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Old November 11th, 2008, 06:52 PM   #76 (permalink)
sax4blues
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Jose, CA
Age: 55
Posts: 3,060
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy G. McCoy View Post
Hey Jeff,

If you want to give of your time...that is your business....
At one point in time...I had a day job..so pay was not an issue for me playing guitar in church...

I have been making my living playing guitar for a long time now...I get compensated and judged for it at the same time.

I can't provide for my family playing for free on a regular basis.
This doesn't mean I don't do some things for free here and there and give back to the church or community. I DO....but I don't do it every week...couldn't pay my bills if I did that.

Ever wonder why the really good musicians get out of church altogether?

Secular gigs pay a lot more.....but there are a few of us that want to stay grounded and in church because we were raised that way!
I'm not sure I understand....

If I am a professional musician - I can only be involved in church as a musician, and I must be paid? And if I'm not treated as a professional musician then I get out of church altogether?

I didn't know church was a gig to be factored into my financial life. It starts with God saving me and then me responding/giving in thankfulness. There are certainly times that I do not give my time to my church because I am working at my profession. I do know people that have day jobs that have to work Sunday morning. So they go to church Sunday night, or Saturday, or any other time. I would assume a professional musician who has a paying gig on Sunday morning would also be able to find a church with worship times that fit his work schedule so he would be able to support his family.

I am definitely starting from a limited/biased point of view. My large church is basically all volunteers except for 2 full time pastors, secretary, finance manager, and janitor. As I've alluded we have many highly skilled/educated people in many positions and none are paid. As for the band, as best I can tell, no one has ever asked to be paid one dime, ever. In fact the band members have been some of the biggest financial contributors to the equipment.
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