Oxforddictionaries.com defines dead time as Time in which someone or something is inactive or unable to act productively.
How does dead time affect worship services?
Dead time kills the flow of the service. It steals the connections between the service elements. It destroys meaningful moments in worship. It causes individuals to become disengaged from what is happening onstage.
Dead time is the devil.
People are used to seeing excellent presentations with quick, easy to understand transitions. The existence of dead time in services makes people think the worship leader, speaking team, and tech team aren’t prepared. This leads them to wonder if what we’re doing is worth their time.
Is there a way to kill dead time?
The best way to kill dead time is to be prepared and even over prepared for every transition taking place in a worship service. You do this by mentally and verbally practicing each transition yourself and then talking through the order of service with your onstage, tech and production teams. When this happens, the potential for dead time is drastically reduced, participants are better prepared for every element of the service, and people are more likely to stay engaged.
JohnJFrady.com 
Great point! When I go to other services this is the one thing that stands out, dead time. Unfortunately, those times do come across as unproductive. I do appreciate how our team is meticulous in planning. I think there is something divine (or getting close to it) when that level of planning is going on.
On another note, I also consider this with my own time/life and kids. Perhaps I considered it idle time, but it helps shape how I view it and plan activities.
Thanks for your comment, Mike. Good thoughts there.