Church Bassist Getting Paid??

GODSENT · #1 04-03-2007, 09:14 AM

do you think its right?? how much o you get paid(if you are willing to disclose that information). let me start off. i do get paid to play for my church. it has a membership of 11,000 active members. for a "part time" salary of 17,000 a year, i do 2 services, 2 rehearsals during the week( one which alternates between Tuesday and Thursday and one musicians rehearsal on Friday).whenever there are extra activities for the church( ie conference's, church outings)i must be there. our rehearsals are from 6 to 9, and Sunday services are 8:30 and 11:00. and surprisingly to some people who will read this, i feel i don't get paid enough to do what i do. and honestly the only reason i am considered part time is because they don't require the bass player to do wendsday services and funerals.

i am expecting this to be tense because i have posted this subject before...

stedtale · #2 04-03-2007, 09:21 AM

I personally do not get paid at my own church, but I do sometimes get paid a small "honorarium" if I play at other churches. I do not expect to get paid, but I will accept it on occasion.

Personally, I want my playing to be me giving back to God just a small portion of what he has given me thru Jesus. And, while I do like the occasional bump in my income, I do not always need it. God has a way of arranging it just right-every time.

As for other musicians getting paid, I think it is totally up to that person and God. Do we expect our pastors to work for free, or our administrators, or others in the church? Not necessarily. There are plenty of paid positions within the church, and rightfully so - it's a lot of work. My wife is the worship coordinator at our church, she schedules musicians, gets all the music/powerpoint ready and keeps the worship director organized, she gets paid, as does the worship director and the pastor.

I do sometimes have issues with churches bringing in and paying musicians when there are wonderful Godly musicians right there in the pew ready to give of their gifts and expecting no monetary compensation.

EKinPNW · #3 04-03-2007, 09:22 AM

Is it right? Of course it is (although I don't get paid for my church gig)! It looks to me like your salary is reasonable for the amount of time you put in, assuming you are free to take on other work. Add up all the hours you put in, and do the math to see what your net hourly wage is. I think that most musicians who earn a good living playing don't rely on one source for all of their income, and take on a variety of work, i.e. church/clubs/casuals/weddings/studio.

west*coast*bass · #4 04-03-2007, 09:23 AM

Why is this in the "Amp" section?

stingray56funk · #5 04-03-2007, 09:23 AM

I completely understand...
I play for a church in Bham, AL and get paid $230 a week. We practice on Thursday nights for about 2 hours and then I am at the church on Sunday from 6:45am until 12:30p. I am happy with what I get paid (our church is a start up church from Northpoint Community Church in Atlanta with about 200+ attending per week). I am thankful for what I get paid because I have a good full-time "regular desk/travel" job and the $230 per week is a nice bonus/supplemental income. I do think though that if you have the kind of commitment that you have in a church then you should be paid accordingly. The giving of members goes to pastors and ministers just like it should to players and employees of the church. Do we tell the janitor for the church that he or she should be paid less because they are doing "God's work" or "service to God" or "this is a ministry". No...giving goes to paying Ministers and Musicians like taxes in England used to be used to support the church.

GODSENT · #6 04-03-2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by west*coast*bass

Why is this in the "Amp" section?

i will relocate accordingly..

Frankie Fender · #7 04-03-2007, 09:34 AM

No, you probably aren't getting paid enough. Most non-musicians will never realize the time, preparation and off-hours work involved. It really is a thankless job if you just look at it from that perspective. That being said, it is still good to get something for your effort if the church is affluent and can afford it, but what is your motivation?

I played for worship teams over fifteen years with no pay whatsoever. Played the coffeehouse circuit for free and gas money for almost as long. Now I am playing in a dance band and getting paid for my time. (still not enough)

I guess it comes down to this. If you are just a hired gun, you never will be satisfied with the church gig. The only real satisfaction I have found IMO is in giving your talent to the Lord as an offering. Money (IMO) just gets in the way.

stedtale · #8 04-03-2007, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankie Fender

... but what is your motivation?

... The only real satisfaction I have found IMO is in giving your talent to the Lord as an offering. Money (IMO) just gets in the way.

+1

I couldn't agree more, with the whole post, but these parts in particular.

**WillPlay4Food** · #9 04-03-2007, 09:41 AM

Wrong forum, moving...

jmain · #10 04-03-2007, 09:48 AM

I used to put in the same amount of practice and gig time at my last church. Currently I'm not putting in the same amount at my new church b/c there are 4 bass players and the attitude has been "let everyone get a chance to play."

