In summer 2012, Skylark helped People’s Church (Oklahoma City, OK) relaunch their Midwest City campus.  In less than a year of planting their campus, they outgrew it.

The initial AVL design-build and install featured a full facility AVL distribution throughout the auditorium, lobby, bathrooms, and children’s ministry. Phase 2 cut out a wall in the auditorium and moved the entire system into two theaters instead of one.

There is a lot to choose from, so browse the selection at Crown and Aviom and then give us a call at 888-365-7770 or email info@skylarkav.com.

If this sale doesn’t have the gear you need, you can still contact us. We’ve been known to be able to pull off some good gear rates.

There is a lot to choose from, so browse the selection at Avid VENUE and Soundcraft and then give us a call at 888-365-7770 or email info@skylarkav.com.

Let us know if you are looking for something else. We’ve been known to be able to pull off some good gear rates.

There is a lot to choose from, so browse the selection at Jands Vista and CHAUVET and then give us a call at 888-365-7770 or email info@skylarkav.com.

If you need something else, still contact us. We’ve been known to be able to pull off some good gear rates.

There is a lot to choose from, so browse the selection at Vari-Lite and High End Systems and then give us a call at 888-365-7770 or email info@skylarkav.com.

If this sale doesn’t have the gear you need, you can still contact us. We’ve been known to be able to pull off some good gear rates.

Company: Above Ground Lighting and Design, LLC
Twitter: @ronnielights
Established: 14 years ago
Clients: numerous churches and live concerts, including Red (Touring LD) and LifeChurch.tv

What has influenced your work the most?

Because I work heavily in programing and designing live events for the concert, church, and live production fields, I have always tried to look to those on the cutting edge, like Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX) , LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) , or large designers like Willie Williams and Brian Hartley – guys that are really pushing the aspect of what a live event can be and doing things that haven’t been seen before.

What resources have had the biggest impact on your work?

I love the different magazines that are dedicated to our field of work like PLSN, Stage Lighting and Design, Church Production Magazine, and, Professional Lighting and Production. I always read these looking for the newest gear, reading reviews and articles, it helps me decide if I like certain things for my designs, like what fixtures to use and what directions I feel a design needs to go into, also I feel you can never stop learning, our industry moves so fast that the minute you think you know everything, you get left behind, so to me they are valuable just in the continued knowledge of our industry.

How do you approach each new project from start to finish?

First, I look at the project from the outside to see what it is that the project is trying to accomplish. Once I understand the vision, then I go to the drawing board to convey that vision with design. With several ideas to choose from, I work with the client hand-in-hand to make sure it is exactly what they are looking for. I don’t force ideas. If it doesn’t require something, then don’t put it in there. Just because you like something, doesn’t mean that is the right thing for your client.

I believe in being open and honest. If something doesn’t work, I tell them. A lot of times, they see something someone else has done and want that. Unfortunately, it may not work for them, so you have to be willing to let them know why and help them to find what will work for them.

To make sure the final product is exactly what was envisioned, I work with the client from beginning to end. When it requires a larger team, I try to partner with a company I can trust, one that has an incredible track record, like Marcus and Todd from Skylark. They have a lot of the same philosophies as I do on how we treat our clients and attention to detail. This helps everyone involved. I can’t leave a project until my client is 100 percent satisfied.

What do you consider to be the biggest challenge for church worship environments today?

Today one of the biggest challenges I see for church’s is knowledge. I see more and more churches wanting to do what they see in megachurches. But because of lack of knowledge, too many churches end up spending a lot of money on something they didn’t need or on something that is nowhere near the vision they had simply because they didn’t understand or a company came in and told them to spend a lot of money to get something cool and then left them with something that is completely useless to them.

One of my favorite things to do is consulting with churches, simply for the aspect of helping them out by teaching them what to look for, showing them the different options available, and giving them the knowledge to make the right decisions with their money. I get great satisfaction knowing I helped a church make a smart decision and helped them move forward and be satisfied with the product they are getting.

What are some emerging trends that will affect the next era of church worship?

LED, LED, LED. That and video.

Nowadays, churches can get into LED products for such a low price. Something as simple as a few LED’s today can change the entire look of a worship facility, and it can be done for a relatively low cost. LED’s are a great stepping point for churches. They bring in a new aspect for the people to see and allow them to continue to build into what their vision is.

The second thing that is growing extremely fast is the use of video elements. There are so many visual aspects now that can be used either with the low cost of projectors or plasma TV’s. You can incorporate amazing visual elements into you designs. The numerous software options like Pro Presenter or Arkaos and media servers options like Hippotizer and Martin Maxxedia are limited only by your imagination.

What is the best advice you have for those in church technology and worship arts?

Gain as much knowledge as you can before making a decision. Learn all the aspects and options that are available out there. The more you know the less likely someone will take advantage of you. Knowledge is power and with it you can accomplish any vision your church or organization can dream up.

Fortunately, Jands Vista is releasing a series of training videos to help fast-track your learning about their console basics and much more. Below are a few of our favorites.

Learning the Interface

Tour the Vista v2 Interface and learn how to access the software’s operational modes and a few tricks to guide you around the console.

Choosing Fixtures

In the Fixture Chooser window you select fixtures as icons, and apply settings using Vista’s graphical user interface. Of course, if you prefer it, the Vista still has a command line interface.

Controlling Fixtures

Once you have your layouts arranged, you can start programming your fixtures and get those amazing looks you have been thinking of. It’s easy to create complex and impressive lighting looks using this application.

Don’t forget to view the rest of the training videos on Jands Vista’s website.

There is a lot to choose from, so browse the selection at DPA and Sennheiser and then give us a call at 888-365-7770 or email info@skylarkav.com.

If you need something else, you can still contact us. We’ve been known to be able to pull off some good gear rates.

Cafe Evoke (Edmond, OK) began as a catering company but quickly transitioned to a full-time coffee shop to meet the daily demand for their locally famous coffee.

In spring 2012, after taking over a vacant travel agency in the heart of downtown Edmond, Cafe Evoke contacted Skylark to design and build an audio visual system to accentuate their modern vibe and accommodate events, such as regional coffee competitions.

To give them versatility, Skylark created 6 zones throughout the store equipped with JBL Control CRV speakers and controlled wirelessly by a Nuvo Music System via iPad.

Behind the bar, is a TV wired for sports, entertainment, or even a live video feed with overhead shots of the coffee competitions. This feed can also be sent out to any of the 6 zones to create a custom experience for each occasion.

The Gear

• Nuvo Grand Essentia is the brain behind the operations.
• Nuvo Music Port controls it all.
• Nuvo in-ceiling speakers cover the patio and hallways.
• JBL Control CRV speakers cover the audio for the 6 primary zones.

Photos courtesy of Cafe Evoke.

There is a lot to choose from, so browse the selection at Aviom and then give us a call at 888-365-7770 or email info@skylarkav.com.

If this 2 week sale doesn’t have the gear you need, you can still contact us. We’ve been known to be able to pull off some good gear rates.