Jon Burnett - Multimedia Q & A
Posted by David | Posted on 4:57 PM
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Jon Burnett is a guy you should get to know a bit if you haven't. Week in and week out Jon serves consistently with excellence behind the dual multimedia computer screens. He's been serving up there since we used actual, literal slides - with a slide projector.
I asked Jon if I could ask him a few questions to share with the rest of the group. His answers blew me away - both with his wit and numbered lists. If you serve up in the multimedia booth, I STRONGLY suggest adopting Jon's procedures and approach. It will serve you well.
Jon Burnett
- Spouse’s Name: Bonnie
- Years Married: 36
- Children/Grandchildren: 1 son
- Occupation(s): 1973 – 1990 sawmill worker, 1990 – 2009 systems analyst, 2009 to present Field Operations supervisor, U.S. Census Bureau
- Hobbies: Weight lifting, fishing, RC airplanes
- Computer Experience: Been programming since hexadecimal was the “hot new thing”.
- Favorite Drink from Starbucks: 5 shot vente americano
- Something Interesting about You: Google “U.S. Patent 5,878,509” for my claim to fame.
Be prepared, be flexible, be invisible. (If you are noticed you’ve goofed up)
When do you arrive on Sunday mornings?
Between 8 and 8:05 depending on the line at Starbucks.
Do you have any rituals or procedures when you arrive?
- Check media-shout against printed order of service to make sure everything is there.
- Add, delete, or arrange slides so that the space bar and scroll wheel are the only things I need to use during the service.
- Write notes on the order of service regarding number of measures in each intro and solo so that I can cue the next slide about one measure early.
- Pre-view any videos for sound level and to see how they transition to the next media-shout object.
- Test sermon power-point to see which slides require single or double taps to get from blank title screens to desired text. Make notes on script for reminder.
What do you do if the pastor or worship leader deviates from the script? How do you follow?
During the music I try to keep the current slide in the center of the screen so if I need to click again on a previous slide or skip to a later one they are in view.
During the sermon I try to listen carefully for hints on where the pastor is headed, while simultaneously reading ahead about half a page in the notes. Again I try to keep the current slide centered so I can move quickly if needed.
What do you do to close up shop in the booth?
- Shut down main projector.
- Shut down Eike [vocal confidence projector].
- Close solitaire and other running programs.
- Shut down computer.
- Turn out the light.
- Fall down the stairs.
Don’t panic and don’t think about mistakes any longer than it takes to correct them. My goal is always to run a perfect presentation but in over 10 years of working in the booth that has only happened about twice. In spite of the mistakes I have yet to be attacked by mobs of pitchfork wielding parishioners, so I come back again on my next Sunday and try again for the perfect service.
