Currently the band is composed of myself (bass, part-time drummer, and drum tech), my buddy (lead guitar and part-time bass), the worship leader (rhythm guitar and lead vocals), the band leader (occasional sax and vocals), and the pastor's son (drums).
Every Sunday morning at 6:30, a buddy of mine and I drive an hour and a half to play at this 50-person church for $50 a gig, then drive an hour and a half back. It was never about the money, more about helping out the church in worship. When they brought me on, they specifically asked me to upgrade their set and make recommendations for new drums, cymbals, mics, etc. in addition to playing bass and occasionally filling in on set. For the last year and month I've been playing, things have been up and down but recently we've plateau'd and tensions have risen.
In January, we made a goal to record an album before the end of the year and invest in a new set for the church. Neither of which have even been worked on due to the church's budget problems. I stopped giving the occasional suggestion for new gear back in July after hearing about their budget issues, and even bought new drumheads with my own money for them after they couldn't afford new ones. My buddy has made suggestions for D.I. boxes and also loaned them some of his. The only progression they made is buying a drum mic pack for the live stream and for when we'd record, absolutely nada besides that.
Full-band practice is difficult, as the pastor's son lives an hour away and doesn't want to drive the distance, so we practice an hour before the gig. It's the same thing every week, and there's no variation or experimentation as the band leader doesn't allow it and the drummer (who started on set two years ago) can't keep up with anything other than four on the floor and doesn't practice besides with us. I don't mind playing the roots and fifths as long as the congregation enjoys it and the service goes well.
Tensions recently have arisen due to the pastor's son ordering us to start recording because he wants an album out before the end of the year. He expects us to come up on Saturdays and stay the night and also stay late on Sundays, both are hard for the two of us as we both have obligations outside of the church and can't just drop them at a moment's notice (work, gigs, cycling, etc.). He has no experience in recording and believes it to be easy and an album being able to be knocked out in a day or two. I'd have no problem if this was all planned out, but he often springs it on us, thinking he can volunteer our time, and expects us to drop what we're doing to stay.
I had planned to leave by January if things hadn't gotten better, mostly to focus on school and work. I gave the band leader and pastor's son my notice in September, and their response was "Yeah, we'll find your replacement." In addition, they've been talking about how little my buddy and I have given to the church and how often we leave right after church (mostly for homework and other obligations), I've overhead them talking about it a few times now.
What really takes the cake is when the worship leader informed me this past Sunday that the band leader and pastor's son have been talking about my buddy and I for quite some time. In particular, they said that I had anger and authority problems, that I was always making the focus on money, and that they were tired of my suggestions for the drumset (again, haven't made one since July). I can agree on the anger issues as I went through a rough patch back in March/April and I was always frustrated, I don't recall snapping at anybody though. No clue what the authority problems were about, as I've always gone with the flow and I never saw myself as a leader in the band and never attempted to argue with any directions. No clue where the money thing is coming from either, as I never brought up the topic of money before and it was never an issue for me. The drum suggestions one just makes me laugh though.
All this explains why our Sunday services have had tension in the air and my buddy and I share the same sentiment that we're not wanted there now. The others seem to have a cold shoulder.
The worship leader said he used to agree with them but informed me of their issues with us because he feels they're overly nitpicking and he wants me to talk to them, which I'll be doing this Sunday. I'm hoping that a talk will ease all this out, but it really offends me that they're thinking like this. I'd love to dedicate more time to the band but a degree and job comes before it.
I really wanted to stick this all out till January because I hate dumping a band for issues, but this is getting really difficult to stay. My buddy has also said the same thing, and feels like leaving right now.
TL;DR: church band used to flourish but now tensions have arisen due to overly large expectations and talking behind backs and I'm thinking about dropping it.
Got any advice guys?
Every Sunday morning at 6:30, a buddy of mine and I drive an hour and a half to play at this 50-person church for $50 a gig, then drive an hour and a half back. It was never about the money, more about helping out the church in worship. When they brought me on, they specifically asked me to upgrade their set and make recommendations for new drums, cymbals, mics, etc. in addition to playing bass and occasionally filling in on set. For the last year and month I've been playing, things have been up and down but recently we've plateau'd and tensions have risen.
In January, we made a goal to record an album before the end of the year and invest in a new set for the church. Neither of which have even been worked on due to the church's budget problems. I stopped giving the occasional suggestion for new gear back in July after hearing about their budget issues, and even bought new drumheads with my own money for them after they couldn't afford new ones. My buddy has made suggestions for D.I. boxes and also loaned them some of his. The only progression they made is buying a drum mic pack for the live stream and for when we'd record, absolutely nada besides that.
Full-band practice is difficult, as the pastor's son lives an hour away and doesn't want to drive the distance, so we practice an hour before the gig. It's the same thing every week, and there's no variation or experimentation as the band leader doesn't allow it and the drummer (who started on set two years ago) can't keep up with anything other than four on the floor and doesn't practice besides with us. I don't mind playing the roots and fifths as long as the congregation enjoys it and the service goes well.
Tensions recently have arisen due to the pastor's son ordering us to start recording because he wants an album out before the end of the year. He expects us to come up on Saturdays and stay the night and also stay late on Sundays, both are hard for the two of us as we both have obligations outside of the church and can't just drop them at a moment's notice (work, gigs, cycling, etc.). He has no experience in recording and believes it to be easy and an album being able to be knocked out in a day or two. I'd have no problem if this was all planned out, but he often springs it on us, thinking he can volunteer our time, and expects us to drop what we're doing to stay.
I had planned to leave by January if things hadn't gotten better, mostly to focus on school and work. I gave the band leader and pastor's son my notice in September, and their response was "Yeah, we'll find your replacement." In addition, they've been talking about how little my buddy and I have given to the church and how often we leave right after church (mostly for homework and other obligations), I've overhead them talking about it a few times now.
What really takes the cake is when the worship leader informed me this past Sunday that the band leader and pastor's son have been talking about my buddy and I for quite some time. In particular, they said that I had anger and authority problems, that I was always making the focus on money, and that they were tired of my suggestions for the drumset (again, haven't made one since July). I can agree on the anger issues as I went through a rough patch back in March/April and I was always frustrated, I don't recall snapping at anybody though. No clue what the authority problems were about, as I've always gone with the flow and I never saw myself as a leader in the band and never attempted to argue with any directions. No clue where the money thing is coming from either, as I never brought up the topic of money before and it was never an issue for me. The drum suggestions one just makes me laugh though.
All this explains why our Sunday services have had tension in the air and my buddy and I share the same sentiment that we're not wanted there now. The others seem to have a cold shoulder.
The worship leader said he used to agree with them but informed me of their issues with us because he feels they're overly nitpicking and he wants me to talk to them, which I'll be doing this Sunday. I'm hoping that a talk will ease all this out, but it really offends me that they're thinking like this. I'd love to dedicate more time to the band but a degree and job comes before it.
I really wanted to stick this all out till January because I hate dumping a band for issues, but this is getting really difficult to stay. My buddy has also said the same thing, and feels like leaving right now.
TL;DR: church band used to flourish but now tensions have arisen due to overly large expectations and talking behind backs and I'm thinking about dropping it.
Got any advice guys?
In my world, "church" is a verb, not a noun.
