Question for church players.

TobyPro4 · #1 04-14-2007, 04:24 PM

Do you get the same kick out of gigging with your band in a bar/music venue that you get out of playing in church?

bassgruvn · #2 04-14-2007, 04:26 PM

For me they are not even in the same ballpark.
Church flat out rocks.

I do enjoy playing out, but for a true beliver I do think there is no greater joy then to give back your talent to God.

TobyPro4 · #3 04-14-2007, 04:30 PM

So is it the spiritual aspect that makes it better for you Midmoto, not necessarily any musical difference between the two?

scuba steve · #4 04-14-2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midmoto

For me they are not even in the same ballpark.
Church flat out rocks.

I do enjoy playing out, but for a true beliver I do think there is no greater joy then to give back your talent to God.

i could not have said it better.

kynoch · #5 04-15-2007, 06:16 AM

I actually don't like playing in Church I often don't like the music and find I am bored.....when playing!!

This is something I have faced for ages. I think alot of the music sucks....

and I am a believer....maybe its just me.

elros · #6 04-15-2007, 06:29 AM

I think it depends on where one has ones identity: if you're in it for the music primarily, I can understand that a church gig can be boring. But, if the motivation is praising God (as it ought to be IMO) the church gig can be amazingly kicking, so to speak, even if the musical bit isn't very exciting.
Me, I dig playing for worship etc. at church; alas I don't have a steady worship gig at this time....

Low Song · #7 04-15-2007, 06:37 AM

I suppose it depends on the goals of the music. One of the church praise bands that I played with in the past tailored the worship service and music to a congregation that found praise both through the music and the singing. The styles we covered were more varied (rock, country, polka, jazz) and offered a different experience than what one might consider current P&W music.

Currently I play with a different church (moved to a new town) in a much "younger" (formed in the last 1.5 years) P&W service. Even getting the congregation to accept something not out of a hymnal has been challenging. As a result, all of us (except the pianist, who leads the conventional services as well) follow the K.I.S.S. principle and play as supporting characters for the lead on the piano.

While I greatly enjoy (and benefitted spiritually/psychologically) from playing in both churches, the music in the former setting was more fun to play. Back then, gigging in church could be as challenging and fun as any bar gig. Now, I gig for the fellowship and the congregational praise experience. The challenging and finger-rewarding music happens before and after rehearsal when we're just jamming.

Solid Rock, baby!

Dr. Cheese · #8 04-15-2007, 08:13 AM

Playing in church is a great joy for me! I'm getting ready to play for the Youth Choir this morning. As a Christian and as an older person, I enjoy being a role model for kids. I also really enjoy the energy that children have. I guess I'm a kid at heart because I sure enjoy the energy of that music!

DocBop · #9 04-15-2007, 11:42 AM

Music and Spirituality are one. I love the Gospel at Worship and Praise of my church, and I attend the Jazz Vespers service at another church. I listen to Indian and other World music since music and spirituality are so intertwined their music. Music is another way to express what can not be expresed in words.

DubBeats CB · #10 04-15-2007, 04:22 PM

if you are i think you are doing it for the wrong reasons

BassSlave · #11 04-15-2007, 05:48 PM

We had this conversation today after one of the two churches I play for. I find that it can be (but not always) more gratifying, not only giving your talent back to the source as well as playing totally from the heart and soul and not so much from the mind. I also like to add that in church you are not going to get cussed out about playing out of the pocket. I tend to play melody, reharmonize with the choir, as well as comp chords and lots of tidbits that would surely get me fired from any other gig. I still hold the groove down most of the times, but say you want to drop out for 24 bars to add excitement to the groove, you can. Say if you want to jump on drums if the drummer has to go to the washroom or leave early, you can. Say you want to play the pedals on the B3, you can, but you better be holdin' it down on the B3, that is where Christians draw the line, I think.

FretlessArt · #12 04-15-2007, 06:32 PM

I've been playing in church for 12 years. There have been times when I have felt the way you do, and I have been down on the skill of the other musicians.

