when people act weird about your gear...

[friendlybass]

I had a church gig yesterday and thought I did everything right. It's a suit and tie sort of church so myself and the other musicians (my dad on drums and the pastor who I do most of my work through on keys) dressed nicely but the usual protocol for this circle of churches is the band dresses down from the pastor like 2-3 notches. Here's where this gig went odd.
I play very non gospel instruments typically cause its not really my thing usually, which I've taken crap for but my gear is what I've got, and having nice shirts for these gigs is one thing but a bass I use exclusively for this is not what Im about. So initially a deacon/associate pastor comments on my bass pretty rudely, calls it a kid bass and asked if that's all I've got to play. It's an MIJ jaguar bass in oly white, I didn't exactly show up with my SG bass or Jr. Jet. Then the whole worship team gets to talking about my pedalboard (a skateboard with pedals mounted to it) and asking if I really needed to use it or if it could be positioned out of sight. I did so to prevent a scene cause it wasn't my church, and I didn't really need the pedals, I brought it because I dislike unmounting my sansamp, vibe, chorus, and delay or removing my OD's and fuzz just for one gig.
So what's etiquette like in this situation? Do I acknowledge my less than professional appearing gear and back down like I did? Or should I have used what I use tastefully and do my thing regardless of what others say/think? Can we all agree the deacon was out of line to diss my bass?
Thanks for listening to the rant TB. I attached pictures of the gear in question for your scrutiny.

 

[BigBobbyBass]

Exactly what I would expect, unfortunately .... Funny how at punk shows no one ever makes rude comments about gear..

 

[friendlybass]

Exactly what I would expect, unfortunately .... Funny how at punk shows no one ever makes rude comments about gear..

Amen to that.

 

[Photobassist]

I see nothing wrong with your gear. If I was attending, I probably would've approached you out of curiosity and asked about your skate-effects

 

[hrodbert696]

Love the skateboard! I want one now, and I don't even skate.

My question would be this - were you there as a ministry, to play music as your contribution to the life of the church, or were you there as a hired musician? If you were a hired musician, then the church is a client and they may have an image they want to maintain that doesn't include skateboard pedalboards up front. Objecting to the Jag is silly, though, it's a perfectly respectable bass. Maybe the deacon was just an awkward type and meant it as a good-humored ribbing rather than a real criticism, but failed to get the intended humor across. If you were there as a ministry, it is on you to decide how to approach the gig in a way that serves the worship rather than yourself; but I would expect any decent church to be gracious about honoring whatever gift gets brought to them, even if it's not what they had in mind - the widow with two mites and all that.

I do tone things down myself playing in church vs. a bar or club. I play much simpler, the pedalboard stays home, and I don't bring the bass that has a gigantic decal of Batgirl on it. It's much more about supporting the worship than putting myself forward as an entertainer. Which is not to say you did wrong to bring what you did - it's your decision to figure out what fits the gig.

There certainly are many churches who are more uptight about image than about the gospel, and the story doesn't reflect very well on them, at least as you've told it. But then nobody's perfect and we can all use a little grace and forgiveness.

 

[Icemanaroonie]

I have no idea how anyone could be mad at that pedalboard, it's sick! How are the pedals sticking on, velcro?

And I really don't get why they'd dislike that bass, as far as bases go I think it's pretty classy. But I've never played churches, and I doubt I ever will, so take anything I say with a grain of salt.

 

[Shardik]

To me, comments like that are just weird and out of place.

I would still respectfully explain to them that this is the gear I find practical to contribute with the proper bass sound for many occations. I would assure them that the gear can produce the sound needed to fit the church music.

If they continued to pick on looks, I would tell them that music it is more about sound than looks, but that the bass is not a toy, it is a tool.

 

[Jay Corwin]

If you're a hired gun, then I would say they have the right to ask for certain things. If you're donating your time to the church, then they should be thanking you. The pedal board does seem a bit much for a church gig.

However knocking a guys bass that is about to take the band stand with you is in poor taste, church gig or otherwise. That's not exactly getting off on the right foot before you start playing music together.

Also - when has a Fender bass ever been inappropriate?

 

[Shardik]

I'm curious about who would be offended by your gear? I suspect the attending audience wouldn't even see or look at your pedal board, and even if they did, why would they be offended.

I am not too familiar with churches abroad (I live in Norway), but here noone except the occational musician would even notice, and most musicians would find the board slightly amusing, intriguing or shrug it off with a "whatever floats your boat".

What is a "worship team", and why should they even have an opinion?

 

[jchrisk1]

Awfully judgmental of the pastor. I'd say he should practice what he preaches.

 

[brianrost]

So what's etiquette like in this situation? Do I acknowledge my less than professional appearing gear and back down like I did?

If it wasn't a church gig I would have just packed up and left. What the heck happened with playing music in church anyway? People have lost focus on why they are there.

 

[5below]

The deacon was way out of line. Your gear is your gear and I don't see what earthly (or other-worldly) difference it makes. It would have been much better if the "worship team" merely said "Thank you for playing, we appreciate it". What do they worhip, anyway? Mammon?

 

[shadowtippy]

If your bass had "questionable" stickers or images on it, I could understand negativity about it. An unadorned bass like yours is, IMO, nothing to get upset about. I think your bass looks great.

 

[Icemanaroonie]

It would have been much better if the "worship team" merely said "Thank you for playing, we appreciate it". What do they worhip, anyway? Mammon?

P basses, I assume.

 

[Shardik]

I guess my latest flea market find (donated to my children) may have raised more than an eyebrow in that church:

 

[LowNloud1]

Are they paying you for your rehearsal and performance? Unless you are being paid, ignore them. Do your pedals pose a safety risk? If your playing is not a problem, what is the real problem?

Unless you have a decal on your guitar saying "Satan Lives", they seem rather ungrateful for your time and effort, IMO

 

[hrodbert696]

What is a "worship team", and why should they even have an opinion?

"Worship team" = church band.

 

[bass12]

Sounds like the kind of church that would turn Jesus away because he wasn't dressed sharply enough.

 

[KickingBass]

At my church they like a very clean appearance onstage to look professional, to the point of taking the combo amp and replacing it with a preamp so theres less going on onstage. I even have to put my binder with notes in a concealed place sometimes. A pedalboard skateboard would totally not fly there BUT I think that's a good thing. A funny looking skateboard on the platform at church just doesn't really go IMO. Id be all for it at a show somewhere other than a praise and worship service just for the sake of being reverent. Now as for your bass, nothing childlike or weird about a Jaguar bass, Id rock that at church for sure. Just my honest opinion, nothing personal.

 

[mcarp555]

I bought a Telecaster off a guy once because his church told him it was too "rock and roll". Silly people.