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Didn't get paid for a gig :(

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#21
bassistjoe93 said:
So... I played a black gospel gig back in October. I had a blast, music was off the chain, people loved it, met some new insane musicians, etc. Well the leader of the event, who was a friend of mine, said he was gonna pay me for my work. I had three weeks of rehearsals and personal work and time put into this gig, really complex music. Well we played for 6 hours or so and he and the pastor said they'd get with me the coming week and settle with me. I always wait around after gigs to get my money but I decided to go ahead and leave it with him because I know him and have known him for years...... Fast forward nearly 2 months, and no money. I set up at least 10 different meetings with him up until now and he never showed up once to any of them. I finally sent him a less than pleasant voicemail and just basically told him how disappointed I was, not to call me for future gigs and just keep the damn money. No response since. The worst part is, I'm a college student so money is really tight. All my money gets spent on gas for my 40 mile commute to college. It's my first time getting screwed out of money from a gig. Sorry for the downer, but I just wanted to share.... I'm bummed :(
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Does that city/town have a consumer advocate at a local radio or TV station? That might be a good place to start. The pastor wouldn't be happy with a camera in his face and the reporter asking questions like, "Why have you avoided paying this college student, who went out of his way to play for your congregation?".

I'd probably walk up to him and say "Jesus would never do this". Look for some scripture that deals with this and quote it to him. That ought to piss him off.

Here ya go:
What Does the Bible Say About Paying Debt?
 
#25
I feel sorry for that congregation. I wonder how many other people he's done the same way he did you.

I'm gonna bet he's one of those guys that's living large and still pumping the congregation for money at least once a month.

The vast majority of church gigs I've played have been unpaid (by mutual agreement)... so money has been a non-issue. But the ones that did pay me, it was same terms as any bar or private gig... cash in hand before I leave the venue.
 
#28
OP did not indicate the pastor was made aware of the lack of payment, so let's not burn him at the stake. This is a one on one deal that went sour, so quit with the church bashing, too. If any of you are looking to be paid to worship God, maybe you shouldn't have such high ethical expecations of these pastors.
 
#29
Wow that really sucks.
There have been a couple of times in my life that I got stiffed by sleazy club owners, but that comes with the territory.
Being cheated by a church is absolutely the worst.
One of the previous posts suggested calling him on it in front of the congregation.
That is exactly what I would do. I would stand out front on Sunday morning and "tell the flock" that their Shepard is a liar and a cheat.
 
#31
1958Bassman said:
I'd probably walk up to him and say "Jesus would never do this". Look for some scripture that deals with this and quote it to him.
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Matthew 18:15-17 talks about how to handle such an offense. I find it cheap that people would be so eager to get paid by a church, but refuse to actually understand what the bible says about their responsibility in such a role, and their conduct if an issue comes up.
 
#32
BigMac5 said:
People deserve to be paid for the services they provide. Churches are not exempt. This is the reason many people and companies refuse to work with churches.
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And God deserves to be worshipped. OP got a raw deal, for sure. But it rubs me raw when people cry "ethics", "where's my money" and "burn the pastor" when biblically everybody's wrong to begin with. If you're not willing to start there, then you don't belong in the ministry. I'm not against payment, in certain contexts, but we're all supposed to worship, so are we all supposed to get paid?
 
#33
Warrior_Bass said:
And God deserves to be worshipped. OP got a raw deal, for sure. But it rubs me raw when people cry "ethics", "where's my money" and "burn the pastor" when biblically everybody's wrong to begin with. If you're not willing to start there, then you don't belong in the ministry. I'm not against payment, in certain contexts, but we're all supposed to worship, so are we all supposed to get paid?
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There are plenty of individuals who work for churches who get paid (custodial staff, landscapers and gardeners, accountants and other people who run the business end of things, and even the pastor). Hinting that he shouldn't get paid because this is a church when he was told he would be getting paid is deceitful and wrong. He wasn't there to worship. He was there to do a job. He did his job, and he deserves to be paid and not be given the runaround.
 
