note, Google drive and more! It’s pretty cool. Grab it today and we’ll ship it for free!

[bctt tweet=”Constantly collecting ideas on a regular basis, sets you up to be creative whenever you need it.” username=”lukemcelroy”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”3″][vc_column_text]

Hang out With Other Creatives

I’ll never forget going to a Dave Ramsey event on financial planning and he said this phrase: “if you want to become a millionaire, learn from millionaires, not a poor person who wants to be a millionaire.” How amazingly accurate! If you want to become wealthy, learn from those who have already achieved wealth! The same is true in creativity. If you want to become more creative, then hang out with those you believe are more creative. This will do two things. First – it will help you talk about creativity more and befriend more people who can help you dream, brainstorm and ponder an idea when you’re in a dry season of creative ideas. Second – spending more time with other creatives will make you more creative because inspiration breeds inspiration. And whenever you’re able to be inspired by others, the natural outcome is more creativity. So go break that awkward tension and invite that person who’s also creative in your organization out to lunch. And just start hanging out more!

[bctt tweet=”If you want to become more creative, then hang out with those you believe are more creative. ” username=”lukemcelroy”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”4″][vc_column_text]

Start with a blank page.

My friend Blaine says that creatives must overcome the tension and the fear that exists when they look at a blank page. The fear of having to create actually prevents you from creating. I know that sounds crazy, but how many times have you placed yourself in a situation to have to create from absolute nothing? I’d like to propose that starting with a blank page is a little like going to the creative gym. You always hurt after going to the gym for the first few days or weeks, but eventually it pays off and you find you’ve got muscles you never thought were possible. So this week, and every week after, take out a blank page and try to create something from nothing. For some of you it will be a new set design, others it could be a script for an opening moment in a service. Others – it will just be a series of random doodles that may eventually lead to something. Here’s the trick; just create for you, not a deadline, a project or a purpose. You don’t go to the gym to run the marathon…. you go to the gym to prepare your body to be able to run the marathon later. SO don’t expect the first day with the blank paper to be easy, but keep pushing through and start crating more.

[bctt tweet=”So this week, and every week after, take out a blank page and try to create something from nothing. ” username=”lukemcelroy”][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There you have it, four ways to be more creative. They may not all produce immediate results, but I’m convinced that each of these strategies have allowed me to become more creative over time. As rare as it to win the lottery and become an overnight millionaire, there’s no such thing as the creative lottery. The best way to accomplish creative success is slowing but persistently working on becoming more creative. Every day do something. Challenge yourself and step into the unknown more often.

When you’re okay with bad ideas, you collect ideas when you don’t need them, you befriend other creatives and you overcome the fear of the unknown idea, you’ll begin to unlock the potential of your own creativity.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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A Guide for Planning Events

kamil_hopeware — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 03:42:58 +0000

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When it comes to planning events, details are everything. And if you work at a church, you may be needing to begin the process of planning an event. Contrary to popular belief, planning events can actually be a pretty painless as long as there’s a streamlined process in place. Hopefully this can be a great guide for you before you begin. .

“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. “Which road do I take?” she asked. “Where do you want to go?” was his response. “I don’t know,” Alice answered. “Then..” said the cat, “it doesn’t matter.”

– Alice in Alice in Wonderland

A good plan is necessary to make sure that your event is meeting your objectives and that you don’t spend needless time and budget when you don’t need to.

When we begun planning SALT Conference, we started with our Vision and Purpose for the gathering. But for most Creatives that is where the planning stops, and we hope that the rest of the details will magically come together. After years of doing the conference we have come up with a process that works really well for our team and may work well for you too in planning events in your church. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”1″][vc_column_text]

Write the Vision.

Go ahead and sit down with a cup of coffee, allowing yourself to simply dream. In this state you’ll figure out your vision statement and explore the purpose of the gathering. Why am I having this event? Who do I want to invite? What do I want to say? Is the theme? Do I have speakers in mind? etc. Then try to envision the outcome of the event. How do I want the attendees to feel? How do I want the event to look from a design or atmosphere standpoint? Write everything down. Our team uses Evernote, Google Docs and I write a ton down on the trusty yellow pad.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”2″][vc_column_text]

Write out the Goals.

