Comments on: Pet peeve of the day

By: studio chick

studio chick — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:56:15 +0000

The Crabb Family had screens and video when I saw them back in 1999 or 2000. I think they were the first SG group to have media. It was sparsely used, and I thought it was nice. I have been to see groups that thought more is good. Crabb Family seemed to think less is more.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:34:26 +0000

I remember Gold City using the projector at a show in Anderson, IN, in 2000. It was at the time that “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” was released.

They put on a three hour show that night, and not one bit of it was distracting.

By: gospelman21

gospelman21 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:40:47 +0000

I enjoy the videos and the Talley one with Jake Hess is a neat video and cool with him singing on the song with them.

Another one from the past is Mike Bowlings video on the song “Thank God for the Preacher”.

By: wackythinker

wackythinker — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:15:57 +0000

The biggest complaint I have with The Hoppers’ video presentation is that it appears to be nothing more than an infomercial. Or at least the one I saw at NQC last year was. It was footage from the recent videos they had for sale, even to the point of having the title of which video it was from along the bottom of the screen. And when they interspersed it with live feed, it was quite confusing. To me, at least.

Was it live, or was it Memorex?

At least when Gaither does it, it’s during a tribute to some of the singers who’ve passed away.

By: Faith

Faith — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:52:26 +0000

Multimedia? This is nothing new, folks. Anyone else remember when Gold City did the song “Only God Knows”? I went to a GC concert in the early ’90’s and they had a whole montage of pictures of kids laughing and playing during that song…
It was very touching, and obviously tied into the song.

By: apathetic

apathetic — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:59:06 +0000

#13, you are more on point than I. I wasn’t saying that secular or contemporary acts were using glorified powerpoint presentations in concert. I simply meant the use of visual aides or implementations to enhance the concert experience. Most of your Southern Gospel acts, even those we would consider succesful, can’t touch the kind of budget that it takes Keith Urban or Brad Paisley to do their multimedia show. They are working with what they can afford. They are playing a 2,000 seat church, at best, not a 20,000 seat arena.

By: buttercup

buttercup — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:48:32 +0000

bqb,
Open Thread is still open
qbb
2 pieces of advice for you …
bbq,
Spelled it right once, din’t I?

By: Chuck Stevens

Chuck Stevens — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:10:50 +0000

I often wonder if anyone else notices this but me. When karen Peck sings “Four days late” the guy who plays Jesus played on the HBO series “Six feet under” he has played some pretty seedy parts on tv. He is just an actor, but that’s all i could think of when i see that video in concert. I only watch the screen more if my seat is farther back. otherwise i watch the stage.

By: Dexter

Dexter — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:04:32 +0000

Well..as a solo artist I find screens very helpful…I don’t care how good a voice you have…a solo artist on stage singing to tracks is the most BORING thing on earth…I don’t care who you are…Sandi Patty traveled with a nice multimedia set up on her Hymns tour and it was awesome…and like a previous poster said..people will complain about ANYTHING! Bunch of old ladies!!

By: bbq

bbq — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:23:22 +0000

It’s amazing that Southern Gospel even exists today with as many gripers as we have that seem to follow the genre. Blame the Hoppers? For what? For some second rate group’s attempt to be like them? For some group’s poorly done video?

HEY CLUADE! Yeah….they’re talking to you…..it’s your fault Claude that “Po Dunk Trio” decided to work up some shoddy video. How dare you Cluade!!!

C’mon Doug! Give us all a break! Get off your high horse. If someone doesn’t like what someone else is doing I’ve two pieces of advice for you: 1) don’t go back to their concert 2) get off your booty and do something better. If you can’t then shut your mouth and vote with your feet!

I’ve personally been to The Hoppers concert and The Talleys concert where both groups used video. I liked them both. I thought they were done tastefully and complimented the song and singers. I guess I would though since I’m half the age of the average Southern Gospel Concert attendee. I’ve got a couple of questions for you to pose in your next open thread, Doug. “What will the complaint department look like in Heaven?”…and…”How long do you think line will be when we get there?”

By: Eric Kaunitz

Eric Kaunitz — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:52:01 +0000

We have to face the fact that we live in a visual world. We don’t live in the world of radio anymore. Studies have shown that most people, and NOT just the young, respond more to visual imagery then ever before. It used to be fine for a male quartet to stand flat-footed around one mic and just sing. Now days we wouldn’t pay to go see two hours of that, although it is nice to see a group do that for a couple song just to be retro. We as SG lovers are always talking about a group or person’s stage presents…isn’t that just another form of ‘eye-candy’?
Just because a few people have a problem with the reality of the Crucifixion (in reference to the “Mel Gibson’s crucifixion porn Passion of the Christ” comment), doesn’t mean that most others aren’t touched by it. These types of images can and do have a profound impact on people and can enhance the Gospel message…if it’s done right. I will agree that media can be a turn-off if done poorly or too much. You must select your moments carefully…and before you do it, be sure you choose the right software and know how to use the software. Just because you can insert a picture into a PowerPoint slideshow doesn’t mean that you are the next Hollywood movie producer.

