Brian Krashpad
Well-known member
In the past, I've occasionally noted the ongoing problems our praise band has had at my (Lutheran) church. These problems stem from both physical limitations in our worship space and from people in our church who seem openly antagonistic to having any sort of modern worship there. At the outset, I should note that our church has two services. One is ALL traditional: stand up, sit down, strictly liturgical service, minor key organ dirges, etc. The service we play at is a supposedly "blended" one-- meaning the praise band plays all of 3 or 4 songs, but the choir often sings too, and the organ does some hymns.
This is an update on where we're at. I'm pretty ticked off, so consider the source.
For a long time we played up in the front of the church. The space was insufficient, but we crowded together. People had to sort of scootch past us coming back from Communion because some of us were literally in what was used as an aisle. Because we had a drum kit right up near the altar, people complained that it wasn't quiet enough to hear the words of institution during Communion (which frankly I find highly doubtful), so we adopted a rule of no full kit during Communion songs, only congas.
We also cobbled together a sound system for hearing ourselves, mainly using my gear, since the house PA was basically in the back of the church, and the existing monitors were really bad. I went through 2 small amps (which I bought myself) before I found a small (1x10) Super Champ XD that was perfect for what was needed for lead guitar. Over the course of a half year or so we fine tuned the sound so it was at a good level that people wouldn't complain about, with a good mix. Also, we scrapped the idea of doing small revolving teams of only 2 or 3 musicians since we all volunteered to play every Sunday, in order to have the optimal sound. My daughter started as a backup bassist, and then went to full-time when our bassist wanted to play acoustic. I taught myself mandolin after buying (again, my nickel) an acoustic-electric mando, and most Sundays I play one song on mandolin and the rest on guitar. And I bought an acoustic-electric guitar for when our acoustic player was absent.
We were still crammed into a too-small space, but we made HUGE progress and were really sounding good, thanks to a LOT of hard work (and frustration) of our band members. Our praise band leader PBL hereinafter) is great, but the church's overall Music Director (MD hereinafter) is an old organist/choir director who simply knows nothing about contemporary music. He would occasionally take it upon himself to turn us down in the PA even though doing so would really screw up our mix, and was always finding something to complain about.
Due to the space limitations in the front of the church, some of the powers that be (not me, for sure) decided to MOVE the entire band to the OPPOSITE end of the church, and put us up in the balcony/choir loft with the choir and organ. The space there is really no bigger than at the front of the church, but at least parishioners wouldn't have to avoid tripping over our gear when returning from Communion to get to their seats.
The church also bought an electronic drum kit so no one could complain about the drum kit volume. After several weeks of work in figuring out how to mix the band in the new location, this last weekend we played with an almost-full compliment (drums, keys, bass, 2 electric guitars, with keyboardist and other guitarist also mic'd for vocals). We were not too loud. In fact, in run-through pre-service, the PBL went down in the sanctuary to check sound levels and had to turn the PA up because he could hear ME singing above everything else-- and I'm not mic'd (for good reason, might I add). The band wears phones, although since I have the little SC XD amp as stage monitor, I have the option of not wearing mine since I can hear myself that way, and can hear everyone else in the mains. Everyone else is lined in to the PA with no stage amps. I use no pedals-- only the 2 channels on the amp and the onboard effects it has, and the amp is lined out to the PA.
So anyhow, we sounded really good Sunday. We did one really rocking song pre-service and 3 less-rocking songs during the service. However, the full choir was also up there. Meaning, until they finished their last song (midway through the service), we in the band all had to stand or literally sit on the floor until they left. No seats were made available to anyone in the band (other than the keyboard played and drummer who were already seated to play).as long as the choir was still up there. Talk about no respect.
The real kicker, though, came on Monday. My PBL messaged me on facebook to say that the MD had COMPLAINED about my amp "taking up too much space." People, this is a 1x10. The MD plays an instrument (pipe organ) that is literally as large as a one-room SCHOOLHOUSE and he complained about a stupid little Super Champ. I am just glad he didn't have the guts to say anything to me in church, because I probably would have thrown him right over the railing.
