Revolution Church
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| The P.A. script for Vanderbilt vs. Troy |
I sat down at Memorial Gym the day before Halloween, 2015, to audition for the job of public address announcer for the Vanderbilt Commodores.
The question was asked, "how do you do following a script and reading what is prepared for you?" I chuckled, knowing that as a P.A. announcer for high school for many years, there are no scripts, producers and programs. Most of the timing, music and words are done by our own preparation. It's truly an ad-lib job with personal production, many times choosing my own music, writing my own sponsor announcements and typing my own script.
My answer was simple: "So you mean, I just have to show up and talk? That's easy."
I've spent my life talking -- too much. But it is the gift God has awarded me, and I am thankful that at times I have been able to use it for the purpose of telling about Jesus. So is the power of the tongue, though, our greatest mistakes can also happen with the same tools of our greatest strengths. For out of the mouth comes blessing and cursing, and all of us have experienced the joy and failure of each.
Why? Because we go off script.
What is the script? For a follower of Christ, it is the Bible, the written, breathed, inspired Word of God. For an announcer, the script is the paid advertisements, special recognitions and timed production set for a specific purpose to be used throughout the course of the event.
I just completed my first season as the public address announcer for Vanderbilt Men's and Women's Basketball with 35 home games between both teams. All but two of those games involved the home team, plus two games in a holiday tournament round robin with Ohio, Indiana and Austin Peay. I am proud to say that in 35 games, we stayed on the script. I was able to perform with excellence because of the preparation of our team, many times working long hours before the production ever goes live in the gym.
There were moments of tension. The men's game versus Austin Peay featured four head sets and three microphones. The women's game with Mississippi State had no producer in my ears until 20 seconds before the national anthem. I almost missed the women's game versus Presbyterian with a wonderful traffic jam in downtown Nashville on Monday morning at Demonbreun Street. Senior night for the women was done without any contact with producers and cameras.
I once hit the wrong button and talked to my producer over the air into the gym during live action. I left my headset one halftime versus Georgia and missed my cue for the video board highlights.
But each time there was an issue, revert back to the script. That is the fallback. If "man-made" moments fail, go back to the preparation. Stick to the script and that is the most fool-proof way to be successful.
The steps of being prepared are: 1. Review the script. 2. Check your input. 3. Check your output (sound check). 4. Mark your timing. 5. Adjust to the game. 6. Be sharp and on point during ad-lib situations. 7. Finish well. 8. Say thank you for a job well done.
Let's apply this to our daily lives. Before you use your voice, stay on the script.
- Review the Script - have a daily quiet time to read God's word.
- Check your Input - check the voices coming into your head and eliminate noises which should not be there like negative influences, chatter, unnecessary elements.
- Check your Output - let your voice be heard at the proper time, the proper way and be sure to push the right buttons at the right time. Check your volume, adjust the controls and be professional.
- Mark your Timing - Always know when the right time to say the right thing exists and do more listening than talking to others.
- Adjust to the Game - In live action, always play by the rules. Don't say things which don't belong and never put yourself above the action. Let God shine in YOUR story, not YOU shine in God's story.
- Be Sharp and On-Point - Elevate your game when the pressure is on and blend into God's glory with the team and the purpose as the primary point.
- Finish Well - Don't slack off when the game gets long. When life throws curveballs, stay on point. Let your frustration point you to success, not slack you into failure.
- Say Thank You - Spend time daily thanking God for living in your story and blessing you above what you deserve.
To the men and women who work production for a basketball game all the time, being there might have seemed like a job to do, but for a kid turned man who sat in the rafters as a fan, this was a dream come true and I pray for an opportunity to come back next year.
This was not just a job, I saw it as more. I was a complement to a bigger story. The bigger story was the team.
And signing off each game, we all told each other "Good job," and "thank you" even when the night might not have been the best.
My prayer life sometimes has to be like that too. I have to approach God on days when I know I did not live up to his production. But because of the preparation He has made for me, I can end the story with a job well done, even by His grace that is greater than my failures.
So to my colleagues - Aimee, Stephen, Katie, Jay, Rick, Dean, Travis, Doug, Brady, Warren, Milton and more - thank you for a job well done. You prepared a great script and a great table, I am thankful to get to be the voice.
Even if I never deserved to shine, may the people who did the hard work get the glory.
Just like God, who wrote the script, deserves all our praise. When you mess up in life, use your voice for repentance, and go back and read what He has written.
It's amazing how the script is always on time, always on point, and always on the mark.
AnchorDown. Live.Love.Serve.
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I love you, and these are my thoughts.
Pastor K
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