Last year I learn a great lesson when I had to put down the bass, and pick up an acoustic guitar to become the song service leader for a season. I am not a guitarist or a good singer. I was being streatched to do something new for the Lord, beyond my abilities. This is where I discovered what it means to worship.

In my private rehearsal time The Lord meet me where I was and in learning the songs I begain to connect with what they were about. Sure its easy to perform them as a seasoned bass player, but now I had to sing them, and lead a group of people into the Throne room of God, while playing an unfamiliar 6 string guitar. I also had strewardship of leading the other musician to place of true worship.

When we did the service, I played poorly, I sang poorly, But I never felt closer to God in my life. That was the Holy Spirit Worshipping through me and the others in the group.

I learned that we cannot enter into true worship on our own. We need to prepare our hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to bear witness of Jesus Christ through us, in His power. Not our own power.

You my friend feel the way you do because you are performing under your own ability. The next step is to let go of that and ask God to give you a heart of worship under his power and authority. Then you will connect with the songs.

Rattman · #13 04-15-2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midmoto

For me they are not even in the same ballpark.
Church flat out rocks.

I do enjoy playing out, but for a true beliver I do think there is no greater joy then to give back your talent to God.

Its been too long ago that I've had a paid gig. So all of my playing is pro bono. I'd also have to say that playing in church is satisfying, plus I have no qualms about playing for 'free'...as my reward for this is forthcoming and earning interest daily

willrwilli · #14 04-15-2007, 07:10 PM

I have played exclusively in church for the last 15 years, and there is nothing like it. No cigarette smoke, no fear of spilled drinks on equipment, do drunks falling on equipment, no equipment to move after each gig, and never having to deal with a hostile audience. All of these add up to a great experience. I just feel like that is where I am supposed to be at this point in my life.

markjazzbassist · #15 04-15-2007, 07:22 PM

i enjoy both. i think each one has a different "feel" to it. Church is more about using your talent to lift up God and worship which is amazing. Bar playing is all about just having fun and that's good too.

jrthebassguy · #16 04-15-2007, 07:30 PM

I didn't like playing in the church - I felt like my playing was scrutinized more there.

With my secular band I can be a sloppy, dirty shaggy-haired rocker.

Mad Tango · #17 04-15-2007, 07:35 PM

I have been playing in church for about 17 years. I don't even think about playing anywhere else other than church or some sort of christian outreach. I am not saying I would not play other than these two settings, however; I just dont get interested in anything else.

SGT. Pepper · #18 04-25-2007, 12:11 PM

I love playing for the Lord! God Rules!

CraigG · #19 04-25-2007, 12:20 PM

My "outside of church" band is an all original Christian rock band that plays all sorts of family-friendly venues. So, yeah, even though the venues are different, for me, nothing compares to using my talents for my Creator's work whether it's inside or outside the walls of a church.

rpatter · #20 04-25-2007, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigG

My "outside of church" band is an all original Christian rock band that plays all sorts of family-friendly venues. So, yeah, even though the venues are different, for me, nothing compares to using my talents for my Creator's work whether it's inside or outside the walls of a church.

+1

Playing in a Christian band is awesome. Especially when we do worship. It's like the best of both worlds! Still, I can totally understand both the people that think there is nothing better than playing in church and those having bad experiences. I've been on worship teams that were awesome and those that were nothing but frustration.

My current church has a very large team with different people playing every week. The worship pastor has tried to make the team as inclusive as possible (without overly affecting the quality). The end result is that some weekends I'm playing with strong musicians and other weekends I may be playing with weaker musicians.

I find that although I can still experience a degree of worship with a weak band, I am much more distracted when I'm playing. When I'm paired with a weak drummer I have to work harder to maintain (or establish) the groove. If we have an inexperienced worship leader, I have to really stay alert for abrupt verse/chorus/bridge transitions. In the end, the congregation worships, but for me it be comes a "your mileage may vary" experience. Sometimes it's great, sometimes it sucks.

Ralf