So what's the protocol for visiting and house musicians?

[momuzik]

If you have visiting musicians/choir, do you take it upon yourself to join in if you're one of the house musicians?
We visited a church this weekend where our choir sang. We have a drummer, a conguero and me - the keyboardist (so I run my own basslines). Well, when our choir got up to sing, I started playing and the house musicians took it upon themselves to join right in with their organ, bass and keyboardist.
My problem with this is that they don't know our arrangements of songs; e.g. during certain songs when we'd normally cut the music (like "He's Able" for one) they would keep playing and I'd have to cue them to stop playing with messes up the flow of the song. And them when we'd modulate on certain songs, they were a step behind because they didn't know when I was changing keys. And then their instruments were so loud that they were smothering me out.
I thought when visiting musicians come, you as the house would step aside and let them do their thing - or as a minimum play in the background. At least that's what we do at our church.

[under13]

I guess it depends on the relationship you have with the guest church. The few times we had guest churches most didnt come with an organist, so I stayed on the organ, and if their piano player asked me to play then I would if not then I wouldnt.

As for you situation, you could have signaled the musicians so that they knew what was going on during the song or you could have just told them to stop. 

[fmason3]

Around here, I know most of the musicians at the churches that we tend to visit and vice versa.  So we'll usually give each other the heads up.  I usually don't mind other musicians playing along if I know them or they're pretty good and I trust their skill level.  But never just assume.  I'll tell someone to stop playing in a heartbeat.  Also get good at standard musician signaling so that if there's a break, you can signal it.  Also, don't mind telling people HOW to play if they're playing under you.  I'll tell a drummer to get in the pocket or get off of the drums.  But people won't know what's expected unless you tell them.

[B3Wannabe]

Around here, I know most of the musicians at the churches that we tend to visit and vice versa.  So we'll usually give each other the heads up.  I usually don't mind other musicians playing along if I know them or they're pretty good and I trust their skill level.  But never just assume.  I'll tell someone to stop playing in a heartbeat.  Also get good at standard musician signaling so that if there's a break, you can signal it.  Also, don't mind telling people HOW to play if they're playing under you.  I'll tell a drummer to get in the pocket or get off of the drums.  But people won't know what's expected unless you tell them.

Exactly.

[Ramar]

Just happened to me on Friday. Our P&W team was asked to minister at the dedication service of another church. I had no idea that there would be other musicians there... they waited for me to start the song, then took over the music. They were older quartet players and almost completely ruined the song and they drowned me out. It took everything inside me to maintain my composure and not act a fool... The only reason I didn't get off my instrument was because our adjutant general was there and it wouldn't have been fair to the pastor who was having the dedication.

[under13]

Just happened to me on Friday. Our P&W team was asked to minister at the dedication service of another church. I had no idea that there would be other musicians there... they waited for me to start the song, then took over the music. They were older quartet players and almost completely ruined the song and they drowned me out. It took everything inside me to maintain my composure and not act a fool... The only reason I didn't get off my instrument was because our adjutant general was there and it wouldn't have been fair to the pastor who was having the dedication.

Why didnt you just tell them to stop playing?

[fmason3]

Just happened to me on Friday. Our P&W team was asked to minister at the dedication service of another church. I had no idea that there would be other musicians there... they waited for me to start the song, then took over the music. They were older quartet players and almost completely ruined the song and they drowned me out. It took everything inside me to maintain my composure and not act a fool... The only reason I didn't get off my instrument was because our adjutant general was there and it wouldn't have been fair to the pastor who was having the dedication.

 

Dude, you should have told them to bring their volume way down.  When playing with other musicians on the fly, you should always make it clear who is in charge.  That isn't considered being all big and bad or stuck up or anything.  It's just being decent and in order.  I've played with cats and everyone was signaling breaks and all kinds of foolishness.

[jonesl78]

Dude, you should have told them to bring their volume way down.  When playing with other musicians on the fly, you should always make it clear who is in charge.  That isn't considered being all big and bad or stuck up or anything.  It's just being decent and in order.  I've played with cats and everyone was signaling breaks and all kinds of foolishness.

    That is hilarious!!!

Drummer: Break on the 1 of the bridge

Fmason3: Fellas keep it down, I'm in charge

Organist: Shut up fool! We takin over! You betta break at the right time too!

