Volunteer Church Bassist Pt. 2

[Dr. Cheese]

I could not find a link to my original thread, but I thought it would be interesting to give an update on playing at church. Back in the summer, I mentioned that my church did not want to pay me for playing, and that I would continue to work as a volunteer. The music director still is cashing his checks though. The latest twist is that the MD is not going to play for the kids annual Christmas program, and guess who was called on the fill in? This has actually been a bit fun for me because I am learning a few songs on ukelele so that I can provide some chordal support in a higher register. This has been fun because it is making work on a great weakness of mind: going from chord to chord. I have gotten Feliz Navidad down alright, so now I will learn some other songs too. BTW, I am still playing bass on a few songs, and I will do a Christmas carole on bass too for the service.

I think it will go pretty well, but if it does fail, my fellow members should remember just how much they paid me!

I know that was Un-Christian, but I had to get that devilish thought out of my system!

[oldcatfish]

My opinion is this. I have no real problem with a church music director/worship leader getting paid and the musician's don't (I volunteer at several local churches)....if the WL is well organized, gives accurate music and audio samples several weeks in advance, and has realistic expectations on volunteer musicians.

My problem comes when they aren't any of those three things--if they expect a musician to be available most of the time, change things at the last minute, want the music "like the cd" but without much time to work on it, provide inaccurate chord charts, etc.--I better be getting paid.

[LowEnd88]

Originally Posted by oldcatfish

My opinion is this. I have no real problem with a church music director/worship leader getting paid and the musician's don't (I volunteer at several local churches)....if the WL is well organized, gives accurate music and audio samples several weeks in advance, and has realistic expectations on volunteer musicians.

I agree with this. I play every week (unless I'm out of town) at my church and don't get paid. I have no responsibility when it comes to arranging/choosing the setlist but I do have to learn - on average - two new songs a week. The MD provides accurate chord charts though mid week.

Volunteer playing can actually be a pretty small time commitment if you have a good MD and consistent talented musicians on stage. Without those things it would be a completely different story though.

[worshiprocker]

Originally Posted by oldcatfish

My opinion is this. I have no real problem with a church music director/worship leader getting paid and the musician's don't (I volunteer at several local churches)....if the WL is well organized, gives accurate music and audio samples several weeks in advance, and has realistic expectations on volunteer musicians.

My problem comes when they aren't any of those three things--if they expect a musician to be available most of the time, change things at the last minute, want the music "like the cd" but without much time to work on it, provide inaccurate chord charts, etc.--I better be getting paid.

I agree.. I have been a paid worship leader and I did everything i could to be prepared.

Where I am now it seems things are not very organized... it is VERY frustrating

[Timmah]

We have rotating worship teams an nobody but the md is paid. It's a full-time job for her, and everybody else plays once a month, so no big deal. Shes also well organized and not a flake, but we do have to deal with key changes, usually from higher to low. That's why I need a fiver, or at least my excuse.
Bottom line: as long as your director isn't a flake, you have nothing to worry about, except more basses. IMHO

[RustyAxe]

I was asked to play a single service to fill-in for the regular guy. Well and good, one rehearsal (mostly the vocalists working out harmonies, the band was well prepared and tight). A couple of months later, asked to fill in again, but several services over the summer. Yeah, ok, none conflicted with my calendar so I did it. Then more requests, more special projects (with other churches and such) ... I finally started making excuses, which was, for me, the sign that my heart wasn't in it. I had to make it clear to the minister of music that she should look for another bassist, and her reply? "We would, but they'd all want to get paid" ...

[Dr. Cheese]

I don't mind volunteering or I would not do it. It does rankle me that the MD is refusing to play for the program when he directing two Christmas programs outside of the church, and he has actually attended the Christmas program rehearsals on a regular basis because the program rehearsals are immediately before the choir rehearsals. He is a young man who is getting a very handsome check to play for the church, and I honestly do not think he knows how fortunate he is. Although I welcome the challenge, it is said that a man makes $1,200 or so a month to play, but I have fill on a ukele and bass guitar.

[LowEnd88]

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

I had to make it clear to the minister of music that she should look for another bassist, and her reply? "We would, but they'd all want to get paid" ...

That's interesting. And honestly, before talkbass I had no idea that some musicians - other than the MD - got paid for playing in a church (i grew up in a small town with a church congregation of around 250 people). Is it a big church thing, paying musicians?

I'm in a bigger city now and at a church which primarily relies on volunteers for musicians, with the exception of the MD. I have been around for the past four years (playing bass there for 3) and have seen the church grow from 250 people to over 1000 each week! I'm curious if my church will ever adopt paying the musicians... would be nice.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm glad I can serve, and will continue to do it for free if that s what they ask

[BoydG]

It had never occurred to me that some musicians might be paid to play at church. Interesting concept. I suppose I might work harder to prepare for services if I were getting paid (not that I don't work hard at it already).

[worshiprocker]

Originally Posted by LowEnd88

That's interesting. And honestly, before talkbass I had no idea that some musicians - other than the MD - got paid for playing in a church (i grew up in a small town with a church congregation of around 250 people). Is it a big church thing, paying musicians?

I'm in a bigger city now and at a church which primarily relies on volunteers for musicians, with the exception of the MD. I have been around for the past four years (playing bass there for 3) and have seen the church grow from 250 people to over 1000 each week! I'm curious if my church will ever adopt paying the musicians... would be nice.

