Praise Team Blues

[YeshuasFan]

How many on this forum are involved in leading music in worship settings? What are your experiences in dealing with those in the congregation who have no clue what you're trying to accomplish but are very quick to criticize your efforts?

 

[Zaphod B]

If the congregation is tossing tomatoes, you guys may need to do a little woodshedding.

 

[ch2os7]

not an expert but...

How many on this forum are involved in leading music in worship settings? What are your experiences in dealing with those in the congregation who have no clue what you're trying to accomplish but are very quick to criticize your efforts?

My experience has been that the wheels of change turn very slowly in most churches. Congregations become very accustomed to the status quo and when change is introduced they may not always welcome it. Sometimes it takes them out of their comfort zone. Sometimes they may not appreciate a different genre of music being introduced (like changing from traditional to contemporary or praise and worship music).

In general people (especially in churches) like to feel that they are a part of the change instead of having the change forced on them. Try to take their criticism in stride. Don't take it personally. Don't let it offend your artistic integrity. Understand that there may be a period of "adjustment".

Since I don't know all the details, I'm just throwing out suggestions. Maybe you should "mix it up" and do a variety of styles and genres and give them a chance to get used to whatever it is you are trying to do. The ministry is tough on the artistic ego. good luck

 

[muttley600]

Hit them with a bit of St Augustine of Hippo. Historically quoted as saying "He who sings well prays twice" but definitely known to have written "Singing belongs to one who loves". He never stated a genre or style just that singing is an acceptable method of worship.

 

[Zaphod B]

During my last year in high school we put on a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and at the time it was fresh enough to be interesting and a little edgy.

After the second night of performance, the parents of one of my schoolmates came up as the director and a few us were talking, and proclaimed that it was inappropriate for God's Word to be expressed in rock and roll music.

There will always be reactionaries to contend with. Some you'll win over, some not.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I like to quote "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" and point out that there's no mention of music, just noise.

More seriously, perhaps I'm lucky enough to attend a more tolerant church: we have our acoustic "string band" (generally, a couple of guitars, maybe a banjo or fiddle, me on Dobro or harp, occasionally a standup bass) for the anthem during the service. We perform old gospel songs, hymns, and, during early summer, songs like Guy Clark's Home Grown Tomatoes. Let's see: Amazing Grace, Life is Like a Mountain Railroad, That Old Rugged Cross....

In the other seasons (this is East Texas, so the four seasons are early Summer, Summer, late Summer, and Christmas) there's our Baptist Blues Band, which allows us to bring electric guitars and amps to church. Generally we go with Blind Willie McTell, Blind Willie Johnson, Rev Gary Davis (yesterday we did I Belong to the Band); the single time I heard anything negative was when I played a bottleneck Dobro version of Fred McDowell's You Got to Move (our music director sang). A lady, one of the founding members of the church, came up to me in a rage after the service and told me I had ruined the worship experience for her -- but we weren't exactly close friends before that.

More usually, the mostly white congregation welcomes exposure to unfamiliar (and, especially, beat-driven) music, so that's the single complaint to date. The lady mentioned apparently took Reverend Gary in stride, yesterday. Go figure.

But I have attended other churches (I am an officer of the board of a local food pantry, so I go to services to give a spiel at the invitation of the pastors) that have their musical preferences etched in adamantine. I don't think the Blues Band would fly there -- but, then, that's why I go to the church I do.

 

[omtayslick]

I feel for you, but I'm afraid that I have few solutions. Over the years I've been told many things in churches. Everything from "that's the devil's music" to "for some of us a little guitar music goes a long way".

I have had people give me out of style suits that smelled heavily of mothballs, so that I could look more presentable to "do the Lord's work".

Many churches are a minefield.

But my story has a happy ending. After years of banging my head against brick walls, a few months ago I became the music director of a church in a university setting. I have a free reign to do whatever I want. I have been told by many that our current band is much better than they have ever had at this church previously, and the pastor is deliriously happy with the music. All I needed was a setting where I could freely exercise the gifts and talents God gave without being micro-managed.

Don't lose heart. If things get ridiculous where you are move. -OR- If the majority of people are wanting what you offer, and the critics are few, suck it up and soldier on.

