What do you do when your church lays you off

[diverse379]

The first thing you should do when you get layed off is remain humble
dont worry about what you did or didnt do or what they should and shouldnt do
it happened it is what it is and move on.

why should you move on
because maybe God is trying to move you somewhere and you may be missing your blessing,
so definitely pray and ask to be lead on your next decisions

times are hard
you may have to take a salary cut


definitely you need to have a good audition song
preferably two If you dont have one I suggest you get them from instructional dvds
be able to play it close to perfect
before looking to step our with the song.
take control of the audition from the outset

you may ask that before they begin you would like to play something that you prepared

most likely they will say yes
and you will begin to play your best song

hopefully you know how to play the song with the melody so that the listeners can identify the song
hopefully you have an understanding of how their musicians play
(contemporary traditional )
because you may do it well but it dont mean anything if the listeners dont understand the genre.

if you know your strong in traditional songs you should seek out traditional churches unless you just want to give yourself lots of aggravation


identify your weaknesses
if you know you have trouble with timing
then timing should be your top priority,

I have listed some qualities that people may be looking for in a new musician.

good feel
great timing
melody
reportoire
ability to teach


your voicings should be solo style for an audition if they will be auditioning you by yourself
even when the church has a band
they audition the person first by themselves
so you will have to develop a good solo style

that means full chord and melody

bass and rhythms

if you dont know a lot of songs
let them know right a way that you dont have a lot of songs learned
but that you learn well by ear or by sheet

if that is questioned offer them to select a piece from a hymn book that you could sight read

once they see you able to sight read a hymn or two they will be satisfied that you can carry a service

if you only play by ear
you have  harder time of it
because you will have to pick up songs that someone will begin to sing

hopefully you can catch the appropriate genre
and be able to deliver something

the key here is to make sure whatever you play has feel
it is hard to do sometimes
but if you are brushed up on certain patterns you should be fine.

play in every key
nothing is so bad a s knowing a song well in one key
but having the auditioner start singing in your worst key and you cant play it

very bad
so practice whatever you know in every key

by the way the things I have mentioned will also assist you in keeping your position once you get it

[betnich]

Good tips - even when you lay the church off!

(oh, and have a good story ready when asked why you did that)

[under13]

Welcome to LGM

[diverse379]

I dont even remember writing this but you know what I didnt do any of these things
in fact I did everything I could to not get another position
yet I got hired at a prestigious church in the Bronx

so go figure sometimes its not what we do that matters

[docjohn]

LORD orders steps of the righteous?

[karendj]

ALWAYS, have a backup plan. Those of us that have been in churches most of our lives know that churches can be fickle. The choir most of all! I'm a new musician (2 months new), but I've seen musician come and go. My plan is to build a network of pastors that I play for occasionally, so when I'm looking for a position I'll have some options - a network.