Drumming Careers

[Estring]

@playhear, u think a signifcant part of the budget "should" be for the musicians??

Yes, but keep in mind, when I say "significant part" I mean "significant percentage" of the budget. That percentage might be 1%, maybe 8% or maybe 20% of the church budget. The percentage depends on the capabilities of the individual church. Whatever the percentage is, it should be "significant" to that church. Thus, a church with little cash won't be able to pay the musicians much, while a church with a lot of cash will.

Think of it like this. A top musician practices several hours a day and may have even paid a lot of tuition to go to school like you said. Many musicians prepare as hard as or harder than the pastor. Your skills are worth something.

The head of your church is probably not a musician. So, you may have been conditioned into thinking that musicians shouldn't get paid much. That doesn't sit well with me. The musicians define a church and, in my opinion, more so than the pastor. Don't be afraid to get paid. There's no sin there.

By paying musicians, the church can command more from the musicians. The musicians may not have to take the secular gigs. Over time, the musicians will become better. The music will be better. More people will show up. The church will receive more tithes. More tithes for the Lord is a way of praising God. The church can use the extra money to help the community, set up youth programs, build better facilities, raise musician salaries, etc.

There you go! That's what I'm talking about!  

[BEATBOXERZ]

You brothers seem to know each other on this sight personally so I will say this and leave it alone. I do not depend on drumming or keyboard playing to support my 3 kids and my wife. I'm a Deacon ( a servant basically) in my chruch and the music minister for the youth choir. I do not get paid a dime. I don't complain. I don't even gig outside of chruch anymore.I have a good job and so does my wife.If I wanted to I could be giging in L.A. or the Bay Area.The last gig I did that paid me well was a wedding 3yrs. ago and I enjoyed it. But I don't miss giging. I miss playing with great musicians because I'm the only musician in my chruch. The organist left because he felt he wasn't getting paid enough. Mine you this person was getting paid $2000.00 a month, he was given a 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora that belong to the pastor and was paid for by the chruch, and other perks. My pastor fell into that trap of making this person the center piece of the ministry because this person was very skilled. When asked for more money and didn't get it he packed his bags and was gone. Now, it's just me so I gotta do what I gotta do for God. DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO FOR GOD... PERIOD.

[4hisglory]

Myy point exactly, when you start paying the musicians stuff like that constantly will happen.

[playhear]

Myy point exactly, when you start paying the musicians stuff like that constantly will happen.

Yes and no. For every negative example that BEATBOXERZ gives, I can provide 5 positive examples. As usual, however, negative examples tend to make the headlines.

[playhear]

DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO FOR GOD... PERIOD.

I agree wholeheartedly. As I said before, I’m not a full-time musician. However, I accept the role of advocating for full-time musicians.

To the full-time musician, I say allow people like me to advocate for you. If you don’t want me to push for you to get more money, I can be out without a problem without any love lost.

[fenderjazz]

Myy point exactly, when you start paying the musicians stuff like that constantly will happen.

The person in Beatboxerz example could have had a very good reason for doing what he did. People change jobs all the time but that doesn't mean that all companies should stop paying their employees. Some musicians take advantage of churches and some churches take advantage of musicians but I think most people try to be fair to eachother.  

[4hisglory]

Yeah, that is true.  I have heard of stories where musicians faithfully played for churches for years for free, then the pastor decided to bring in someone from the outside and pay them, kicking the faithful musician out, telling him "i

When the paid musician left a few months later, the pastor asked the faithful musician to come back and didnt pay them anything so I do know it wokrs both ways.

[derrickmo]

JFUNKY I wish you were in Danville VA. So you could help me out , man its hard finding drummas that will play out of the goodness of there heart for free. Then the ones that will play for free other drummas around here be trying to pursae them to charge. So its good to know there are drummas like you man. Hit me up with some samples man, cause I do play for a national recording artist and man we could use a drumma on recordings doc.

Holla
Derrick

[Da_Drumma]

Alright look, I hate to put my churches business out like this but oh well.  Someone is going to get edified by this I'm sure.  You have to better your life and your family so if you go to school for computers than so be it.  Remember, we live in this world but we are not from this world.  I don't understand why cats are comparing secular music to jobs anyway.  Two different things.  We have to work.  We have to provide for our families. I know a lot of cats that have a career and blaze.  My church has about 400 - 450 members and growing.  We have a fairly new temple that we built in '98.  I live 35 - 40 min. away from my church.  Like I said before, I am the Lead Drummer.  (God put me there)  You know how much I get paid?  $0.  I get about a $50 bonus every January.  Do I complain about gas? No.  Do I complain about how far it is? No.  Do I get blessed?  OH YEAH.  God has given me a new promotion, a new house, a wonderful Wife and soon to be 2 year old daughter, health, life and my talent is being multiplied to the fullest.  Am I satisfied? No.  I want to reach and play all over the world showing off the gift that God has given me.  I also want to be a better Preacher.  Everything I do is for Him.  I want to please Him and want Him to be pleased with me and the talents he has given me.  *This is MY OPINION and NO ONE ELSE'S.  I only play the Lord's music and I do want to go to school to get a degree in percussion for HIS GLORY.*  That's my calling.  If I get paid or NOT.  It doesn't matter.  I've never been paid.  I just get some sort of offering once a year from my church.  But you know what?  I'm HAPPY and I am a  minister of God's music. NO ONE can take that from me.  

Boy you better stop! A message like that will make ya shout!!!! Amen to that!! Now yall are hearing a real word and a real testimony! That's what im talking about!!!!! Man with a message like that you are about to blessed from head to toe!!!!God bless, bless, bless you!!