Oh.... And don't forget to examine your own heart and make sure that it's in the right place too. Good luck and God bless.

 

[YeshuasFan]

We're not talking music style issues. And our musicians are put in a lot of practice (two hours per week for each Sunday morning service).

Right now we're in the process of remodeling our auditorium to accommodate more people. Consequently, we are currently meeting in rented space and using borrowed sound equipment. I am doing the FOH engineering duties and every Sunday is a battle to get the sound adjusted just right in the hour while the chorale is practicing before the service using a board I'm not used to.
The place where we're meeting is like a huge gymnasium with a lot of "dead spots." We have some older ladies who like to congregate in one of the dead spots and then one of them is coming back every five minutes to complain because the mix doesn't suit her (as in her husband's voice isn't the predominate one in the mix). Part of the problem was the channel his mic was plugged into was non-functional on the board, so it was remedied by plugging his mic into a different channel--but the other part of the problem was he kept backing off the mic because he perceived himself as singing too loudly through the monitors....

At least when we get back to our own building with our own setup I should have fewer hassles....

Oy ve!
Thanks for letting me kvetch....

 

[nate_dennis]

You know, it really depends on what they are criticizing. If they are criticizing the musicianship, politely remind them that the individuals invloved are doing their best to lead the congregation and are using everything God gave them. If, however, the criticisim is about the style, that can be a bit touchy. Intently listen to them and don't blow them off. Express your thanks that they brought their thoughts/feelings to your attention. Tell them that you will work hard to bring SOME more of what they are looking for into the service but also be honest in telling them that, while their opinion is important, so is the opinion of the rest of the congregation. Obviously, if anything I said here would be a lie, don't use it. That's how I would/have handled this in the past.



-Nate

(edit) You beat me to my response. In that case, I'd just tell her/them that the mix is the best it can be with the gear/room available. Tell her that moving might help. Church discussions/problems are always tricky. But, yeah, I'd tell her that moving would probably be her best option for a better sounding experience.

 

[lpdeluxe]

I can only say, I'm glad I don't belong to a large church. The congregation where I go is appreciative that each of us uses his or her talent (some massive, some less so) in the worship services (with the odd dissension, as noted above). We also have a large art exhibit (photos, wood carvings, paintings and so one) by members of the church on display during Pentecost, and depend on members as pulpit guests and lay leaders. We have services led and performed by the children (coming up next Sunday, in fact); we've had services that were entirely performed as dance.

Maybe we're not stodgy enough for me to give meaningful advice.

 

[ch2os7]

We're not talking music style issues. And our musicians are put in a lot of practice (two hours per week for each Sunday morning service).

Right now we're in the process of remodeling our auditorium to accommodate more people. Consequently, we are currently meeting in rented space and using borrowed sound equipment. I am doing the FOH engineering duties and every Sunday is a battle to get the sound adjusted just right in the hour while the chorale is practicing before the service using a board I'm not used to.
The place where we're meeting is like a huge gymnasium with a lot of "dead spots." We have some older ladies who like to congregate in one of the dead spots and then one of them is coming back every five minutes to complain because the mix doesn't suit her (as in her husband's voice isn't the predominate one in the mix). Part of the problem was the channel his mic was plugged into was non-functional on the board, so it was remedied by plugging his mic into a different channel--but the other part of the problem was he kept backing off the mic because he perceived himself as singing too loudly through the monitors....

At least when we get back to our own building with our own setup I should have fewer hassles....

Oy ve!
Thanks for letting me kvetch....

awwww man! is that all it was? all that good advice wasted? just kiddin'. good luck

 

[cephus]

Most of the time when i feel that when others are not giving me the grace I deserve, I wouldn't have noticed had I not been extending that grace to them.

I have been criticized for being a bit ostentatious when I played a few times. The music coordinator was very supportive of me and I honestly felt like I was doing it to glorify God and not myself. But I guess it didn't come off that way. But that burden is on me. God does know my heart, but the last thing I want to do is undermine the efforts of the pastor.

So, I am very mindful of how it would be perceived by the congregation. Not just the cool ones. I don't want to cheese off event he least cool one.

