kicking someone off the organ

[Big_Al]

As for me, when I visit another church or at my church, the choir or praise team will not sing without the band. In one case, the director requested me. As for the praise team, they will not play without me (visiting or at my church). There was one time, a young organist refused to get off. He continued to play. I walked over to the organ, sat next to him, and slid him off the bench and immediately start palying. I did not suggest you do this. However, it had to be done.

Ask your director or praise team to announce you if needed.

-Al

[allonesound]

As for me i will take a break just give it up when someone comes in and wants to play, i dont mind im on it every other sunday so... but when i go to another church i want to be blessed so i just chill  and go play ect. after church or whatever, or ill just take turns>> be like ill play fast and you play slow songs or something, i dont mind learning a new stuff to a song so i give it up and let my fingers take a break !

[organ man1990]

 I got different ways of approaching  that road....
   If My pastor is preaching and hes a guest then he usually has his choir sing first so i automatically have to go up there no matter wat. So if the guy's is aged then ill say "excuse me may i borrow that for my choir and pastor real quick?" I f it's a young cat, I'll say " Ay man lemme rock these keys while my pastor and choir is up there man?" When I'm done i say to anybody..."Pleasure doin buissess wit ya."

[jaymont7]

when i go to other churches i wait sometimes until the person singin or the people singin to call me cause sometimes the musician playin act like he dont want to get up and if you been playin for a while and going different places you know that tipe when you see them so i just let the person sing say if its alright if my musician come and play that puts them on the spot so when i go up to the organ i dont have to wait for them to do all this stuff to let me know they can play a little

[musiqisme26]

the young cats posting that they would walk up to someone and say i got this in that persons church is kinda crazy im far from old in age but i would never just walk up to anyone and say i got this and thats even if the person is worst than wet cabbage

[h313w]

One thing for sure. you guys are talking about non-prime-time services, cuz that SURELY doesn't work @ 8 or 11 Sundays. Titles like this one here doesn't sound too nice. IN this century, kick off the organ is meet me after svc. to the "WRONG ONE". No one but DC and Detroit have experienced that from my knowledge, and it's not all that. Plus if it ever heppened @ 11 AM, Pastors and security that SUPPORT you there got your back all day.

When these lake region negroes "kick" someone off the organ, their presence just somehow moves either the amateur or pioneer outta his way. See these folks from the streets for real. Don' even have to say "get off, or get kicked off". The last concert that person played in was witnessed throughout the Motor City, so some folks just bow down. Put these organist in a Presbyterian, Catholic, AME Zion, SDA, etc. and they will get the boot this time. 1st time for everything. Sometimes its' where you from, just like rap music. Did God ask for that ???

[MikaSue]

I got kicked off the organ Sunday.  I put in in another thread in another room but here's the storry if you didnt' see it.

The organist at my church quit a few sunday's ago.  I was left to take over. I've been playing for this church youth chior for 3 years (chior songs) and I played along with the organist for all other parts of the service.  Some songs I didnt' konw I just tried to catch on.  But now that she's gone  I'm expected to KNOW all the songs even the ones I didnt' know while I was playing with her.  So Sunday she comes back.  So the pastor asks her to come up.  She declined.  Service went on.  So he asked her again and all the old people (who sung them old songs I didn't know) stood up as if she was Jesus or something.  Then they all marched in the pastor's office IN THE MIDDLE OF SERVICE!  so finally she came up and kicked me off the organ. 

I felt unappreciated.  Here it is i've carried this service while she had her tantrum and she walks through the door and they act like I dont' even exist.  It's cool. I'm playing for God  not them folks! 
But she is gone again :-)  I'm not playing the organ.  I peck on the keyboard and I don't have an amp so no one hears me.

[HI_PRAS]

I have had this happen to me a few times... Some churches in my area have an issue that their musicians feel that since they are in their 'house' or 'territory' then they are gonna keep playing... especially to the drummers. I am a female drummer, and a lot of the men in churches believe it or not have no respect for the female drummers.... Oddly enough, when they see me coming, they ususally get up and just stand there like I am supposed to feel intimidated by them... HAHAHA!!!!!

What I usually do in the situation, is forst, NEVER disrespect the musician, or the hosting church. What I would do is walk up with my sticks in hand, and position myself as to sitting down at the set. Being smooth is usually the technique I use. Asking the Holy Spirit to lead your movement and to guide your tounge is always a plus too. I would be careful as to NOT offend anyone or EMBARRASS my church or my Pastor. Using good judgement is nice too...lol... But if you yourself is foul and just trying to be seen, then maybe you should have a seat.... Coming up and saying 'I got dis' or 'let me touch dat' is UNACCEPTABLE... my pastor would have kittens if he heard me do that... Good Lawd!!!!

