making a living and lifes work in the music ministry

[jonesl78]

if you cant train voices and teach parts then you cant develop a music ministry


This is very powerful!!! 

[under13]

Great Post.

If you need to make more money make sure that every funeral home in your city has your business card or better yet give the funerel directors a demo CD of you playing and you never know when they might call you. you just need to learn all the popular funeral songs and be good at talk music, if you can sing and play u will be more valuble.  If you are very good you can also do weddings. for weddings you will need to know to know the wedding march and ressecional, ave maria, and Cannon by Pachabel. you'll also need to know many popular secular songs like ribbon in the sky and all my life by kc n jojo etc.

[Mysteryman]

Yeah great post diverse. I read a good portion of it I will have to finish later. I really think the most important thing is if you are happy in what you do in life. If you play and get out some even putting out business cards you will get a church that will pay you for your services. I dont think its hard to play for a living if you are willing to do what it takes. Even in NYC you can easily make a living as a musician. I know some people dont like to work on some of the jobs you described but its easy to make $1000+ a week as a musician if you put the extra time in.

I substitute teach and thats a good idea. I would say even be willing to move. You can set up on the streets of NYC and if you are good the tourists will pay good money to hear you perform. Basically just be up front with the churches in what you are willing and not willing to do.

I had one incident someone wanted me to play for a service. I told them to give me a figure and they asked me for one. I said $150. Then they said what is the lowest you are willing to go. I said $100 and so thats what they tried to pay me. lol

You can do all the things diverse described plus doing gigs like special events like weddings, social events, and special services. People will pay to hear to play even outside of church if you are good. And you get the benefit of working no more hours than a 9-5 job. If you are having fun its not really a job as a hobby.

[THE WOLFMAN]

wow, this post is FYAHH. x-l-ent stuff, mane.

[diverse379]

Yeah great post diverse. I read a good portion of it I will have to finish later. I really think the most important thing is if you are happy in what you do in life. If you play and get out some even putting out business cards you will get a church that will pay you for your services. I dont think its hard to play for a living if you are willing to do what it takes. Even in NYC you can easily make a living as a musician. I know some people dont like to work on some of the jobs you described but its easy to make $1000+ a week as a musician if you put the extra time in.

I substitute teach and thats a good idea. I would say even be willing to move. You can set up on the streets of NYC and if you are good the tourists will pay good money to hear you perform. Basically just be up front with the churches in what you are willing and not willing to do.

I had one incident someone wanted me to play for a service. I told them to give me a figure and they asked me for one. I said $150. Then they said what is the lowest you are willing to go. I said $100 and so thats what they tried to pay me. lol

You can do all the things diverse described plus doing gigs like special events like weddings, social events, and special services. People will pay to hear to play even outside of church if you are good. And you get the benefit of working no more hours than a 9-5 job. If you are having fun its not really a job as a hobby.

you bring some excellent points

about playing outside even as you said in Nyc if you have chops you could make some decent money in the city streets

and weddings and funerals of course but even backing up soloists

i met a guy with whom i may be taking lessons and he was surprised i only play one service a sunday

he said he played 6 services last sunday

he said most guys on my level and above will play multiple services

i never thought about it

i do know i am now in the need for more money

but the funny thing is that the more you get out there the more people will know you and the more people know you the more calls you will get

its like each gig brings new contacts and new contacts bring new opportunities

i am glad mystery man talked about the avenue of ggging

because i didnt really explore that too much

now i have an opportunity to do some R&B  gigs
i know some people are really against that

i dont know at this point if its wrong
but i will stay in prayer about it

thanks everyone for your comments

[musicman205]

This post is so very accurate. I live in the south and I must say that if you can play the grand piano with skill, then there will be alot of high paying positions for you. Keyboards are good and so are organs, but the piano demands a higher level of skill and feeling. Let me tell you all, I started playing for churches when I was 14 and did it for free. My first paying job was $115 per Sunday and I loved it. I thought I was rich. lol But now I'm 20 and in college and recently became M.O.M. with a salary of $500 per sunday. Its a baptist church and I must say that God has been good to me. I have gone through a year and a half of trouble trying to go to school and find a church that was capable of paying a nice salary. Its true that most non-denominational churches (especially the ones that a a few years old) don't pay that much. At one point I was so in need of some funds that I had to except $50 per Sunday minus taxes. lol But I believe that God was testing me to see if I would be faithful with the few things. I know alot of musicians and ministers of music who play and have nice salaries. The majority of them play for large baptist churches in the area and all of them are excellent pianists. The going rate for M.O.M's in Birmingham is $350-$500. The larger churches pay $550-750. One of the more well known M.O.M's make $1200 per Sunday with benefits.


But remember, you can't expect a large salary without the necessary skill or experience.
Piano, Organ, and Voice - as well as organization and leading a band
Get some credentials!!!!!!!! Education is the key!

Go to workshops - Berklee College of Music has a gospel workshop every July!!! go the their website!!!!
Attend the GMWA conventions!!! Take music at a school or conservatory!!!

God Bless!!!

[Mysteryman]

now i have an opportunity to do some R&B  gigs
i know some people are really against that

i dont know at this point if its wrong
but i will stay in prayer about it

Personally if I did an outside gig I would be conscious of the place and I definately would not be playing if the band is talking about taking clothes off and going the nasty. lol I dont think its a problem as long as you are not promoting sin.

[organplaya04]

This is a very informative thread...I've learned a lot from just reading some of what everybody had to say...like now that I've changed my major from Music Education to Church Music with a minor in education...I'll be able to teach music in high school (band director)and be a full time minister of music at my church. Do you feel this task is capable of being done?

[diverse379]

This is a very informative thread...I've learned a lot from just reading some of what everybody had to say...like now that I've changed my major from Music Education to Church Music with a minor in education...I'll be able to teach music in high school (band director)and be a full time minister of music at my church. Do you feel this task is capable of being done?

absolutely
music educators teach on all levels from elementary to high school and even college

in additon nothing is stopping you from having your own private students

and again the time that you leave school around 3:30 will allow you to have ample time to practice and have a social life

so you are on your way to a peacefully content living.