Hang in there for your numbers guys. Gumby4 will be around in a few days to get them. Welcome everyone.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The Christian Praise and Worship Band Bassists Club Part 4
- Thread starter Ívar Þórólfsson
- Start date
- Status
Very well put!!! I agree with everything that has been said and a HUGE +1 on studybass.com!!! I have been playing since 1996 and the lessons I have learned in a few short weeks using this site is AMAZING... you owe it to yourself to check it out!!!
I love playing with a band. But since I didn't have a band since being in school (years and years ago) I didnt get to play much. Joined a new church 5 years ago and they needed a bass player.....Now get to praise Him with my fingers and I play every week.
Can i have a number please.......
Can i have a number please.......
All I can say is wow and Praise God!! Great thread gang. I'm new to the forum here and I just happened to see the P & W bassists club listed on someone's reply to the review of the SWR M.M. preamp. A little background on me. I've been playing bass off and on for over 40 years. I played semi-pro in a gospel quartet from '71 to '73. Then after that I played in numerous bands. In doing so I fell away from God. You know the story. I rededicated myself to Christ a couple of years ago and he has opened doors for me like you would not believe. I'm now in charge of the audio techs in our Church and play in two of the 5 praise bands. I also play with a singer/songwriter of Christian music and we are getting ready to record a CD of her own music. We are looking at a fall tour. God Willing. The last couple of years have been nothing but a God thing. He has put me in places and has offered me opportunities that only he could have had a hand in. The quality and style of play has never been better. It's too bad I wasted 35 years but better now then never. God Bless.
Thank you very much!You know, he should be able to start on drums in a few months. At least an egg-shaker.
Bass - you might wait until he weighs more than the instrument.
Much joy for you and your family. Congrats!
Welcome our newest members to the club.......
derekd #466
joshmickelson #467
Fret18 #468
Lucky Strike #469
embellisher #470
abrahamseed #471
Jazz4 #472
derekd #466
joshmickelson #467
Fret18 #468
Lucky Strike #469
embellisher #470
abrahamseed #471
Jazz4 #472
There is no way not to get burnt out. I understand that you have a small church but your church needs to find a way to give everyone a break. At least once a quarter, once a month is better.
Maybe your church could find a local Christian band or hire a piano player to due a simple hymn set that would play a Sunday once every three months.
I've been playing with the Calvary Chapel -RR praise/worship team off and on since 1997.
Played in an alternative rock christ centered band call Refraction... and currently just auditioned and get accepted in another ministry/outreach preoject called M16.
I play mainly fretless jazz basses....
At my last gig (a multi-church Jr Hi lockin, and a LOT of fun!) we were given a free hat, a smoothie, and a 3 book set of Rory Noland's "Artist" books. I have previously read the first one (HEART of the Artist"). I am in the 2nd book, and he is talking about that very topic: Burnout.
Just a suggestion. I really enjoyed the first book...
Well I had a great time on sunday. The band is getting better the more we practice and my new Rig was killer. Really starting to get into a grove. All we need now is a drummer............
Take a hard look at why you're feeling burned out, and see if you can make a change in that area. It may even be something not directly related to playing for the church.
You mention setup and teardown; how much gear do you need for a small church? Can you keep anything on-site/setup, or get some friends to help?
I've been playing with the Calvary Chapel -RR praise/worship team off and on since 1997.
Played in an alternative rock christ centered band call Refraction... and currently just auditioned and get accepted in another ministry/outreach preoject called M16.
I play mainly fretless jazz basses....
Yes you can.
Welcome to the club. MJLuke #473
If you don't get Worship Leader magazine try to get a hold of the Jan/Feb 2009 issue. There is an article on pg 34 called "Help For the Misguided leader". Good stuff. Plus on pg 35 the "10 roles of Music in Service of Worship" is a great companion piece.
Unfortunately, I think my church's worship team read it the wrong way. I think they managed to violate every item mentioned in the article plus add two or three of their own.
