How do you let people go who can not sing? or do you keep them?

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Permalink Reply by Tricia on February 18, 2009 at 6:43pm

Hehehe. This is why we don't have many background vocalists!! Well, in actuality, as our platform stands, there is not a lot of space for additional vocalists - so our only extra vocalists are instrumentalists with mics. Plus, in a small church - a small band with 6 vocalists seems disproportionate to me.

As a general rule, don't add vocalists without an audition first. A vocalist who is perpetually flat, sharp, or out-of-rhythm will distract the congregation and the rest of the band from worship. For the audition, have them sing a capella, have them sing with the band, and especially have them sing with the lead vocalist. If the skill level (pitch, rhythm, tone, blend) is not there, or the heart is not there ... explain what they would need to work on before joining the team. If those things are unachievable, then say something like, "It would frustrate you and the rest of the team if you were to continue in this ministry. How can I work with you to find an area of ministry that would better suit you?" (I actually got this advice from the choir director at Saddleback)

IF you have already signed someone onto the team who cannot sing, go to great pains to work with them, challenge them, offer resources (the Vocal Artistry CDs are great, look online) ... to try to keep them on the team. But again, if the end goal is not achievable, you will have to pray about it and have a talk with them.

I'm all for a joyful "noise" - and the Lord thankfully doesn't require perfection - but that doesn't mean we should give a microphone to someone who cannot lead musically.

God bless you!

Permalink Reply by Valerie on February 18, 2009 at 9:11pm

Tricia thank you for sharing your insight and wisdom. God bless you.

Permalink Reply by Justin Kirkendall on February 28, 2009 at 5:28pm

AMEN!

Permalink Reply by Dan Camp on February 18, 2009 at 8:47pm

That's why they invented the "mute" button on the sound board, isn't it? (Only kidding!)

I have to agree with Tricia that no one is given a spot on the team without an audition. That can be very hard to convince yourself to enforce when you're hurting for voices, but you aren't doing the "singer" or the congregation any favors otherwise.

There are SO many opportunities to serve besides being up front with a microphone. Work with this person to see what their ministry gift might actually be. Above all, do it in a loving way (I know, I know, easier said than done, but I'd be remiss in not stating it.)...and know that, when HIS timing is right, the right person will come along to fill that hole...

Permalink Reply by Valerie on February 18, 2009 at 9:10pm

Dan thank You and I agree with both you and Tricia..............God Bless

Permalink Reply by Junjie on February 23, 2009 at 2:23am

Once you hand someone a mic they must have a certain level of skill. Or you are asking for loads of grief. :)

I started off leading worship without a mic. At that time it didn't matter if my voice quality wasn't that great or if I went out of tune 40% of the time. My objective then was to get everyone to start singing, not to listen to my voice.

(I used to joke about there being two kinds of voices, those that inspire worship and those that inspire thanksgiving. Mine was the second, people would go "He's done? Thank God!!!")

But a mic really amplifies mistakes and weaknesses. So if someone isn't willing to train up to that level, it's better he or she just lead worship at small groups. :)

Permalink Reply by Justin Kirkendall on February 28, 2009 at 8:35pm

Depends on the heart.
Junjie is right-once you give them the mic- it's really hard to take it away.
Saying No especially in a small church can be extremely difficult
but it's better to be honest with a No
then resentful with a yes.
I've been there done that bought the t-shirt- never want to do it again.

Sometimes- people have potential- if you see and can work with them they can be a great asset to the team especially if they have a worshipper's heart.

Some people don't have potential- and could be directed to another area of ministry

Permalink Reply by Tim Bliss on March 1, 2009 at 9:55pm

Switch the mic off!
What the congregation really need from the singer is a strong cue as to when to start singing. (this is not always obvious to non-musicians when the music is being led by a guitar). I don't have a particularly great voice (but then again neither do Bob Dylan or Neil Young!), but I have found over the years that apart from introducing new songs, what people really need is the visual cue of the leader taking a deep breath and approaching the microphone!!

Permalink Reply by Junjie on March 19, 2009 at 9:15am

That'a an interesting point, suggesting that we don't really need the platform singers after the first few words... :)

It's a matter of pride for me as a worship musician, that what I play must cue the congregation to start singing. But getting the vocalists to do that works too. :)

Permalink Reply by Bruce on March 2, 2009 at 3:44pm

The best way is to never let them unless you are sure they have the talent> As far as the number of praise team members.... I find that less is more,,, and often times you can add by subtraction......look for quality not quantity,,,, scheduling practices for 2 or 3 people is so much easier than 4,5, or six,,, and getting a song tight with just 2 or 3 is DEFINITELY easier than six,,, again quality!!

Permalink Reply by Elman Authement on March 2, 2009 at 4:12pm

This is one difficult task "the letting go" if you ever have to do that because it's probably never at the (expense of hearts). For that reason, I would begin praying for the Lord to move them and I'm not referring to "take 'em out Lord", "strike 'em throat cancer" or something that would leave them no choice but to step down. God can promote and move them into other areas of ministry that would become their passion and they'll feel the need to move on and you can bless them in going, (note: but don't say, "we wish you would stay", let them go.)
While we were recording one of our CDs, we tried to keep the vocalists on the CD to 4 or 5 of us compared to the 9 we had. Our engineer was getting carpal tunnel in his wrists from spending hours at the pitch corrector software. Naturally those left out became offended and one even quit the team. Thank God he didn't leave the church but this stuff hurts people.
As a rule for starting, always audition, but even this can hurt people's feelings. If they're already in, walk softly and pray a lot. The mute button works well like mentioned before.
It's a tough ministry.
el

Permalink Reply by Deonna on March 9, 2009 at 3:13am

Elman, you've said what I was going to say......
Pray for God to intervene and lead them to another area of ministry. Sometimes that takes time ~ be patient.

When this situation arises, we try to keep the mic turned down on that person. I look at it this way ~ they're helping to lead in worship....maybe not by their voice but by their actions of worship on the platform.
For the choir, we mic individuals who we know can sing then we try to keep a distance between those who can't and the choir mic.

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