End of rant. You may now all tell me what a lousy attitude I have. Sorry, but "steamed" doesn't even begin to describe me at this point.
Peace.
This is an update on where we're at. I'm pretty ticked off, so consider the source.
For a long time we played up in the front of the church. The space was insufficient, but we crowded together. People had to sort of scootch past us coming back from Communion because some of us were literally in what was used as an aisle. Because we had a drum kit right up near the altar, people complained that it wasn't quiet enough to hear the words of institution during Communion (which frankly I find highly doubtful), so we adopted a rule of no full kit during Communion songs, only congas.
We also cobbled together a sound system for hearing ourselves, mainly using my gear, since the house PA was basically in the back of the church, and the existing monitors were really bad. I went through 2 small amps (which I bought myself) before I found a small (1x10) Super Champ XD that was perfect for what was needed for lead guitar. Over the course of a half year or so we fine tuned the sound so it was at a good level that people wouldn't complain about, with a good mix. Also, we scrapped the idea of doing small revolving teams of only 2 or 3 musicians since we all volunteered to play every Sunday, in order to have the optimal sound. My daughter started as a backup bassist, and then went to full-time when our bassist wanted to play acoustic. I taught myself mandolin after buying (again, my nickel) an acoustic-electric mando, and most Sundays I play one song on mandolin and the rest on guitar. And I bought an acoustic-electric guitar for when our acoustic player was absent.
We were still crammed into a too-small space, but we made HUGE progress and were really sounding good, thanks to a LOT of hard work (and frustration) of our band members. Our praise band leader PBL hereinafter) is great, but the church's overall Music Director (MD hereinafter) is an old organist/choir director who simply knows nothing about contemporary music. He would occasionally take it upon himself to turn us down in the PA even though doing so would really screw up our mix, and was always finding something to complain about.
Due to the space limitations in the front of the church, some of the powers that be (not me, for sure) decided to MOVE the entire band to the OPPOSITE end of the church, and put us up in the balcony/choir loft with the choir and organ. The space there is really no bigger than at the front of the church, but at least parishioners wouldn't have to avoid tripping over our gear when returning from Communion to get to their seats.
The church also bought an electronic drum kit so no one could complain about the drum kit volume. After several weeks of work in figuring out how to mix the band in the new location, this last weekend we played with an almost-full compliment (drums, keys, bass, 2 electric guitars, with keyboardist and other guitarist also mic'd for vocals). We were not too loud. In fact, in run-through pre-service, the PBL went down in the sanctuary to check sound levels and had to turn the PA up because he could hear ME singing above everything else-- and I'm not mic'd (for good reason, might I add). The band wears phones, although since I have the little SC XD amp as stage monitor, I have the option of not wearing mine since I can hear myself that way, and can hear everyone else in the mains. Everyone else is lined in to the PA with no stage amps. I use no pedals-- only the 2 channels on the amp and the onboard effects it has, and the amp is lined out to the PA.
So anyhow, we sounded really good Sunday. We did one really rocking song pre-service and 3 less-rocking songs during the service. However, the full choir was also up there. Meaning, until they finished their last song (midway through the service), we in the band all had to stand or literally sit on the floor until they left. No seats were made available to anyone in the band (other than the keyboard played and drummer who were already seated to play).as long as the choir was still up there. Talk about no respect.
The real kicker, though, came on Monday. My PBL messaged me on facebook to say that the MD had COMPLAINED about my amp "taking up too much space." People, this is a 1x10. The MD plays an instrument (pipe organ) that is literally as large as a one-room SCHOOLHOUSE and he complained about a stupid little Super Champ. I am just glad he didn't have the guts to say anything to me in church, because I probably would have thrown him right over the railing.
End of rant. You may now all tell me what a lousy attitude I have. Sorry, but "steamed" doesn't even begin to describe me at this point.
Peace.
It would be things like this, that would make it hard for me to share my music in public....especially in a church setting. I think the MD has it out for you and is going to be a PITA.
Also helped that the choir wasn't up there, so we weren't all crammed together with no space, and no place for the band people to sit.