And, by the way, Mel Gibson does or did have a package that churches and other ministries could buy and publically show. So don’t just assume or imply that a group is being unlawful when showing it. The bias is just too obvious.

By: Not Ernie Haase

Not Ernie Haase — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:35:00 +0000

I saw Gold City use a powerpoint presentation once, but they only did it during “Preach the Word” and the screen was dark before and after that one song.

By: Jason K

Jason K — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:33:23 +0000

I’m sure the misspelling of “Ezekiel” would drive anyone insane, leaving them with a wreathing headache….?

By: Casually Unobservant

Casually Unobservant — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:24:07 +0000

I don’t know that the contemporary or secular acts are copying the cheesy powerpoint thing, or at least I haven’t seen many of them. I’ve seen them use the actual music videos (not ripped-off Hollywood footage) on occasion, but most are investing in light arrays, fog machines, pyrotechnics (in the bigger arenas), and (gasp) live musicians. If they do have video screens, they’ll run a live video feed of the stage to the screen so people in the nosebleeds can see the show.

By: apathetic

apathetic — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:45:38 +0000

Once again, this is an appeal to a younger audience. Secular music has been doing this for over a decade with much success. Some SG acts are just trying to enhance the concert experience. It is something that has to be done well. But I suppose that most of the old cratchety crowd would still gripe and whine about it then too.

By: Diva0427

Diva0427 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:24:34 +0000

And I cannot spell today…there is a RIGHT way, not write. My bad.

By: Diva0427

Diva0427 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:21:54 +0000

There is a write way and a very WRONG way to use media during a concert setting. Unfortunately, people do not take the time to educate themselves on the proper use of media. I say this b/c I did media for our church for a number of years, and it burns me up every time it isn’t done correctly. If you want to use a video/picture behind your song, make sure that it adds and not detracts. Case in Point: As much as I LOVE the song “Preach the Word” by Gold City, the video that they used to go with it SUCKS. But that’s just IMHO. It is not at all well made, and when they start flashing pictures up of pastors that have gone on to be with the Lord, or are still out there preaching, it really made no sense with the song. I mean, I get it…but it was extremely distracting. And folks, when using Power Point, QUIT with the twirling or animated graphics. Seriously…those aren’t cool.

*stepping down off soap box*

By: GospelMusicFan

GospelMusicFan — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:02:08 +0000

Don’t blame the Hoppers.
They are good people and creative, too.

By: CVH

CVH — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:30:36 +0000

With regard to the use of any copyrighted work, certainly one as prominent as ‘Passion of the Christ’, a licensing agreement and usage fee would absolutely have to be in place for any clips to be used legally. Let’s hope the Hoppers did it the right way.

It’s no different than local churches using clips from TV shows or films as sermon illustrations, etc. They often claim the ‘fair use’ exception in the copyright law. But ‘fair use’ does not cover many of the ways churches (or groups) often use copyrighted material, and the notion that they would have to seek permission and possibly pay royalties either doesn’t occur to them or is a legality they blithely ignore because, as I’ve heard it put several times, “we’re doing it for the Lord.” Tell that to the $250 an hour LA lawyers who come knocking on your door with a copyright infringement suit. A simple C&D letter may work but often I’ve seen Christian entities thumb their nose at copyright issues as though they’re somehow above the law. It’s especially ironic in the case of groups who then get mad at people who burn copies of their product for friends, etc.

By: St

St — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:36:04 +0000

This reminds me of what a former Kingsmen musician told me. He said the Goodmens used to come on with the house lights off and using spotlights. Then when Hamil and the Kingsmen hit the stage, Hamil would say, “Turn the house lights on and turn off that spotlight; this ain’t no night club!”

I agree that the whole powerpoint presentation is annoying. It is especially annoying when the singers are singing with dead singers on the video.

Full-time singers are singing so much that they get bored with their own program and the programs of other groups that are doing the same things basically. So they come up with these “cool ideas” that makes them different and stand out. BUT - when everybody starts doing the latest “cool idea”, we’re back to getting bored with it because we’ve been there and done that — next new side show please!