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Got fired from my church gig...

#21
Hehe....played in churches many many years ago and remember this type of BS regularly. Back then I was seen as some sort of heathen by some because wasn't playing acoustically....but times sure have changed.

...now I don't go to church at all.......for many of the same reasons......

Time to move on, and like another poster said: join a metal band for a while!!!

Cheersl
 
#22
neilshane said:
I guess I'm confused. Are you looking for sympathy or just to vent? Sounds like the whole thing was a disaster. I'd say forget all about it and move on.
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Neither. I'm not mad and sympathy is the farthest thing from my mind. Just relating a recent job experience I had. I hope that's okay.
:cool:

They asked me to come on full time, I didn't ask them. It may be a conicidence that I see more in-fighting, hypocrisy, gossip and intrigue in situations like this. My guess (and that of others close to the situation) is they probably had someone else they wanted to bring in and were trying to get me to make a move. When that didn't work, on to plan B.
:D
 
#23
Wow, even if you did get fired how cool is playing through a 200k setup? I played at my church for 18 months, for free. Nothing but direct into an ancient mixing board and out to some crummy speakers. It was just me on acoustic, a piano player and a singer. They were super nice too. Just got too busy to stick with it. I really miss it actually.
 
#25
From a past job (not a band, but weeding a bitter old woman's yard), she came up with "our van broke down and I can't afford to hire you anymore." I had been working there maybe 5 days worth of work, and I hated doing that kind of work to begin with and my hay fever was beginning to show up in my system; and I realized that I wasn't working as hard as I should be considering she was paying me by the hour.

Point of this story is even though they tell you one thing why you are being fired or "let go," there may be some other underlying reason why. You can ask for the blunt honest answer from the employer, or you can move on and find something better to do. I choose the later and I'm happy with my decision.
 
#26
N.F.A. said:
Wow, even if you did get fired how cool is playing through a 200k setup? I played at my church for 18 months, for free. Nothing but direct into an ancient mixing board and out to some crummy speakers. It was just me on acoustic, a piano player and a singer. They were super nice too. Just got too busy to stick with it. I really miss it actually.
Click to expand...

On paper, yeah... it would be cool. IRL...

How frustrating would it be to play through a system that expensive and not be able to even come close to hearing yourself play clearly? Even worse, not be able to clearly hear the people you're playing with? To play a note, stop it yet hear it keep ringing, distorted, for a second or so. It really was the worst live sound I can ever recall having... and that's saying something. I played live at a church rectory back inthe 70's using and I kid you not a little Sony reel-to-reel that had maybe a 2 watt tube amp built in as a bass amp, playing a borrowed copy of of a Tiesco Del Ray really shortscale bass. That experience was better.
 
#28
Will Kelly said:
I got fired from a church gig once... right as the service was starting and the MD was counting us off for the first tune, I stepped on my cord and it pulled out of my bass, creating a pop heard all through the building over the PA, along with the four letter f-word I said over a hot mike.

You'll find another one, Brad.
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Great story. I almost did that the first time I was sitting right after we'd finished a song, muting my strings when this humongous thump went out... the soundguy had pegged my channel and kicked my volume up ridiculously high in the house. The beauty of a digital board. I quickly grabbed the volume and turned it down, my friend's sitting there laughing because he saw exactly what happened.
:D

I actually don't hold ill will towards the principles in this story... they were just doing what they do. The MM would talk about the soundguy like a dog and say he was going to fire him and constantly tried to lay the blame on him. He was a volunteer and they talked about firing him for months. Beat getting him trained. Granted I don't have anything to say to the MM and I thinks it's best left at that.
 
#30
capnsandwich said:
You're better off man. Any time you mix in corruption in a church setting, which is all too often anymore, you'd be better off avoiding it altogether. There are other churches SCREAMING for bassists and I'm sure they would compensate you accordingly.
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Cap'n,
Do you know of any churches here locally looking for a bassist? My experience has been just the opposite in Cincy. They want acoustic guitar players.
 
#31
Brad Johnson said:
On paper, yeah... it would be cool. IRL...

How frustrating would it be to play through a system that expensive and not be able to even come close to hearing yourself play clearly? Even worse, not be able to clearly hear the people you're playing with? To play a note, stop it yet hear it keep ringing, distorted, for a second or so. It really was the worst live sound I can ever recall having... and that's saying something. I played live at a church rectory back inthe 70's using and I kid you not a little Sony reel-to-reel that had maybe a 2 watt tube amp built in as a bass amp, playing a borrowed copy of of a Tiesco Del Ray really shortscale bass. That experience was better.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I definitely see your point about the frustration. I would still love to have the experience though good or bad... I'm telling you the church I played in probably had a 500 dollar system that included an old peavey mixer and 4 crummy speakers. It was lots of fun and the folks were sure appreciative. Was your congregation appreciative of the music?
 
