My Easter gig pays...

[Joe Baker]

I'll be singing in the choir.
_____________________________
Joe Baker, who has rarely been paid to play -- and will NEVER be paid to sing!

[MikeMason]

rutter te deum. 1 rehearsal 3 svcs. 325.00. 1 rehearsal 2 svcs of a church"cantata" 225.00. hearing my sound reverb off a huge stone church-priceless....

[Tom Mason]

1 performance and 8 rehearsals at $50.00 each, plus performing 2 of the selections on Sunday Mornings going in,

$550.00 for Easter related gig. It also happens on Palm Sunday, so I have room for another Easter gig.

Tom Mason

[Captain Sousie]

Playing the part of Jesus in our Easter production. Rehearsals twice a week for one month, 2 dress rehearsals, 4 church services with 1 song each, 2 nights of production.

Gratis,
Sou

[Leland]

I have Easter off, so I can sleep in.

[Dylan King]

I would never play or participate it an "Easter" activity. It is a pagan holiday and has nothing at all to do with Christ.

[Chuck Jackson]

Hhm, I thought all Christians thought that Christmas was a Pagan Holiday and that Easter was the time to celebrate Christ. Or do I have my facts wrong? Does the rest of the world have it's facts wrong? Interesting.

Chuck

[MaryAnn]

I don't do Easter gigs or Christmas gigs. They are Christian holidays, and I find I can't tolerate the church services.

MA

[Joe Baker]

MSM, I understand where you're coming from -- a lot of the trappings around secular Easter celebration (Easter Bunny, Easter eggs, etc.) have their roots in pagan ceremony and celebrations. And I have plenty of problem with the way some churches turn it into "sweeps week", putting on the dog for the folks who only show up once a year. But whatever happened back then, and however misdirected some are in the dressing up of Easter, I see no call to paint the entire small-o-orthodox Christian world as pagans. For me it is a week when we specifically remember and celebrate Christ's resurrection. What's Pagan about that?

Even at Christmas, my family does two separate celebrations: a secular holiday when we just enjoy giving to one another and spending time together, and a religious observance when those of us who are Christians recognize that "the Word", who "was with God and was God", "became flesh and dwelt among us". I am fully aware that it is NOT an anniversary, and also aware that many of the trappings -- especially of the secular celebration -- have their roots in pagan rituals; but I don't worship my Christmas tree -- I just think it's pretty.
_______________________
Joe Baker, who respects MSM's sincerity, and his right to believe what he believes, but felt that an opposing viewpoint should be voiced.

[Joe Baker]

I don't do Easter gigs or Christmas gigs. They are Christian holidays, and I find I can't tolerate the church services.

MA

MA, I appreciate your stance on this. I think one of the best things about NOT being a professional musician is that I'll NEVER find myself in the situation of having to play in support of an organization that I don't support, politically, morally, or religiously. I just don't think I could play music to support worship of a god I don't believe in.

Of course, as a Christian I'm saddened whenever I hear of anyone who has rejected the Christian faith, but I do respect your integrity.
___________________________
Joe Baker, who is glad we live in a place where MSM, MA and I are all allowed to believe such different things.

[TonyZ]

I don't do Easter gigs or Christmas gigs. They are Christian holidays, and I find I can't tolerate the church services.

MA

MA, I appreciate your stance on this. I think one of the best things about NOT being a professional musician is that I'll NEVER find myself in the situation of having to play in support of an organization that I don't support, politically, morally, or religiously. I just don't think I could play music to support worship of a god I don't believe in.

Of course, as a Christian I'm saddened whenever I hear of anyone who has rejected the Christian faith, but I do respect your integrity.

My mother is saddned by the fact that I play in church for money. I tell her that the positive aspect is that I have been exposed to nearly every branch of the Christian faith, and actually did an orchestra gig in a synagogue. Well rounded, I say!

[Captain Sousie]

Hhm, I thought all Christians thought that Christmas was a Pagan Holiday and that Easter was the time to celebrate Christ. Or do I have my facts wrong? Does the rest of the world have it's facts wrong? Interesting.

Chuck

Oh bloody hell! you two had to open up that can of worms didn't you. In some people's minds, Easter=fertility feltival to the goddess Ishtar. Eggs=fertility symbol etc. What the people doing this seem to neglect is that, as most of 'the world' sees it, there is some involvement with Christ. So, whether certain Christians want to see it or not, it is involved with Christ. There is more to the issue in the form of most Christian holidays being based on the times of pagan holidays ad nauseum.

Sou

[goldenmoose]

$100 for 4 sets at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. It isn't an Easter gig, but it is on Easter.

[Tom Mason]

I may be opening another can of worms here, but here it is.

