Pecking Order
It’s our human nature to establish a pecking order, to establish dominance, rule, oppression and degradation. Think about it, look at the animal kingdom, wolf pack, there’s the alpha male, the dominant female, all others are below that, usually a “family” member, same age peers, etc. Now take that in the church house, Pastor, Assistant Pastor, 1st Lady, head deacon, head usher, church secretary, choir director, church organist, church pianist, bassist, lead guitar, drummer.
Where am I goin with this, you’ll see…In the natural world, you have a boss, supervisor, manager, a “kiss up” flunky to the manager, then YOU, and you know the order of this situation…the higher you go, the more you can do, more money, perks, and it’s harder for you to get fired, and you can DUMP on people and the higher up’s, if they like you, will cover for you, because you one of “their boys” now…is this sounding familiar to anybody??
It’s like this in your own family too, for those of you that are blessed to have them, you have: DADDY, MOMMY, SON, DAUGHTER, DOG, CAT, BIRD, FISH, FERRET, LIZARD, ANT FARM, PET ROCK, SNAKE…In that order too! Like life in general, there’s good and bad in this scenario.
What does this mean for us musicians? Well, look at this, for the experienced musicians: remember when you were laughed at, or told to “GET OFF!” and the other musicians got on the piano / organ and you seen the pecking order in full effect! You felt pretty bad, right? Remember that? I do…the reverence they get, the respect, THEN as you got better, the order of the “peck” went in your direction! But as it did did you notice that you all of a sudden didn’t have the time to teach others, or you did the laughing and teasing?? You got to choose when and where you wanted to play? Are you thinking of this?
For the younger cat’s, you’re at the age of “PHAT CHORDS”, getting the ladies attention…and showing up each other with your “new chord” or run..BE CAREFUL!!!!
It WILL come back and bite you in the tale! 1st and foremost, it’s about CHRIST, not you, “phunkmaster” Because when the pecking order comes knockin at your door, you wont be able to handle it, take heed, “YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!” Accept, adapt, and adjust.
For the seasoned musician that think you can appear to be “all that” by degrading another musician, I have news for you, even the Bible says the worse kind of fool is an OLD ONE, you should know better than that, if you want to establish that kind of pecking order, go back to the 7th grade, or go buy a Corvette or something. But don’t do that another person, “Do unto others as you would like to have do unto you”, must have been “whited out” in YOUR Bible!
