Making Small Things Necessarily Big
Okay, so I keep getting these worship gigs. I'm doing one this Sunday for Easter. And I'd really like to be doing more of them, but it takes a lot of time, which I don't have right now, to do it well. I feel like every time I've lead worship for some group, that it's always half the practice, and half the heart (my fault). But then there's another side that make it kind of difficult as well. A lot of the time, people just call the week of and are like, "Hey, can you be my worship leader for such and such? We can't pay you at all, but I know you're doing it for the Lord anyway. " Well, the Lord ain't payin' nothin neither pardner.
Not everyone is like this, there have been some very gracious and heartfelt interactions that I've had with folks in this regard. In fact I really like the pastor of the church that I'll be playing for this weekend. But overall I think that artists and musicians are seen as people who have to do what they do as a hobby, in your free time. Not just in the church, but I mean where do you think we get the term "starving artist"? It's because if you're an artist, there's a good chance you're an artist who is bagging groceries or waiting tables, just open on Thursday night at the Chuggin' Monkey. People who are so-so at selling cars still get to sell cars for a living because it brings in money that is so-so. But a musician who is really good might have to get a full time job for a long time before he figures out a way to make so-so money with his music or painting or whatever. I'm not trying to get rich here, though I wouldn't mind getting rich, just want to not worry about that stuff so much.
And then again, maybe it's sort of good situation to be in, creating from a difficult, dark and dank place. The artists' income in America is so polarized that it corrupts some of the best and starves the runners up. I guess it would be nice for there to be a value placed on art in a way where we realize that without inspiration and creation for the sake of expression as opposed to marketing, we will live our lives with less awareness of its preciousness. That way ordinary artists can do what they love to do and have a family.
Not everyone is like this, there have been some very gracious and heartfelt interactions that I've had with folks in this regard. In fact I really like the pastor of the church that I'll be playing for this weekend. But overall I think that artists and musicians are seen as people who have to do what they do as a hobby, in your free time. Not just in the church, but I mean where do you think we get the term "starving artist"? It's because if you're an artist, there's a good chance you're an artist who is bagging groceries or waiting tables, just open on Thursday night at the Chuggin' Monkey. People who are so-so at selling cars still get to sell cars for a living because it brings in money that is so-so. But a musician who is really good might have to get a full time job for a long time before he figures out a way to make so-so money with his music or painting or whatever. I'm not trying to get rich here, though I wouldn't mind getting rich, just want to not worry about that stuff so much.
And then again, maybe it's sort of good situation to be in, creating from a difficult, dark and dank place. The artists' income in America is so polarized that it corrupts some of the best and starves the runners up. I guess it would be nice for there to be a value placed on art in a way where we realize that without inspiration and creation for the sake of expression as opposed to marketing, we will live our lives with less awareness of its preciousness. That way ordinary artists can do what they love to do and have a family.
3 Responses to “Art Fart”
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hey i was wanting to know if you could lead worship saturday. let me know asap.
Notion-
No. Absolutely not. No way.
Ace-
I think that when it comes down to it, I have a real heart problem with finances. I've always felt like God usually comes through in that area, but other times, I've been left in a jam. This is the result of a lot of things skewing my perspective and a "trying to be my own provider" mentality. And yes I feel like most of my interaction with "established" ministry has been quasi business like. I don't have a paradigm for doing that stuff without it being someone's source of income.
Maybe Micheal, probably the only one I can think of.
But mostly I've got some wrong thinking about all of it. Like the only way to be involved is to accept some of the necessary evils that come along with it. Though maybe they aren't necessary.
Ultimately I haven't let go of my controling tendencies. That's the deal.
Thanks for the provoking comments. Any wisdom on how to proceed on a better path?
ace-
Where did this "that is all" thing crop up from lately? I like the way it makes everything seem so serious or ridiculous.
By the way, I've mentioned the t-shirt with no undies to a few friends an they are disgusted at the thought universally. Wow, you should add an adendum to your Fathers and Sons book about bringing your son up in the way he should dress.
About the finances, I think your right about learning to use the gifts in a way that will provide outside of the ministry.I just haven't stuck my neck out totally yet.
I like to give to people who devote their life to the gospel. At the same time I agree that it is always nice to see that they aren't cultivating a moneymaker out of their "ministry". It's that our concept of ministry is defined kind of funny. For instance, when I think of ministry, I think of some guy teaching or preaching on a stage, or leading a congregation in some sort of excercise.
Any communist nations pop up that seem to you like they my be a nice place to put down roots, and you let me know.