[Ramar]

Dude, you should have told them to bring their volume way down.  When playing with other musicians on the fly, you should always make it clear who is in charge.  That isn't considered being all big and bad or stuck up or anything.  It's just being decent and in order.  I've played with cats and everyone was signaling breaks and all kinds of foolishness.

I know, its just that I thought I was the only one asked to play, but when I got there I found out that the pastor wanted all the other musicians there in order to look good for the Bishop.

Unfortunately, in most of the churches in my jurisdiction there is the belief that more means better. They'd rather have a team of incoherent, out-of-sync players, than a few good ones. I guess they felt like they had to play because they were asked to be there. It hurt me to dumb down my precious chords, but I had to do it because the pastor was really trying to make a good mark on the Bishop (I don't blame him, though. He's new and he just wanted things to be good for one night.)

But anyways, had that taken place at my church, I would have told them to stop.

[momuzik]

...As for you situation, you could have signaled the musicians so that they knew what was going on during the song or you could have just told them to stop.

That's what I'll do next time; or at least talk to the house band before hand. I just thought they would back up and give us room just like we do for visiting churches. I know now you can't just assume these things.

[jrs81]

I tend to have that problem when we are visiting other churches, especially with organists.  I'm strictly a pianist.  Some will ask to play with me but others just assume that I want them to play and they will overplay me. When they visit with us, I yield my instruments to them.  I don't go to another church and sit on their instrument until I  am asked up.

[gospeltime15101]

at my church guest musicians play with choir and we play our choir..but sometimes they dont have a organist i have to play (if they want me to).but try to give heads up if guest are going to be playing with you,because they dont know yor arrangements in the songs.

[DirectingOrganist]

That's what I'll do next time; or at least talk to the house band before hand. I just thought they would back up and give us room just like we do for visiting churches. I know now you can't just assume these things.

Where was your director, cause if they like me they song will stop until some order is established, in other words, "Don't play over my musicians, or get right on up"

[betnich]

I know, its just that I thought I was the only one asked to play, but when I got there I found out that the pastor wanted all the other musicians there in order to look good for the Bishop.
Unfortunately, in most of the churches in my jurisdiction there is the belief that more means better. They'd rather have a team of incoherent, out-of-sync players, than a few good ones. I guess they felt like they had to play because they were asked to be there. It hurt me to dumb down my precious chords, but I had to do it because the pastor was really trying to make a good mark on the Bishop (I don't blame him, though. He's new and he just wanted things to be good for one night.)

Multiple Musicians + No prior practice = TRAIN WRECK!!!

[sjonathan02]

Multiple Musicians + No prior practice = TRAIN WRECK!!!

Agreed.

[fmason3]

Multiple Musicians + No prior practice = TRAIN WRECK!!!

That depends.  Two Sabbaths ago I had my boys come play.  I played keys and I had a drummer, bassist, and guitarist.  I might as well have been playing with Jeremy Haynes, Darrell Freeman and Jonathan Dubose.  It was last minute so only the bass player was able to come to rehearsal.  But everyone said they knew the songs, I trusted their skill level (we've played together a few times before).  So it was sweet.  You would have thought we had rehearsed.  Actually the pastor was surprised to find out that we hadn't.  So it isn't always a train wreck.

But best believe, I have some horror stories.  With and without practice.  LOL

[T-Block]

If u got a guest choir and musicians, let them play. Ask to join in, but don't do it until u get permission.

If someone decides to join in and aren't following ur directions, signal them to STOP immediately.

My mom is quick to tell other musicians "Now, don't play over my son or it's gonna be problems."

[under13]

My mom is quick to tell other musicians "Now, don't play over my son or it's gonna be problems."

So you Mom is the MOM? Cool!

[T-Block]

So you Mom is the MOM? Cool!

Nope, she's the assistant pastor. I'm the unoffical M.O.M. at my church (I hate that title, just call me a musician danggit).

[kodacolor]

the pastor wanted all the other musicians there in order to look good for the Bishop.

Unfortunately, in most of the churches in my jurisdiction there is the belief that more means better. They'd rather have a team of incoherent, out-of-sync players, than a few good ones. I

Oh boy have I been though that and it wasn't me or the pastor who did it. (which made it worse)  What people don't seem to understand is you don't look good if you sound bad.