Philip Bailey

My church used to have about half the congregation who listened, ther rest waddled in to coffee or out the west door, mostly quietly. About 3 months ago the Rector decided to end applause at the end of the voluntary, and told the congregation not to. Since that date the conversation has become noisier... I also play at another, very resonant, church where the organ is high above the chancel on the south side. The console is at the east end of the north aisle. The other end of the south aisle is the main door, about 150 feet away. Usually the Vicar stands there, drowning the organ for the organist with ease. Does anyone have a cure for an overloud Vicar?