2 answers
Carlos
Student
Horizon City, Texas
1
Question
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How do I begin a christian music career?
I'm a catholic christian artist in Texas, and my dream is to work in ministry professionally playing music on tour. I already play at my church and have a christian band, but I'm stuck. I don't know where to go from here. What do you recommend? #music
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Alex F
A&P Mechanic and Self-Employed Musician
15
Answers
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Updated
Alex’s Answer
There are lots of Christian musicians and very few can afford to go on tours. When you say "professionally", realize that you can't make a living going on tour. Someone has to pay for transportation, insurance, food, housing, venue rentals, etc. Make sure you have a website, social media following, recordings (mp3 or CD), t-shirts, etc. before touring. The trick is that word of mouth is the most effective marketing tool. Then bands make more money from product sales than from performances. The best way to start touring is to pick a few cities to go through. I see your in El Paso. So for example, play at someone else's church in El Paso, then get someone scheduled in Albuquerque, Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland. Leave a couple nights in between each city. Then go back and contact venues/churches in between and try to schedule a performance there. This is good for a few reasons. It's a short and local tour, which would be cheaper, and shorter. Have your pillar concerts that will pay for the trip. The in between concerts would be straight profit. This would be enough of an intro to learn whether or not you enjoy being on tour. Hillsong United can afford a Holiday Inn. In the beginning, you will not. Nobody will know the music you have written, and nobody will have heard of you. Why should they come to hear you play? You may know that answer now. It will take many years to get enough others to know the answer to make a living at that. Know that you can pay for the entire tour before leaving home. Being a professional musician today is incredibly difficult and so is trying to work full time in music ministry. It's becoming next to impossible. Lots of part-time opportunities and next to no full-time opportunities.
To work in ministry, the very few full-time positions want to see a bachelor of music or even master of music degree and for you to be able to play organ while directing a choir. Or they require the music degree and for you to be a lead guitarist/vocalist, write music, know the AV side of things, and be a comfortable worship leader.
In the end if you want to have a family some day and support them, unfortunately I cannot recommend being in music ministry. The money/benefits just aren't there and though people don't usually follow music for the money, you do need enough to make mortgage payments. A lot of churches advertise full time positions, but won't pay benefits (health insurance, retirements, etc). It's your choice, but I would suggest doing music on the side. You could always do "weekend tours" if you enjoy that.
To work in ministry, the very few full-time positions want to see a bachelor of music or even master of music degree and for you to be able to play organ while directing a choir. Or they require the music degree and for you to be a lead guitarist/vocalist, write music, know the AV side of things, and be a comfortable worship leader.
In the end if you want to have a family some day and support them, unfortunately I cannot recommend being in music ministry. The money/benefits just aren't there and though people don't usually follow music for the money, you do need enough to make mortgage payments. A lot of churches advertise full time positions, but won't pay benefits (health insurance, retirements, etc). It's your choice, but I would suggest doing music on the side. You could always do "weekend tours" if you enjoy that.
Paul Bordenkircher
Audio Engineer
76
Answers
Las Vegas, Nevada
Updated
Paul’s Answer
From someone who was involved in Christian music for over 20 years, this is my first bit of advice. Don't make Christian music - that is, don't focus on a specific niche industry like Gospel - just make great music. A subgenre like Christian music has too many potential pitfalls, and can significantly reduce your potential audience.
If your music and writing are excellent, you can write about whatever you want, and people will still love it. My best example of this? Eminiem. His first couple albums were really dark, angry and controversial - but they were well written and produced. They evoked emotion, and good or bad, people gravitated to him. Another example is U2. They often have a spiritual component to their music, but they never wrapped themselves around it. Make great music, get it out there for people to hear. If it's really good, people will gravitate to it. And if the songs reflect your spiritual beliefs, you'll end up reaching more people with your message.
On a practical front, just make music. Keep writing, keep recording, keep experimenting, until you find the expression that fits you best. Then release those songs through outlets like SoundCloud and streaming services. And while you're at it, learn the business, as much as you can. That includes business elements like licensing, publishing, marketing and branding. Learn technical aspects like recording, live sound, video and lighting. Learn as much as you can about as many things as you can surrounding the industry.
And maybe the most important thing I can tell you. You need to figure out which people you can learn from - those you can take advice from - and those you can't. Unless your parents are in the industry, they can NOT tell you objectively if your music is any good. Trickier yet, someone may give you a lot of help for touring and production, but they don't know anything about streaming. You'll need to learn for which areas they are an authority, but others where you need to smile and nod, and ignore their advice. That's one of the toughest parts of the business, learning who to listen to. Listening to the wrong people for the wrong thing is what kills a music career more often than not.
Hope that helps!
Write and record, write and record, write and record.
Release the music online
When the opportunity arises, play live events.
Learn the business side - especially publishing and licensing.
Don't take everyone's advice.
If your music and writing are excellent, you can write about whatever you want, and people will still love it. My best example of this? Eminiem. His first couple albums were really dark, angry and controversial - but they were well written and produced. They evoked emotion, and good or bad, people gravitated to him. Another example is U2. They often have a spiritual component to their music, but they never wrapped themselves around it. Make great music, get it out there for people to hear. If it's really good, people will gravitate to it. And if the songs reflect your spiritual beliefs, you'll end up reaching more people with your message.
On a practical front, just make music. Keep writing, keep recording, keep experimenting, until you find the expression that fits you best. Then release those songs through outlets like SoundCloud and streaming services. And while you're at it, learn the business, as much as you can. That includes business elements like licensing, publishing, marketing and branding. Learn technical aspects like recording, live sound, video and lighting. Learn as much as you can about as many things as you can surrounding the industry.
And maybe the most important thing I can tell you. You need to figure out which people you can learn from - those you can take advice from - and those you can't. Unless your parents are in the industry, they can NOT tell you objectively if your music is any good. Trickier yet, someone may give you a lot of help for touring and production, but they don't know anything about streaming. You'll need to learn for which areas they are an authority, but others where you need to smile and nod, and ignore their advice. That's one of the toughest parts of the business, learning who to listen to. Listening to the wrong people for the wrong thing is what kills a music career more often than not.
Hope that helps!
Paul recommends the following next steps: