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I appreciate your perspective. "Do you want to come play at my church" Me: "How much does it pay?" Sigh, I guess I'm getting soft in my old age.
That was meant to be tongue in cheek, but I would have worked it into the conversation & I would have taken full pay
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
My trio's drummer has a church gig and it pays... I don't know how much... I think it depends on the church and if they are able to have volunteers from the church fill roles or not.
My point was that larger denominations tend to have more money to work with (and sometimes even an actual music budget) than the smaller and independent congregations, who paradoxically often do more with music in their services than some of the larger churches. So please don’t try to read anything more into it than that.
FWIW - in the denomination I got brought up in (I’m not an active member these days), any decisions (such as use of music) are made on the regional rather than the local parish level, or by the local parish priest when they’re not. It’s a strict hierarchy as far as the church administration goes. The laity (or ‘congregation’) itself has virtually no say in the governance or operational details of the parish. It’s all decided “upstairs” so to speak. There’s also an approved songbook. If the song isn’t in the book, it doesn’t get used in a service until it’s put in the book. Which puts a bit of a damper on trying to introduce new music into the services. So in the case of this denomination, the denomination has everything to do with it.
Fair enough. I hadn't heard of that much central control before. Learn something new every day!
Not just the ladies in the choir!, include musicians, sound people, lead singers, soloists,,,,this is from 30+ years being involved in church music!
$0.14/mile if volunteer, about $0.55/ if part of a business.
In NE, I went to a church where organist was paid $70k.. Many churches treat music ministry as TTT. time, treasure and talent. Think this way. , the pastor is paid. Sometimes not so good, ( well under minimum wage, does not include housing allowance, food allowance, or transportation allowancee, base pay in a Sw diocese was $380/mo. And thats with studying 8 plus years) as a member of the mediocre bass club, talent is questionable, so I give time.
At a church, weddings and funerals are considered extra.
Have served on several church finance councils.
Nope. ...and I don't bring most of my gig arrangements here either. ...just thought it would be an interesting discussion. and it is!
@mikewalker, your post should under misinfo, the post implies some body is making money playing bass
We get between $20 - 32.50 an hour for guitar/bass/drums, depending on the congregation. Section leaders in the choir get $30 an hour and the cantor gets $40 per hour. Warm up/ rehearsal + Mass usually means two hours. Always a backline and really good sound system. Music Director and Principle Keys player are usually salary.
The real money is for weddings and funerals. Also special events, running sound etc.
I know many folks around here who do very well with church music.
Ah, this is the point I was trying to make w/o actually saying it.
If you're not interested in being part of their congregation, or you're not doing it just for the experience, treat it like any other gig.
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