Let me set the stage (apologies to those who already know how this works).

The Easter Choral Eucharist starts with a procession to the Great Doors at the back of the Cathedral. There the procession stops and all is silent. Then we hear three sharps knocks on the door -

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

The Great Doors are swung open revealing the Bishop in full regalia and staff. He moves forward to the Baptismal Font steps.

At this point I am ready for my first cue of the service. My instructions for the cue are to "not worry about over-micing this; it is a moment that should sound big!"

When you say something like this to a soundman, you'll oftentimes see a slight smile spread across their face, a slight swell in their breathing, an increased excitement to their countenance.

After all, it's what we do.

"You want it Big? I can give you Big!"

So back to our story:

The Bishop steps up to the Baptismal Font and exclaims: "Christ has risen!"

I can just imagine the Bishop and the Soundman both thinking, as the Bishop approaches the steps, just one word - BIG.

I didn't have an SPL meter handy, but my estimation would be a peak of around 100dB.

Rock and rollers among us would perhaps say, "Dude, I eat 100dB for breakfast!" To which I would reply (in a slightly elevated voice), "Yeah, man, and you're deaf as well".

Let me just say that 100dB is loud, and when a short burst of such level rings through the granite magnificence of Grace Cathedral, only dying away after many seconds, it is an awesome thing indeed!

Near me I heard a man utter under his breath "Jesus Christ!" as the force of the proclamation hit him.

I can see it now, the triumvirate - The Bishop, God, and the Soundman - winning lives for Jesus!

Or at least scaring the hell out them.