My church has a weekly attendance of about 3000. We have four services a weekend and in each service there are about 40-50 people who show up about 10-15 minutes early in order to "Be Still".
This weekend the worship team decided to start 15 minutes early. For what reason is still beyond me. It created the biggest mess I've seen in a long time. If they had decided to play reflective songs that aided those trying to "Be Still" maybe if would have worked. But, no. :scowl: They decide to "Rock it out. Demanding, yes that's right, demanding that everyone stand up and clap.
We have about 700-800 people trying to enter the sanctuary and get seated. Tough enough when people are just sitting and waiting for the service to begin. Just try to imagine people trying to get settled in with people sing and clapping. Also, we are always short seats so now the worship team just made it impossible for people to find the last few open seats available.
To add more chaos to the mix, the worship leader thought it a great idea keep people standing during the announcements and offering. By the time they let the pastor speak the congregation was anything but ready. Fortunately, our pastor was able to get us back in the right frame of mind but it he ended up going long. Not a biggie until the worship team comes back up and starts playing again. This is a problem since the people who wish to attend the next service are already waiting the welcome center and the service is suppose to start in 10 minutes. Finally, one of the elders runs up and gives the "cut it" sign.
I wish I could have a DVD of this service and call it, "How to ruin Worship". Sometimes the best teaching comes for the worst example.
P.S. I have e-mail the person in charge of the worship team about this weekend. And some of the items of the e-mail are in this post.
I think the worship team had a good and positive thought about what they wanted to do this weekend, the execution went completely wrong.
Unfortunately, I think my church's worship team read it the wrong way. I think they managed to violate every item mentioned in the article plus add two or three of their own.
My church has a weekly attendance of about 3000. We have four services a weekend and in each service there are about 40-50 people who show up about 10-15 minutes early in order to "Be Still".
This weekend the worship team decided to start 15 minutes early. For what reason is still beyond me. It created the biggest mess I've seen in a long time. If they had decided to play reflective songs that aided those trying to "Be Still" maybe if would have worked. But, no. :scowl: They decide to "Rock it out. Demanding, yes that's right, demanding that everyone stand up and clap.
We have about 700-800 people trying to enter the sanctuary and get seated. Tough enough when people are just sitting and waiting for the service to begin. Just try to imagine people trying to get settled in with people sing and clapping. Also, we are always short seats so now the worship team just made it impossible for people to find the last few open seats available.
To add more chaos to the mix, the worship leader thought it a great idea keep people standing during the announcements and offering. By the time they let the pastor speak the congregation was anything but ready. Fortunately, our pastor was able to get us back in the right frame of mind but it he ended up going long. Not a biggie until the worship team comes back up and starts playing again. This is a problem since the people who wish to attend the next service are already waiting the welcome center and the service is suppose to start in 10 minutes. Finally, one of the elders runs up and gives the "cut it" sign.
I wish I could have a DVD of this service and call it, "How to ruin Worship". Sometimes the best teaching comes for the worst example.
P.S. I have e-mail the person in charge of the worship team about this weekend. And some of the items of the e-mail are in this post.
I think the worship team had a good and positive thought about what they wanted to do this weekend, the execution went completely wrong.
I've been playing with the Calvary Chapel -RR praise/worship team off and on since 1997.
Played in an alternative rock christ centered band call Refraction... and currently just auditioned and get accepted in another ministry/outreach preoject called M16.
I play mainly fretless jazz basses....
I also play for a Calvary Chapel but what is "-RR"? Oh wait, is it "Rio Rancho"?
I am playing a retreat for the youth this coming weekend. It should be a blast! Throw up a prayer for these kids if you get a chance!
Wow. There is a term my military friends use - but I won't repeat it here.
It might be denominational differences, or maybe just congregational, but I can't see this happening in our (much smaller) church. FYI - Our normal attendance is about 200.
