Help finding Christian musicians...

[steadfast]

I've been hurting for some great Christian musicians.
Our current team is really solid, but due to work/school/etc. I am in need of a bassist, drummer and keyboardist.

I've been getting by by asking friends to borrow their church musicians and I've been posting ads up on craigslist and at a local Christian college looking for musicians. There's been a few replies, but when I ask them to show up for Sunday's service they don't... typical drummers

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find new musicians?

I've already scoured our church members, but no one plays. I'm in San Diego btw...

[stephen_can_man]

Pay them or you will need a strong ministry with good vision and leadership.

[WorshipVanguard]

Be creative! Use the instruments you do have in a non-typical way. It will stretch your creativity, and your leadership. Also, what ideas can the rest of the team contribute? Valuing the team's ideas may promote a more closely knit musical unit.

Our worship team has been without a drummer for a while now. When none of our searching produced a drummer, we made due with what we had, and we're a much tighter team for it. The process may take a little time, so be patient, and expect God to show you new (and cool) things within your limited resources. God's kinda good at that. :-)

[WorshipVanguard]

Be creative! Use the instruments you do have in a non-typical way. It will stretch your creativity, and your leadership. Also, what ideas can the rest of the team contribute? Valuing the team's ideas may promote a more closely knit musical unit.

Our worship team has been without a drummer for a while now. When none of our searching produced a drummer, we made due with what we had, and we're a much tighter team for it. The process may take a little time, so be patient, and expect God to show you new (and cool) things within your limited resources. God's kinda good at that. :-)

[Mike on Bass]

Melanie makes a good point- this is a good test of leadership, because you need to learn to make the best of what you have.

For example, you can use rhythm guitar instead of bass and drums- do an 'unplugged' version of many songs. You could stack up singers and go a bit 'old school' with counter harmonies and rhythmic singing.

The other factor, it helps you rely on God to supply you what you really need. Pray and ask God to send you the right musicians for your team.

In the mean time, I like the idea of reaching out to your local Christian colleges and communities. Networking with other like-minded musicians is one of the best ways to get the right people. See if your team members can help recruit people as well. It might take a while longer, but the people you will get are usually more solid caliber than Craigslist or other networking sites. Not that it can't work, but you will likely get more respondents of a lower spiritual caliber. Most people I know that went the Craigslist route haven't had the greatest results.

[Mark Levigne]

I have a few leads I've used over the years to build/rebuild my band(s).

Local advertising (SunNewspapers here in Cleveland/Akron Ohio area) in small time, more local focused media has been effective for me and quite affordable. If you're going to grow a ministry you must have 'some' budget available (?). I found drummers when I needed them and this was great.

BandMix.com is a great site where individuals and bands can post their skills, style, etc. and let people/bands know who they are and what they need as well. This is a basic-free web service and I found it quite effective. The annaul cost was ~$60.00 and the regular emails and updates about who, what how, etc. were great and quite useful.

WorshipLeads.com is a fairly new site I've come across where you can post yourself as an artist and your offerings/availability. Churches/bands/groups who have needs are the ones who pay (again, budget...) to see who/what is available and willing.

It's tough when you're starting out/growing and missing pieces can be frustrating. Remember Who you're doing it for and trust (we all know it first hand...) how He'll provide in His plan/timing. At the same time we must be responsibile with the resources we have and put our shoulders to the wheel.

Best to you and your team. Share updates when you can :-)

[groovebutler]

This wont help you today but i feel strongly that we should be training the next worship leaders behind us, or along side of us. I play bass and am currently the only bassist at my church. I like to teach youth best but really anyone with a desire and a right heart can learn. also by teaching youth you give them opportunity to cut their teethe in the youth team. as they become better work them into your system. We should always be teaching and encouraging. do this always and when you get thin you can draw from this talent pool. another option is to "crosstrain" your current musicians. its a good thing when your guitarist can sit in on Bass!
its a never ending mission...

[Steffie]

Pray.

I'm a keyboardsist and when I started going to my old church, the worship pastor told me he'd been praying for a keyboardist for years. . .

How long can you keep praying for? If you don't think you could keep it up, find praying people in your church who will. Keep petitioning God till He answers.

[EdFuchsMusic]

Craigslist is also worth checking out if only for the experience... I mean you are in SD, I'm here in LA and it's been good, I've recommended this to some churches also that have had great success.

[ratedextreme]

i've felt and seen the need get bigger over the years.I've begun opening up a ministry that deals just with that.Although I'm located in Montreal area.We work on providing musicians to churches who need a helping hand!