Do Musicians get money for Church Gigs?

arbitrary · #1 03-08-2006, 05:07 PM

I'm just really curious if musicians/people get paid for playing church gigs?
I been seeing more and more about them and curiousity got the best of me.
And no I'm not implying that if you get paid you don't love god.
Thanks

"It doesn't matter who you love; it's do you love." -M. Franti

canopener · #2 03-08-2006, 07:16 PM

I only knew one person personally who played for church service. She played organs and got paid $50 for a Sunday, IIRC.

Keeaumoku · #3 03-08-2006, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canopener

I only knew one person personally who played for church service. She played organs and got paid $50 for a Sunday, IIRC.

Yup! The organist in our church (from early teenager days; circa 1966-67...) got paid $25 per Sunday 9:30 Mass... Why do I know this? Whenever she didn't make the gig, which didn't happen very often, I substituted for her, and I got the 25 bucks, too! That, boys and girls, was descent coin for an hour's work back then...

SilverTurtle · #4 03-08-2006, 07:32 PM

If I'm playing a holiday or other "special" gig, I always get paid. I have played for free at a church's general P&W thing as a sub for their regular bassist(s), mostly because of the (1) experience and (2) networking with some other killer musicians that play there.

g00eY · #5 03-08-2006, 07:33 PM

i know people who get paid to play, but i just play. i don't get payed, but i do go to the church, i do have fun, i do get some good fellowship time in, and it's just a way for me to give back to God. that's what it's all about (for me).

SuperDuck · #6 03-08-2006, 07:34 PM

In the 6ish years I've played for church I've never gotten paid. It would be nice, and I know plenty of people who have gotten paid, but it's never happened to me. Someday, maybe.

WillBuckingham · #7 03-08-2006, 07:38 PM

I gather there's pretty good money in being a Church organist.

danthebassman · #8 03-08-2006, 08:01 PM

I recently started playing for a church. They give me $100 each Sunday for One hour of rehearsal and one service.

burk48237 · #9 03-08-2006, 08:47 PM

I've subbed for a couple of churches in Detroit and been payed. It's very common for African American Churches to pay for their bands. And in all sincerity with the level of musicianship required for most urban contemporary gospel (as tough as most jazz gigs IMHO), I'm not surprised.

bassteban · #10 03-08-2006, 09:02 PM

It's all for love. But they do often feed me. We're Baptists, after all.

jrthebassguy · #11 03-08-2006, 09:21 PM

Everytime I've done it it's been for free.

I imagine mega-churches pay their players some nice change, but for majority of small churches there is usually little/no pay.

**Pacman** · #12 03-08-2006, 10:08 PM

I played for years at one of the biggest churches in Atlanta (we called it 6 flags over Jesus), and was paid quite well for my services. Like, new tax bracket well.

Best band I've ever been in, too. We played ever contemporary christian tune than came out, and we usually played it better than the recorded version (because we didn't listen to the recorded version till after we played the tune...)

Most musicians in the ATL had paying church gigs....

Disco_Gee · #13 03-08-2006, 11:22 PM

I don't get paid. I don't think there are many Churches in Australia that do pay their musos. Some of the larger ones may, but I've never met any church musos who got paid (and I've met a lot!).

Mike Money · #14 03-08-2006, 11:52 PM

I've never heard of being paid for playing at church services... That doesn't seem right to me for some reason...

Being paid for an outside church function? OK... thats cool... but being paid for playing during church?

Mcrelly · #15 03-09-2006, 12:59 AM

I work for my church as a janitor. I volunteer to play for the kids (4th+5th graders) church once a month (2hr practice, 2-20mins + 1-10mins P+W). I'm scheduled to work on the band rehearsal night. they let me go practice for about an hour with the band.

so I sorta get paid to play. but, I'd do it for free if I had too!

**Marcus Willett** · #16 03-09-2006, 01:18 AM

I play at a non-denominational church in town every Sunday AM. The drummer, guitarist and myself get paid. There are usually several volunteers who show up as well. It doesn't bother me because we (the paid folk) are EXPECTED to show up, and the volunteers might, or they might not.

The worship pastor is expected to show up as well. He gets paid too. It's really a simple formula...the folks who are EXPECTED to be there....whether playing or preaching; get paid. Those who show up based on how they "feel", don't.

I have no issue playing for the Lord for free as long as EVERYONE is there for free. If THAT is the model; that's fine. As soon as people start getting paid then things change ...quite a bit...

EDIT: FWIW, the church approached us and said they wanted to hire us to play at their church. It was pretty specific, and since all of us worked late Saturday night, and would need to be there early on Sunday to rehearse (every Sunday), they felt compensation was warranted.

thehurlatron · #17 03-09-2006, 05:41 AM

I don't get paid, and I'd turn it down if I was offered it.

I don't think it's right (for me IMO) to get paid at church for using the talent that God gave me. For me it's just another way of an offering, the same as putting money in the collection bag.

BassChuck · #18 03-09-2006, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Money

I've never heard of being paid for playing at church services... That doesn't seem right to me for some reason...

Being paid for an outside church function? OK... thats cool... but being paid for playing during church?

Does the minister get paid?
Does the secretary get paid?
Does the custodian get paid?
Does the church pay for printing it has done?
Does the church pay its electric and water bill?
Is there a band loan on the building?
Does the building need repairs?
Did the church buy the furniture?

Having music, of any kind, in church usually makes the service a more enjoyable experience (read here that more people will come and continue to come to church). More people means more money-- it's just that simple.

Spirituality (aka religon) is something that you have inside yourself, its your personal relationship with whatever your beliefs are about life. "The Church" is a business and provides a place for you to meet with others that share your views, and thats a good thing... but it is a business.

Tony G · #19 03-09-2006, 05:43 AM

I consider it a communtity service. Playing at mass is my way of giving back to the community. I wouldn't except pay even if it was offered to me. That is what bar gigs are for.

whitedk57 · #20 03-09-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassChuck

"The Church" is a business and provides a place for you to meet with others that share your views, and thats a good thing... but it is a business.

I humbly disagree.

Your local church is an organization. And like every other organization, they need to pay bills and pay staff. But, a church is usually non-profit, and therefore not a business.

I'm not saying that the band should not get paid, but I do believe there are many areas of the church's functions that are run by volunteers. How a church decides who gets paid and who does not is individual to each church.

The churches that I have been in usually have a paid music director and a volunteer worship team. I would love to be a volunteer bassist for my church, but I am content to run the sound board for now.