Knowing the equipment on stage is crucial for your success on a worship team.  If you think you’re just there to sing and you don’t need to know something about microphones, you’re wrong.  Knowing the difference between an omni-directional mic and a mic with a hyper-cardiod pattern is as important for a singer as knowing the difference between an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar is for a guitarist.

If you know what kind of microphone you are singing into, it will help you utilize it properly.  How close should I hold this mic to my lips?  Why is there feedback with my microphone, but not with someone elses?  Knowing just the basics about microphones will help you answer these types of questions and improve your overall capabilities as a vocalist.

Your monitor mix is not there for you to listen to the song.  It is there to help you perform your part in the song.  You shouldn’t set your monitor mix so that the music sounds good - you should mix the song so as to help you do your job.  This may mean cutting out some of the parts all together or having one or two parts noticably louder than the rest of the mix.  You are the first priority in your monitor mix.  You must be able to hear yourself.  But, beware - this fact doesn’t necesarily mean that you should turn yourself up!  Turn the rest of the parts down.  Your ears will thank you later in life.