Increase the peace ya'll, increase the peace!!!

-Holla!

[1achord]

Being that I am 38 and I look young maybe 29 to 32 i am pretty approachable

I never have any problem the protocol is that when your pastor is introduced he is now in charge oef the service and his musician is in charge of the music until he is finished so you dont have to do any theatrics just approach the musician on the organ shake his or her hand compliment them on the job they have done so far and wait for them to get up if they dont then let them know that your choir is about to sing and you would prefer to play the organ.

who knows maybe they dont play piano well and would prefer you to play the piano but it is not their call at this point the courtesy is given to the visiting musician whose pastor is now in charge of the serviec

now if it is a concer and there are several choirs present you have to realize that there may be other protocol present


asking nicely is always nice

Finally I hope you dont take this wrong but to all the young musicians slang is ok but if you say to me good look I understand that you are saying thank you but thank you would make me feel better aknowledged and lemme git dis to me is disrespectful

I am not saying that you are disrespectful but what I am saying is that if that was said to me I would feel the person was rude

to me when you are in church and you are doing your job a certain amount of professionalism is expected if you were in a suit and tie job you probably would not say to an officeer of the company lemme git dis if you did you would lose respect

crank it up a notch if you are young and you have a gift use it but learn to say excuse me thank you i appreciate that your welcome God Bless you take care of your self looking forward to seeing you again  these phrases will take you a long way to gaining the respect of people who dont spend their time on the streets

I hope I do not sound like a snob.  I taught high school and I appreciate the slang but there is a time and a place for everything

If you are walking up to a person you have never met it is best to begin as humble as possible thats scriptual
the humble shall be exalted and the proud shall be abased

God Bless all

You are absolutely right, 100%! I agree with everything you said. There are too many young musicians who need to learn respect, humility and professionalism. Keep teaching brother!

[1achord]

This past Sunday we had a visiting church come in. I made sure I was there before service started. I played praise and worship and played for our choir. When I saw the visiting musicians come in, I greeted them and introduced myself. I give up the organ to the visiting musician once his Pastor or representative take over the service. I'll sit in and play the piano or keyboard sometimes. It all depends on how many musicians there are. Sunday, they had an organist and keyboard player, so I told them to "do their thing" and went in the back of the church and enjoyed the worship. It's rare I get to sit in a service at my church and be a "regular" member without having to play.

If I'm visiting a church, I'll only go to the musician's section when my choir is about to sing or I know the musicians and/or directors.

This is usually how I approach this situation.

[Metronome]

I used to get kicked off the drums when I was like 9, but I only been playin organ/keys for 1.5 years and i ain't NEVER got kicked off for 2 reasons.

1- I picked it up lightening fast and can play just about anything in ALL keys.

2- In the great city of Syracuse, there are only about 6 keyboardists that are good like that and 2 of them are older so they be frontin tryin to get up.  So if its a big time service any two of us are on the keys so this really never comes up.  I mean you know ya town is hurtin when the same core of musicians, give or take 1 or 2, plays for EVERY major choir and group in the city

[princeoftheb3]

Here in Jackson, MS when I visit a church, the host musician pretty much knows who I am and what church I play for and I ALWAYS let them know that when choirs are changing out to STAY PUT until my choir director is ready (in which case now, it's me.)  As soon as that transition takes place, then I take over, to make sure that there is no dead space.  (Plus, since I am the only organ/keyboard player at my church, if I'm at a church that has one musician, I'll just go to the other instrument to allow that musician to play with us.  I don't have no problem with other musicians playing with us.)

When I'm home, I play until the musician taps me on my shoulder, from there, I ask what key is his/her first song is in, then I transition to it, and hold a certain note, until they take over.  The transition is very smooth and some people don't even realize musicians were switched.

That's how I like it no dead space

[princeoftheb3]

well we don't allow others to play for our choir, when our Pastor goes somewhere we are there, so if we do sing we use our musician, nobody else plays for us, but when we have visiting churches they usually sit in the musician section.

[allonesound]

I used to get kicked off the drums when I was like 9, but I only been playin organ/keys for 1.5 years and i ain't NEVER got kicked off for 2 reasons.

1- I picked it up lightening fast and can play just about anything in ALL keys.

2- In the great city of Syracuse, there are only about 6 keyboardists that are good like that and 2 of them are older so they be frontin tryin to get up.  So if its a big time service any two of us are on the keys so this really never comes up.  I mean you know ya town is hurtin when the same core of musicians, give or take 1 or 2, plays for EVERY major choir and group in the city

hahah  my brother now 11 used to get kicked off the drumbs all the time... he would be soooo mad... but he had to learn some stuff too.... so hes a lot better now!