#34
Warrior_Bass said:
And God deserves to be worshipped. OP got a raw deal, for sure. But it rubs me raw when people cry "ethics", "where's my money" and "burn the pastor" when biblically everybody's wrong to begin with. If you're not willing to start there, then you don't belong in the ministry. I'm not against payment, in certain contexts, but we're all supposed to worship, so are we all supposed to get paid?
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OP said nothing about being religious. He played a gig with the understanding he would be paid. He hasn't been. The only way the bible comes into this is if he wants to speak the same language as the pastor.

Biblically, the bible is wrong (compare old and new testaments, eye for an eye, turn the other cheek, etc.), so get off your high horse, Warrior.
 
#35
Warrior_Bass said:
And God deserves to be worshipped. OP got a raw deal, for sure. But it rubs me raw when people cry "ethics", "where's my money" and "burn the pastor" when biblically everybody's wrong to begin with. If you're not willing to start there, then you don't belong in the ministry. I'm not against payment, in certain contexts, but we're all supposed to worship, so are we all supposed to get paid?
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Not everyone believes what you believe. Religion is a business anyways.
 
#36
Warrior_Bass said:
And God deserves to be worshipped. OP got a raw deal, for sure. But it rubs me raw when people cry "ethics", "where's my money" and "burn the pastor" when biblically everybody's wrong to begin with. If you're not willing to start there, then you don't belong in the ministry. I'm not against payment, in certain contexts, but we're all supposed to worship, so are we all supposed to get paid?
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Where does it say the OP belongs in the ministry, believes in God, or accepts that the Bible is the ultimate moral quide to how to behave?

He was asked to play for money, and was not paid for his part of the deal, and ignored when he requested a meeting. That is ALL that matters here.
 
#38
Warrior_Bass said:
And God deserves to be worshipped. OP got a raw deal, for sure. But it rubs me raw when people cry "ethics", "where's my money" and "burn the pastor" when biblically everybody's wrong to begin with. If you're not willing to start there, then you don't belong in the ministry. I'm not against payment, in certain contexts, but we're all supposed to worship, so are we all supposed to get paid?
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Also, I think you're over analyzing what people are posting here. You seem to be taking a super defensive stance because you believe most of us are against all churches and pastors, and that isn't the case. However, this one individual in question has done wrong and it deserves to be brought to light. Him being a member of the church doesn't somehow make him safe to con people out of money. If anything, it should mean he is held to a higher standard, he should be grateful for the OP's willingness to give help to the church, and he should pay the OP the amount he was guaranteed in their agreement.
 
#39
Warrior_Bass said:
And God deserves to be worshipped. OP got a raw deal, for sure. But it rubs me raw when people cry "ethics", "where's my money" and "burn the pastor" when biblically everybody's wrong to begin with. If you're not willing to start there, then you don't belong in the ministry. I'm not against payment, in certain contexts, but we're all supposed to worship, so are we all supposed to get paid?
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We cannot go into religious discussion here. Trying to avoid that.

OP had a deal with a church to play and get paid. Both sides signed up, one side did not keep their word.

If the deal was immoral from the start the church should not have made the deal. But I'm sure the church would pay say a plumber who fixed the pipes.

I personally play at churches without charging but that's my choice. OP said nothing about his beliefs.

It may be the pastor doesn't know. It may get complex if the guy who offered payment did do without the agreement of the pastor. There are all sorts of "what ifs".

But the people who should be most upset by this, in my view, should be us Christians. It's our God whose name is being tarnished by this fundamental wrong. And to be honest, stealing from the guy then trying say it's his fault because he should not have expected payment, really upsets me.
 
#40
Warrior_Bass said:
And God deserves to be worshipped. OP got a raw deal, for sure. But it rubs me raw when people cry "ethics", "where's my money" and "burn the pastor" when biblically everybody's wrong to begin with. If you're not willing to start there, then you don't belong in the ministry. I'm not against payment, in certain contexts, but we're all supposed to worship, so are we all supposed to get paid?
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OP never said he was playing bass in "his" church. He never even said whether or not he was religious.

This is not about God or worship.

This about 2 party's, 1 payor, and 1 payee. it's business only.
 
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