#32
N.F.A. said:
Cap'n,
Do you know of any churches here locally looking for a bassist? My experience has been just the opposite in Cincy. They want acoustic guitar players.
Click to expand...

There's a few up here in Columbus. I was just emailed by a Vineyard church last month and also a buddy of mine said he wishes I wasn't playing at my church so he could have me play at his. I also know of a church looking for a Saturday night player.
 
#33
BassSaxMan said:
It's really sad that this sort of thing goes on at Church. I've seen plenty of baloney first hand as well. Totally bizarre...I'd like to know more personally...

Do you have any reason why they wouldn't want you around anymore? Personally I've noticed some people are truly turned off by people trying to do a great job.
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Not a clue. When I did that song with the pastor's assistant on keys we had everyone on their feet. My friend told me that was the nail in the coffin as far as the nonsense about me needing a chart to play. the two keyboard players sat and listened.

The thing is, I don't want to be around anymore. Once I saw how easy it was for the MM to lie about me... that was plenty. Ultimately it's his ball.
 
#34
Sounds like the Devil was running amok in that place. You are better off being in a church where folks are actually nice to each other and are trying to walk the walk. I changed churches for pretty much the same situation you are in, and I enjoy going again.
 
#35
N.F.A. said:
Yeah, I definitely see your point about the frustration. I would still love to have the experience though good or bad... I'm telling you the church I played in probably had a 500 dollar system that included an old peavey mixer and 4 crummy speakers. It was lots of fun and the folks were sure appreciative. Was your congregation appreciative of the music?
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Absolutely. I wasn't a rush out at the last downbeat kind of player and hung around and talked to people on a regular basis. Longer than most of the other musicians. Everyone I talked to was very appreciative of what I was bringing to the music. I'll admit I won't miss shaking hands in the restroom... but I did it when called for
:D

I've played through great sounding setups that cost nowhere near this amount. This church was more concerned with what they spent vs. getting it right. It should've sounded phenomenal in that place, particularly with the caliber of most of the musicians, whim I've played with elsewhere. It didn't.

I enjoy the traditional role of bass so helping to propel the music was perfectly fine with me. No solos, tasteful fills and driving the music along with the rest of the rhythm section. Team player.
 
#36
fretlessguy said:
Sounds like the Devil was running amok in that place. You are better off being in a church where folks are actually nice to each other and are trying to walk the walk. I changed churches for pretty much the same situation you are in, and I enjoy going again.
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This. And I hope no one takes this as some sort of indictment of all churches... it's not. Just some of the ones I've had the pleasure of dealing with.
 
#37
Hi Brad,

Sorry to hear about your situation. It's a shame when personality or political issues affect music ministry. Unfortunately, I've heard many similar stories. It sounds like your music director might not be a strong leader, and doesn't work well with the pastor.

I was in a somewhat similar situation at a church several years ago. We had distortion problems with the PA, and like your situation, the music director and I suspected bad cord. Unfortunately, the pastor would not let us have access to the mixer to check it. My perception is that he considered us amateurs and he didn't want us messing with his "professionally installed" PA. We never got the problem fixed in my time there, and I had no choice but to put up with it. Eventually, I moved to a different neighborhood and I'm content with my current church gig.

I assume you are playing in church not for the money, so, hopefully you will find another church gig that appreciates your talents. Good luck.

Ben
 
#38
Before going on..

I love church gigs... now the bad news -- about 90% are just places for people to "play" band. They're either where all the good managment and players end up OR the mislead dorks

===

IEM..
quite sincerely.. you didn't listen to the battles they went through to make this happen.

It's likely you didn't do enough research to make it work then plead your case to the decision makers.

You also jumped to conclusions.

Geeze.. a simple request and $200 worth of Rolls boxes would have solved your issue.

===

MM..
I'd ditch them right away.. I would have called this out to the band and minister. Day 1 set up the advance material expectation.

====

Amp..
They paid for you not to have one.. you weren't paying attention.

====

IT really sounds like you were all talking around the issues vs leadership.

=====

Couple of notes
1-You should have worked with your sound guys NOT going around them.

2-You may not have been qualified to tell them how to improve.

3-You didn't understand the money the put into the IEM.

4-Expectations were not made up front.

5-You talked to the wrong people.

6-Guessing the muisic minister had somethng to prove with some type of commitment.

====

Summary..
Your music minister was right.. the 2 sides were a mismatch.
 
#39
Will Kelly said:
Enjoy your Sunday mornings sleeping in after your gig
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Beliive it or not, that never bothered me. I'd do a gig Saturday night, might get home after 1am or more, be up and out the door to make the 45 minute drive to the church and usually be the first musician besides the MM there by a pretty wide margin beofre 9AM. And wide awake for the entire service and not texting/emailing like some people.
;)


Maybe they didn't like punctuality. I don't know at this point. At least I have a new funny story to tell.
 

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