At a church where I used to "sub" regularly they often had "start-up" problems. The organist had to look
around one side of the console to see if the procession was ready to begin at the back of the church.
There is a signal light which is never used and attempts to remind them to use it, failed. This church
has quite a few problems of this sort!
We have signal light which we sometimes use. However, our Masses are normally started by the cantor from the lectern when he/she announces the opening hymn.
Is there a "Menschenstimme" stop on your organ? VF had one placed in the Swell division at Riverside Church. He and
GDH collaborated on certain things and disagreed on others. It was never a handy or easy console to navigate and
all the stories about VF and hymn volume, etc. are quite humorous.
"Is there a Menschenstimme stop on your organ?"
Yes, there is indeed! The pipes are actually a vintage Moller Vox Humana on 5 inches of wind. (Most of the organ is on 3-1/2 to 4 inches WC.)
Years ago I played a magnificent IV/100 Casavant where they went out of their way to make all of the stop names as German as possible. I liked this idea and carried it over to our church's organ. This stop name does indeed generate some comments. Recently, a choir member was helping me touch up a few reed stops and when he positioned himself at the Menschenstimme rank he said: "Oh, it's a Vox Humana!"
(LOL!)
At my church, the organ is in a balcony opposite from the chancel, so the procession begins directly below me. I usually ask one of the choristers to walk a bit down the aisle, talk halfheartedly to a few of the churchgoers, and while walking back, give a passing look up towards me. That's my signal that I have one minute left. She hasn't messed up yet.
What about a car horn? Should get their attention... Seriously, if that's your only problem.
How about an organ "party horn" - decibel level about that of a diaphone fog horn on the GG bridge!
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