Trends of P&W Guitarists

[GeetarPlayer]

This applies to most musicians, not just guitarists. But I was thinking... over the last 10 years there has been a trend... the opportunity for playing out in a club or bar has declined tremendously, and the opportunity for playing in a church worship band has increased greatly.

Has this been your personal experience? Did you used to play out a lot in the "secular" world, and now your only playing happens on Sunday AM? And if so, what made you make that change? Your own desire, or simply taking the opportunities where they come?

Just curious.

[electrablue]

Short answer . . . Yep!

[mrboson]

For guitar, yes in my area. There is a lot of opportunities for good drummers though, both in churches and playing out in general.

[bawdyli'lmonkey]

in my area, there are only a few bars that accept bands with electric guitars. most bars hire acoustic solo acts or duos (edit: or DJs). when "contemporary" services became popular it opened the door for 1 or 2 electric players, at least, per church. I think at least 12 churches around town have contemporary service, over 2x the number of bars that bring in electric acts.

[SoVeryTired]

I've never played in a secular group. Over the last couple of years I've played out at an open mic night at a local bar on a handful of occasions (acoustic and vocals) but other than that I've been playing in church for about 15 years. I'd say that in general things are more 'electric' in church these days, giving more opportunities for electric guitar.

[CharlesCapps]

I have never played in clubs (not knocking anyone who has). I have played in church, with gospel groups, at nursing homes, at VA Hospitals, at many bluegrass festivals. I have and still use both elctric and acoustic. This doesn't count all of the impromptu jam sessions that my friends and I throw together.

[GoldieLocks]

That's a real good point. Church seems to have the most Live music of any community.
For the last 25 years I've played everywhere. And I've seen numerous bar musicians become church musicians - but they don't usually last long in church. Too many rules I guess.

Many years ago I was disappointed that church musicians were all inferior to people playing in the local pub. Many church musicians seem to get just good enough to go through the motions Sunday morning and never really develop fully on their instrument. In the last few years i've seen a change. Church players are getting serious.
At the moment I enjoy jamming on Chorus's more than going through the motions of recreating tired old classic Rock and Pop songs for the local drunks.

But with the never ending rules and technology of modern churches; pretty soon no-one will have any fun playing there. Musics got to breathe.

[mrboson]

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

But with the never ending rules and technology of modern churches; pretty soon no-one will have any fun playing there. Musics got to breathe.

I think there is lots of reasons to hope. Trends are not always logical. The trend in P&W to silent stages and amp modeling, brand of guitar, etc. are not always based on logic, or real musical reasoning. A lot of it is fad and fashion, so you in your 25 years have had to see lots of trends come and go. I remember when silent stage was really being pushed, and IMO/E it was not market driven so much as it was vendors doing a lot to create a market. It worked. Music in the church is just as susceptible to marketing as any other genre. Now we all use the same style of lighting, stage arrangements, IEMs, etc. Things look better, and arguably sound better. But is the worship better because of it?

Here is why we can remain positive through all these trends. We remain faithful to the calling, and play through the cycles. No worries... some "new thing" will arise, create a following and a buzz, and everyone will be copying that in no time.

In the meantime, to me, playing live P&W is better than playing the secular gigs. I have done both, they are both great musical outlets, both fun, but I wouldn't trade my playing/singing at 2-3 services a week for anything, even while I bite my tongue sometimes that I need to pull the Line 6 stuff out and leave the tube amp at home. Ok so God is still working on me on that one.... I'm a WIP no doubt.

[bobsway]

I've always been antipathetic about joining a bar band, so after hearing my brother-in-law's church band at a Southern Baptist service down in North Carolina I sorta started thinking maybe this is the way to go...
And if I thought of it that means zillions of others already have.

[bawdyli'lmonkey]

Originally Posted by GoldieLocks

Many years ago I was disappointed that church musicians were all inferior to people playing in the local pub. Many church musicians seem to get just good enough to go through the motions Sunday morning and never really develop fully on their instrument. In the last few years i've seen a change. Church players are getting serious.