We use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound). During this process, I ask myself what I want as the outcome? And I work my goals from there. Are there a number of tickets you want to sell, or if you aren’t charging admission, is there a number of attendees you want in the room? It’s good to identify the steps to achieve the goals as well. For our team we create milestones or markers so that I am constantly moving toward the end result without getting overwhelmed. So if my goal is to have 400 people at my event then I might make a goal of getting 100 people signed up by a certain date and continue in that pattern until the event date.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”3″][vc_column_text]

Organize the team and define roles.

You can’t do it by yourself. Repeat that to yourself aloud.

Recruit a group of people that will lead areas that you have outlined. The Event Director will be in charge of making sure everyone is communicating process and giving appropriate updates. Ultimately, the you want each area to have a focus person which alleviates stress for the Event Director and gives them margin to keep everyone on task and to make sure that the calendar objectives are being met.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”4″][vc_column_text]

List every details.

“If you fail to plan, your plan will fail.” As cliché as it is, it’s true. When I get ready for an event I think through the event from the first minute to the last. Will food be offered? Are their activities for attendees? What speakers do we want at the event? How will we design the lobby or registration experiences? Will there be a store? What printed materials do we need? You get the point, but the list goes on and ultimately this list, will become the giant list of all the tasks that need to be completed.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”5″][vc_column_text]

Create a Detailed Budget.

If planning all of the details isn’t exhausting enough, figuring out the budget is by far the most laborious process you will endure. Identify and record all of the areas of your event that may cost money and then do some research to find out the actual (or close estimate) cost associated with each item. This is where having a team will help, you can have them do research and submit what they feel would be a fair budget for their area. Pro Tip: Your budget should align with your goals![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”6″][vc_column_text]

Create a detailed timeline.

Work backwards. Start from the day of the event and work all the way to present day. It helps to see how much time is needed to allow for each task. Mark deadlines and milestones.

DEADLINES are dates that MUST be met (ex: booklet prin ting, flights booked, food ordered by, t-shirts confirmed, etc). MILESTONES are flexible, and can be adjusted based on the rest of the details (marketing plans, social media announcements, design details, etc). However, don’t be too flexible with milestones or they will become another deadline.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”7″][vc_column_text]

Begin Marketing the Event.

There is so much work that goes into planning events but it is all useless if no one attends. A good marketing plan is crucial to getting people to your event. When building your marketing plan, lay out the HOW of your plan, but don’t neglect to write out the WHY of the plan. This will provide purpose to all the details and this practice caused me to really focus on objectives, goals and the importance of making sure we have a great marketing plan.

ProTip: Think in stages or phases when it comes to laying out your marketing plan. How do you ensure that you can expose your audience to the right information during the right phase to not overwhelm them, but constantly build excitement and awareness?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][luv_dropcaps style=”luv-dropcaps-square” font_family=”Poppins” color_scheme=”default” letter=”8″][vc_column_text]

Evaluate and Debrief.

I know, I know…it seems like once the event is over then we would be “over” talking about it but this step is a must. If you want people to continue coming or create a better event, then you must allow for the core team members to get together and have an honest discussion about what worked and what didn’t. We’re not playing the blame game in this moment, but allowing for evaluation of what was successful and what failed, so we can learn from these mistakes together. Leaders are learners and you can’t learn and get better if you don’t know what needs to be improved. I can’t urge you enough: Don’t skip this step.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Event planning can be a tedious and timely process, but I promise that the more detailed your plan ahead of time, the easier it becomes to execute your event. Let us know what sort of things you’ve learned planning events![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1486579867689{background-color: rgba(232,232,33,0.32) !important;*background-color: rgb(232,232,33) !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1487010390148{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;}”]EXCLUSIVE RESOURCE:
Want our free Event Checklist of every element of putting together a conference? Simply click here and we’ll send it to you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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