I've wondered about this a lot. I think it would be easier for my wife if I got paid b/c of the time spent away (plus I'm going to grad school at night - work 40+/wk too). I think it's great that folks get paid for their services. Why should the piano player (speaking locally here) be the only one who's paid? The I could get the Sadowsky or MTD that I want.

I played toured and played secular music before getting a day job and getting back to church. I'm just thankful that God provides a good job that allows me to play in church also. So if I got paid, I would probably buy equipment and give the rest away - after talking to my wife about it.

GODSENT · #11 04-03-2007, 09:52 AM

my motivation is my opportunity to give back my gift to God, BUT things in life aren't free, and i am trying to do my music full time. and yes there is allot that goes into preparation for my music, because me personally i give it my all. now i am young(21) and if i was just on my own it would be cool, but i am trynna move on in my life (even thinking about the "M" word) now i know some of you guys would say " get a day job" but most want you to work on weekends and nights, which is a no no for me (yes even the music stores and especially Guitar Center).some would even say "do a club gig" i personally have moral issues when it comes to that. i go in clubs every once in a while to catch the hot bands in the city, but that atmosphere aint for me, and most people in the church ( even though they wouldn't know about it) would call you a hypocrite for doing that!i thank God for allowing me to be in the situation that im in, but i feel like i need to make more money in order to make a life for me , and that other special one, and i cant do that on my current salary.

mrwink · #12 04-03-2007, 09:53 AM

Musicians should be paid. Period. Church? Bars? Weddings? Funeral? Pay me. I don't play regularly at church anymore because they would not pay me, but I had regular gigs that did pay. I was very clear with them about what my expectations were and why and all that - and honestly, i wasn't asking for much (a lot less than what your church is paying you ) - but our pastor has a problem with paying worship musicians so they don't get paid.

We have lots of guest musicians come in - or worship leaders that my pastor meets while he's speaking for a conference or something - we pay them WELL... we have had animals regularly for services over the past 6 months (Lions, Tigers, and Bears, mountain lions, and even a petting zoo... don't ask!) We flew in a guy to do this sand painting on a light box thing this past week... it was very cool!

Lions and Tigers, and Bears! Oh My!

jmain · #13 04-03-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GODSENT

my motivation is my opportunity to give back my gift to God, BUT things in life aren't free, and i am trying to do my music full time. and yes there is allot that goes into preparation for my music, because me personally i give it my all. now i am young(21) and if i was just on my own it would be cool, but i am trynna move on in my life (even thinking about the "M" word) now i know some of you guys would say " get a day job" but most want you to work on weekends and nights, which is a no no for me (yes even the music stores and especially Guitar Center).some would even say "do a club gig" i personally have moral issues when it comes to that. i go in clubs every once in a while to catch the hot bands in the city, but that atmosphere aint for me, and most people in the church ( even though they wouldn't know about it) would call you a hypocrite for doing that!i thank God for allowing me to be in the situation that im in, but i feel like i need to make more money in order to make a life for me , and that other special one, and i cant do that on my current salary.

I totally respect that, especially sticking to your moral guns about where you play.

I'd love to get paid, but I'll continue to play even if I don't. But I have a sneaking suspicion that the ministry is heading towards paying folks b/c there is talk of bringing in outside musicians. But that's another thread altogether.

Rock on bru!

::Saint:: · #14 04-03-2007, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingray56funk

I completely understand...
I play for a church in Bham, AL and get paid $230 a week. We practice on Thursday nights for about 2 hours and then I am at the church on Sunday from 6:45am until 12:30p. I am happy with what I get paid (our church is a start up church from Northpoint Community Church in Atlanta with about 200+ attending per week). I am thankful for what I get paid because I have a good full-time "regular desk/travel" job and the $230 per week is a nice bonus/supplemental income. I do think though that if you have the kind of commitment that you have in a church then you should be paid accordingly. The giving of members goes to pastors and ministers just like it should to players and employees of the church. Do we tell the janitor for the church that he or she should be paid less because they are doing "God's work" or "service to God" or "this is a ministry". No...giving goes to paying Ministers and Musicians like taxes in England used to be used to support the church.

This is unfortunate but true - most of the offerings given at "church" are used to paying Church expenses, employee salaries and funding whatever programs the church decides to put on. The unfortunate part is that this is entirely contradictory to the Biblical mandate for how offerings are meant to be spent. While there is precedent for full-time ministers making their living from the Word, there is NO precedent in the Bible for having paid staff the way we have. Biblically speaking, and also historically if one studies the early church, offerings were meant to be a sacrifice FROM the Church and was to be primarily used to look after the needy (like maybe 10% goes to a full-time minister for them to make a living, and the rest goes DIRECTLY to the poor). What happens in Churches these days is very opposite - instead of the Church giving to others, the Church ends up giving back to itself in the form of bloated salaries (or too many of them), expensive programs, etc.