 

[soundchaser59]

If they are criticizing the musicianship, politely remind them that the individuals invloved are doing their best to lead the congregation and are using everything God gave them.

Ya know, I inderstand why people say this.

On the other hand, I'm really tired of being expected to tolerate mediocrity just because that's what "good Christians" do, right?

God doesn't do anything mediocre, why should we?

Not criticizing you, I understand completely. Some places just dont have talent coming out of the woodwork. But the places that have (1) far more talented people standing in line to play on the teams, and (2) visitors and new people walking out because the musicians cant play all the way thru one song without sounding like 4th graders, let alone a whole set......those places should, in my always never humble opinion, reconsider putting their under qualified mediocre foot forward just because we are "good Christians"....

No offense....just tired of being distracted by the electric guitarist who always sounds like he is playing the wrong song in the wrong key, but he stays in that spot because he was there before anyone else came along......ditto for bad singers with plumbers crack and guys with too many super whammo ultra metal distortion pedals chained together on the floor.....and bass players who are more like Disney wax robots than like enthused musicians....

now back to your regularly scheduled thread....

 

[omtayslick]

Ya know, I inderstand why people say this.

On the other hand, I'm really tired of being expected to tolerate mdeiocrity just because that's what "good Christians" do, right?

God doesn't do anything mediocre, why should we? QUOTE]


Yup. These same people would not tolerate leaky pipes from the Christian plumber who was "doing his best". But most churches will tolerate incompetence in music, especially if it's somebody special's nephew or something.

 

[Mr. C]

Well is the congregation able to hear you? If yes then there probably isn't much to complain about...you see I have a problem of not being heard in the mix, I'm off completely. My wife tells me all the time she can't hear me. I've told the sound guy (oh you're on) and the praise team leader... to no avail.
Well this past Sunday proved my point. When we started a song the keyboard was off for some reason and all you could hear were the drums and the bass. If I was on you definitely would have heard me. So my dilema is what to do now? I've thought about quitting, but I like to play and it is good practice. Guess I'll just have to deal with it if no one is going to fix the problem.

 

[Micter]

Welcome to the wonderful world of worship! People are always going to complain about something. I play guitar as well as run sound (not simultaneously) People used to come up to me with their frequent complaints until my response became "Do you want to do it?" I haven't heard a complaint in months. lol

In all seriousness, give God your best. If you do that is all that matters.

 

[lpdeluxe]

In all seriousness, give God your best. If you do that is all that matters.

Amen, if you'll pardon the expression.

 

[nate_dennis]

On the other hand, I'm really tired of being expected to tolerate mdeiocrity just because that's what "good Christians" do, right?
God doesn't do anything mediocre, why should we?
...No offense....just tired of being distracted by the electric guitarist who always sounds like he is playing the wrong song in the wrong key, but he stays in that spot because he was there before anyone else came along......

Yup. These same people would not tolerate leaky pipes from the Christian plumber who was "doing his best". But most churches will tolerate incompetence in music, especially if it's somebody special's nephew or something.

All valid points. There is, however, a difference in paying a plumber (who happens to be a Christian) to do a job and expecting it to be done right and expecting volonteer praise team members to be perfect.

Leading worship and performing a concert are two different things. Leading worship is just that.... LEADING other people into a place of personal time with God. While poor musicianship/sound mixing/etc can be distracting it is not worth hurting someone so badly that leave a church.

There is a verse (and I forget where) that mentions people praising with their instruments to the best of their ability. Sure someone may suck. And yes it can be distracting. But it is a VERY difficult ballance to strike between expecting (or maybe even demanding) hard work and a cohesive unit that can lead a congregation and allowing people to follow what they believe they should be doing.

Church leadership is a very difficult task and it requires delicate handling of tough situations. My advise to all involved is to approach the situation in love and do your best to show God to all parties involved. That's the best we can do.

 

[Greg_L]

Give em some of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" or the Misfits "Last Caress".

That'll shut em up.

 

[true-eurt]

I'm not allowed on our worship team anymore. They think I am too intense and expressive...imagine that...someone getting too intense and expressive worshipping God...