Don't get me wrong though, I'm glad I can serve, and will continue to do it for free if that s what they ask

Originally Posted by BoydG

It had never occurred to me that some musicians might be paid to play at church. Interesting concept. I suppose I might work harder to prepare for services if I were getting paid (not that I don't work hard at it already).

some larger churches pay musicians to play. It helps to require a certain level of professionalism. I have also been apart of churches who have hired non christians to play. It is a very interesting concept. I have always treated paying and non paying church gigs the same.. I don't do it for the money.

i would never ask to be paid, but graciously accept. Normally it is done as a 1099 and then it becomes a hassle comes tax time... when it comes to church I would rather just serve..... just IMHO

[jjk2007]

Originally Posted by BoydG

It had never occurred to me that some musicians might be paid to play at church. Interesting concept. I suppose I might work harder to prepare for services if I were getting paid (not that I don't work hard at it already).

It does happen. Up until about a year ago I played at a church that paid the musicians. At my peak, I played there every Sunday for their main service, and every Wednesday night for the youth service and I was making around $600 a month doing that. Later, I just went to doing the youth services and that was around $200 a month. I too am not one that will only play for money, but I'm not going to turn it down either!

[azbazz]

I have played for 19 worship leaders. They ranged from very anal (play it EXACTLY like this....no creativity allowed) to very laid back (play something that fits ...use your creativity). If it is the former type of worship leader I will charge if it is the latter I will not charge.....

[bassman314]

I've never been paid as a bass player at church. Our MD is paid, and sometimes we'll hire a ringer for certain things, but the rest of the band is all volunteer.

Not sure I'd want to get paid for it.

[kennyim]

I've never been paid for playing at church either.
Although I wouldn't mind musicians getting payed for playing, I've heard of payed musicians going around to up to 6 churches every Sunday to play, and not sit in for the service.
IMO church musicians should only really be paid small amounts as a sign of gratuity if they get paid at all.

[fivestringgecko]

I've been a volunteer player at my main church for almost 8 years now and have seen five paid music directors. Our current "assistant director" piano player is paid as well, the rest of us are all non-paid. Our pianist is also the (non-paid) player at a black gospel church and through her, I've become their sub bassist as well (also non-paid).

I don't have a problem with musicians getting paid if that's their gig, but like Bassman, I wouldn't feel right being a paid player. While volunteering my God-given talent back to the church is a part of my faith, I do also look at it as a way of giving back. By being a volunteer, my church has a better church service and they can put the money they're not paying me to a much more worthy use. (hope that makes sense!)

At my main church, we have good charts and recordings that are easily sight readable for me, so no big deal. I put more work into the music for the gospel church because they laugh at the word "charts." lol Everything is memorized and based on youtube videos. But you know what? It's way more FUN than my main choir, so again... not so worried about getting paid. At the main church, I use a 120W 1x12 combo that's "too loud." When I play for the gospel service, I play through their 4x10/1x15 stack and sometimes still have trouble competing with the drummer!

Two VERY different experiences! It's a kick being the only white guy in the building at the gospel church!

5sg.

[tycobb73]

My MD gets paid while the rest of us are all volunteers. It is a lot of work for her though. We're a medium size church of 2 services, 500 a piece. We have a great sound system with avions. She also has to handle the soundbooth and slidewhow. I only bring my bass, everything else is provided. We're in a financial bind right now and the church called my wife to say they could help us out some. When asked why they are doing it the church said its because of what I do for the band. Be a nice person and it will come around.

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by tycobb73

Be a nice person and it will come around.

Something that applies to more than just church. If only more people shared this philosophy.

5sg.

[Stilettoprefer]

Nobody in our church music program is paid except for the organists (2 that alternate weeks and are VERY good). I have no problem with not getting paid, because I'm not a professional, am still learning, and volunteer hours like I have (too much to count without a few long days and a computer) looks very good on scholarship essays and college applications. And I'm helping people worship, no better pay than that IMO

Oh and on the MD thing, ours is generally very disorganized and when she's gone we are responsible for finding a fill-in pianist. Luckily though I have a friend that is a professional pianist (much better than the WD actually) and she is willing to fill in

[throughthefire]

I'm bass player one of the worship team at our church; we have four locations, and nine worship teams. That's somewhere between 45-50 musicians. Nobody gets paid.

The structure is that one of the pastors (on a rotating basis) is responsible for the music every quarter - he chooses the songs that are used at each campus every week. Each team has a band leader, who is responsible for the arrangements of those songs, and they work to different standards; my BL is a music professor at the local university, so our charts are accurate and we get MP3's to work from. Rehearsal is on the Sunday we play, at 7:30am - turn up and know your stuff... Other bands have rehearsals in the week, and are more relaxed about the charts.

Would I take money for this gig? Absolutely not. It's my hobby, and I've had more from the church than I could ever give them (spiritually, as well as financially - they gave me and my family a free home for six months two years ago, when we were really stuck for cash).

[SBassman]

Never been paid. It's not the way in my church.

I wish I could just be involved again. There are very few opportunities in my church. Most of the music comes from a monstrous organ and nothing else. Definitely missing the opportunity to be a part of a contemporary music program at church.