I undersatnd the point that some people think that musicians do not deserve to be paid at church services. This statement does not hold merit for a number of reasons, the two most pertinent being that:

1. The Bible teaches that you should not expect something for nothing. We are taught to work for our pay, and pay for what we get.
2. We are also taught by the Bible to take care of those who are working for us in the ministry.

One should realize that a person who takes their time and comes to the church to perform is commitint an act of ministry, even if they do not see the act as such. If my congregation does not give some support to those musicians, they have commited an act that is against Bible teachings.

There are those who wish to give a solo in a particular service, and they do not get paid. That is their gift to God, and they deserve the chance to praise as they are led.

Some Chirstians will contend that musicians should play for free because of the love that they have for God and Jesus. If that is the case, then the same Christians should give the musician free food and lodging, and assist in paying the bills. Needless to say, I don't see me getting a free meal and tires from the Wal-Mart manager because I played music in his church.

I have stepped into the field of music leadership in my church. I make sure that the musicians who constantly work in services get paid something. With a church of our size, it means $40.00 per service for our pianist and organist. I get $50.00 per service. When I book musicians from outside, I book at the local rate of pay, and I cover any shortage from my own pocket if my budget can't handle the situation.

I hope to not have offended anyone, but there is a truth to the situation. A contractor would not be expected to build an addition on to a building; the air and heat would not be repaired, and the water and electricity would not flow for free. You should not be expected to do your job for free.

Tom Mason

[Joe Baker]

Tom, I agree completely.

I see two reasons that a person might play music in a church -- and one doesn't NECESSARILY preclude the other. The first is as an act of worship. The second is for a paycheck. The way I look at it, God has provided me with abilities apart from music by which to support my family, which allows me to offer whatever meager musical ability I have as an offering of worship, without asking anything in return. Our choir director, however, and our pianist and organist, are musicians. That's what they do. Their livelihood depends on them being paid for making music (and writing and teaching it). I'd no more expect them to work without pay than I would the guy who comes to fix the air conditioner.

I always squirm a little at hiring pros from outside the church to "perform", though. Nothing against the pros themselves, just the policy. It seems to me to turn church into a theater, and a worship service into a show. I just don't think that's right. I'd much prefer to hear heartfelt, if lower quality, music offered by parishioners than very fine professional quality music from people who don't share the mission and heart of the church. For those pros who DO share our faith, I don't like the idea of taking them out of their own churches.

But if a pro is invited to play, make no mistake: he deserves to be paid.
____________________________
Joe Baker, for whom the question of whether pros should be paid is moot.

[corbasse]

I would never play or participate it an "Easter" activity. It is a pagan holiday and has nothing at all to do with Christ.

All christian holidays are to some extent hijacked pagan holidays. Does that alter the christian concept behind those days?

[tubatooter1940]

Easter has always been one of my favorite holidays.The Easter Bunny thing is a drag but the high celebrations in the church are nice and this is the time of year when southerners can get back to sailing at night.
Bikini season is almost here and the beach bunnies are all on diets.
My grandson is going to hunt eggs in the morning and the yacht club is having a big sailboat race (I fail to understand why they race unless the
slow boat speed gives the crew more time to swill beer).
We will play for the party after the race and undoubtedly,will swill some beer ourselves.
tubatooter1940
www.johnreno.com/

[ThomasDodd]

I always squirm a little at hiring pros from outside the church to "perform", though. Nothing against the pros themselves, just the policy... For those pros who DO share our faith, I don't like the idea of taking them out of their own churches.

I'm with you there Joe. I can think of much better ways for the church to spend money than hiring musicians.

On you first point, I think any congregation has enough musicians to fill the needs. Why aren't they volunteering to begin with? How many former band members do you think are in an average congegation? Sure they may not have picked up an instrument in years, but perhaps the church should encourage them to do so?

I know a local church I attended has a small band. Bass, trombone, trumpet, and keyboard. I know one of they guys at least is not a "pro", he's an E.E. and works at a local company I worked at for a while (not as and engineer though). I asked about joining and was rejected outright. That's not the attitude for the church. They should encourage the congregation to join.

[MartyNeilan]

Wise man say:

Don't pick up brown easter eggs off lawn if you have dog.

[tubatooter1940]

My neighbor was a tugboat captain and worked late the Saturday before
Easter.He got home at 2 AM and colored two dozen eggs for the kids,hid them around in the yard and went to bed. Come the crack of dawn,his kids woke him up crying because the Easter Bunny hadn't come.
He pried himself out of bed and looked in the yard where he had hidden the eggs.He found a few shreds of eggshell-but no eggs.Then a large belch from the dog solved the mystery.He managed to keep his eyes open long enough to boil and color two dozen more eggs and the dog seemed content to leave these alone.