I played once or twice a week at my old church for years and was never paid a dime. I agree with whomever said that money just gets in the way, and has been for far too long in our modern version of church.

GODSENT · #15 04-03-2007, 10:12 AM

the levities (musicians) where always paid in the bible, VERY well, but then again, they played non stop in the temple. i wouldn't mind doing that! i love playing, and i agree that money does get in the way. but music is such a passion to me i couldn't see myself doing anything else, unfortunately you cant get by in this world without money.I got a mean look last time i told someone at a cash register Jesus paid it all.

Frankie Fender · #16 04-03-2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GODSENT

my motivation is my opportunity to give back my gift to God, BUT things in life aren't free, and i am trying to do my music full time. and yes there is allot that goes into preparation for my music, because me personally i give it my all. now i am young(21) and if i was just on my own it would be cool, but i am trynna move on in my life (even thinking about the "M" word) now i know some of you guys would say " get a day job" but most want you to work on weekends and nights, which is a no no for me (yes even the music stores and especially Guitar Center).some would even say "do a club gig" i personally have moral issues when it comes to that. i go in clubs every once in a while to catch the hot bands in the city, but that atmosphere aint for me, and most people in the church ( even though they wouldn't know about it) would call you a hypocrite for doing that!i thank God for allowing me to be in the situation that im in, but i feel like i need to make more money in order to make a life for me , and that other special one, and i cant do that on my current salary.

*Advice coming*

All very cool, but if you think you can make it on 17k with a wife you need to get real. You need to supplement that with another job or two. You are young and need to get busy. Find some other work in addition to the worship gig. The schedule you have has a lot of holes in it. Deliver pizzas, work at Home Depot, deliver newspapers. The point is there are plenty of job opportunities that won't eat into your nights and weekends. Get creative and get some more part time jobs. You may end up making a good living when you add it all up.

GODSENT · #17 04-03-2007, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankie Fender

*Advice coming*

All very cool, but if you think you can make it on 17k with a wife you need to get real. You need to supplement that with another job or two. You are young and need to get busy. Find some other work in addition to the worship gig. The schedule you have has a lot of holes in it. Deliver pizzas, work at Home Depot, deliver newspapers. The point is there are plenty of job opportunities that won't eat into your nights and weekends. Get creative and get some more part time jobs. You may end up making a good living when you add it all up.

hence my last sentence......

Embryodead · #18 04-03-2007, 10:24 AM

I pray to the church of ATM, so good on you making money while being a musician. A lot of people want to make a living off music.

BTW, as far as i know working at a place of sin doesn't make you a sinner. It's a job, if god didn't want us to work and make money he'd strike down the heathens at the mint

jimb213 · #19 04-03-2007, 10:34 AM

I don't get paid to play at my home church, but I do get paid a bit to play at a midweek worship service aimed at college students (at a different church). I also get hired by a worship leader who does conferences, camps, and retreats, and she pays me.

My church does pay me for my video services, however. My day job is as a video editor/producer, so they pay me for my professional services.

::Saint:: · #20 04-03-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Embryodead

I pray to the church of ATM, so good on you making money while being a musician. A lot of people want to make a living off music.

BTW, as far as i know working at a place of sin doesn't make you a sinner. It's a job, if god didn't want us to work and make money he'd strike down the heathens at the mint

Absolutely correct - you take a look at the original itinerant minister and the person who most protestant churches model their preaching on - the Apostle Paul. He often refused to take money from the churches he visited and encouraged pastors and ministers to take up a trade to derive their income from, so as not to become a burden to the church-body or to take funds away from their proper recipients.

Paul traveled to place to place, and when he needed money he would set up his tent shop and start making tents for a living, and ministering within the marketplace as he did so. I personally believing that this "tent-making" should be the standard model for all ministers, and it seems Paul thought so too, at least from what I read about him in the Bible.

I guess, when it comes down to it - during my tenure as my old church's bass mule I really would have appreciated the occasional kickback here and there, like "Here's $50, go buy yourself some new strings". The drumset that is still being used belongs to a good friend and mentor of mine who rarely even plays them, yet somehow he has still been responsible for replacing skins, etc. Even a nice little bonus from time to time to help me develop myself as a musician, something I could build towards buying another instrument or whatever, would be nice, but I would certainly draw the line at being paid a regular salary.