We have a well-communicated standing policy that all prep time in the sanctuary is complete 15 minutes before the service start. No music starts sooner than five minutes before. That leaves 10 minutes for quiet time.
I find this a hugely foreign statement. I have to suppose that it goes back to the denominational/congregational differences, mentioned before. The pastor does not run the service? I would find a brief bit of education useful. O, the sheltered life I must live...Unfortunately, we too often see good intentions executed poorly. To think it could have been avoided with a couple brief conversations. I hope it doesn't come back to bite them in the backside.
My church has a very tightly planned schedule. I know because I used to play bass for one of the teams. As churches get bigger there is little room for "go with the flow". This was a definite, "yea fellas, I got an idea" moment.
They rarely work and work less as churches get bigger.
Our pastor does set the design and schedule of the service but, once again, as churches get bigger, pastors can't micromanage the individual service. Somebody decided to take a detour and the person (and we have a person) who is responsible to keep the service on track dropped the ball.
I think the thing that surprised me was they the team responsible for this mess is the best team we have. They are the "go to" team. But even the best have bad days.
On Thursdays, there is a leader meeting. Think the conversation will go like this:
"Yea, last weekend was a train wreak."
"Yes, we know. We had this idea......"
"Let's not have that idea again. OK, now for this weekend....."
Here's the deal, I met this guitarist by networking and he asked me if I could come play at this church that he has just started leading worship at. I'm the first bass player he has found and I am an experienced player, naturally he feels comfortable with me and wants to keep me around, I don't blame him; once you find a good musician to fill a spot you don't want to lose them and have to look all over again for more musicians...
He didn't specify how long he needed me there so I just showed up and played, and after the first Sunday service came the "So I'll see you next week right?" along with the rest of the worship team looking at me with 'Please come back!' looks on their faces. One thing after the other and now I feel like I am really obligated to be there because of the way they keep telling me how lucky they are to have me and how it would not be the same without me... Ive been playing there ever Sunday since October 2008.
The church is about 40 minutes away from me via freeway, along with the fact that I have to bring all my own gear since I don't get plugged in (410svt, amp, bass, cables, stand). We have to be at church 2 hours before the service to practice the set. Its a brand new start-up church and there are sometimes only 20 or 30 people who show up.
The church offered to pay me $50.00 per Sunday but I told them that I would rather not be payed because A) I don't need the money, and its hard financially for a start-up church to pay musicians. B) I feel that my playing along with my tithe could be my offering. (I don't feel there is anything wrong with being paid, though)
So that's the situation, I just feel burned out from it. The funny thing is that while I'm on stage playing I'm having a good time, but that's only 10% of the time and work that is done. At this point I just want to let the WL know that I no longer want to play and kinda give my two weeks notice. But in doing so I feel like I'm kinda letting them down, and really its the fact that I feel like I would be letting them down if I left that is keeping me there each Sunday.
Sorry, kinda a long post.
That helps clarify things.
If that church isn't where you want to be on Sundays, be up front with the WL and let him know you've enjoyed helping them get started, but the commute is too much. Give maybe a month's notice, or whatever you think is a reasonable time for them to find a replacement. Maybe go to an every other week deal for a bit.
If you do like the church and want to stick with them, try working with the WL to get the church to spring for a PA you can plug in to (or a cab or combo), etc. so you don't have to haul anything but your bass. If they were willing to pay you $50/wk, they might not be adverse to spending that money on gear that they can keep.
Hope this helps.
If that church isn't where you want to be on Sundays, be up front with the WL and let him know you've enjoyed helping them get started, but the commute is too much. Give maybe a month's notice, or whatever you think is a reasonable time for them to find a replacement. Maybe go to an every other week deal for a bit.
If you do like the church and want to stick with them, try working with the WL to get the church to spring for a PA you can plug in to (or a cab or combo), etc. so you don't have to haul anything but your bass. If they were willing to pay you $50/wk, they might not be adverse to spending that money on gear that they can keep.
Hope this helps.
- Status