Its not necessarily that they are getting serious, but church leaders who are (edit) sympathetic to visitors and Sunday morning spectators who want pro quality music, so the church hires regional pros or sets a pro standard that amateurs have to meet before they can serve in the church. I went to a conference about worship leading and the hosting church talked about how they pay up to $300 a weekend per professional musician. To me that calls into question the validity of the ministry vs. business/marketing. But that's just me.
In the past ministry was built on understanding that we are all supposed to know each other, and with love superseding everything else, accept each others' flaws and shortcomings. With business taking over ministry, distraction-free entertainment value in services has become more important than commitment and character of servants. That may be why you notice they don't last long in church.

[GeetarPlayer]

I've pretty much decided I will always be playing guitar in some kind of band. First, serving on P&W at church. I know there's a possibility that falls through (they change style, there are 3 other players way better than me, etc) so I'm thinking I would do something outside of church. So second would be a band that will still glorify Him. If not that, then some other kind of band just for fun.

[waparker4]

In Philadelphia nobody goes to church.. but the bar scene is growing and thriving!

[Thighbanez]

Nope!

Started out playing in church, played in a contemporary band outside of my church...
But that's about it.

I'm probably not good enough to play in a bar band....


yet.

[rokdog49]

At worship, you have a guaranteed, captive audience of people who are there to hear and sing music. The performance is appreciated, and so is talent.

In bars you have hit or miss crowds, over-zealous consumption of adult beverages, indifference to the music and the performers and on and on.

There are a lot of folks of my generation who used to play in bars. Now they play in Church. I can honestly say most of them are happier now for a number of reasons

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

In bars you have hit or miss crowds, over-zealous consumption of adult beverages, indifference to the music and the performers and on and on.

I could say the same of some services I've played in (except for the alcohol)!

[motorfin]

Two different animals all together. Times change and so does the method for outreach in ministry. Thats the reason for increased opportunity for musicians in church. The logic behind it is, or should be outreach. Mainstream chritianity has evolved and embraced contemporary music as an outreach. Wasn't always that way. As far as the opportunity diminished in bars/clubs go,I think it depends on the genre you play. Softer, less edged music is just naturally easier for an accoustically challenged building to hold. Ya get a hard rocking band with half stacks and a double bass drummer in and the sonic footprint is much larger. Folks don't always appreciate that. Its all about how much beer the place sells so I guess its diminished some depending on the style of music your taking in.

[bawdyli'lmonkey]

Originally Posted by motorfin

The logic behind it is, or should be outreach. Mainstream chritianity has evolved and embraced contemporary music as an outreach. Wasn't always that way.

It comes and goes. Wasn't it Bach who used bar tunes with Holy lyrics to get congregations to sing along? Whether generational or educational, secular music styles are revered then dismissed, then revered again. Its like school. Preschool students learn things that are later in life viewed as childish or theoretically good but ultimately incorrect in the "real world." Secular music is used in preschool for Christians (i.e. seeker-sensitive churches or church for the unchurched), but over time the heart sees the music differently. That generation goes on to create P&W based on what their studies have taught them P&W is, and a new generation is brought up on secular music. Worship is revolutionary. Nothing is new under the sun, it just comes back around.

[TelecasterSam]

It seems that a lot of my old friends i played in clubs with are now playing in church. Some of the bands put together by them have been very good. I now play in church and love the hours compared to the VFW, American Legion, and clubs. We never made that much in the clubs anyway, after expenses, so playing for free is no problem. Plus it is fun and I feel like I'm helping the younger musicians. Yes, it seems to be a trend.

[Jhengsman]

When I was growing up I learned that the better musicians in my school had developed their performing chops in church. We were kids so there was not any thought of playing in clubs. Although a few became gigging pros there was no SRV among us. That being said I have only been in a club with live music a few times in my life where in some places every corner has a church. Not necessarily with a full band but most do have live music.

[Jazzerstang]

Pretty much. this is true, but not because there are not chances to play in rock clubs in Worcester or Boston, but out of a steady gig and family combined-- and you get a good word out of it. I believe it's a chance for me to use God's gifts for him.