It's the issue of how BACKGROUND VOCALISTS, (good ones!!) as essential, necessary, and irreplaceable as they are to the band, they are the MORE undervalued of the group of already undervalued band members! It's honestly so sad.
These folks, often sing better than the people they are backing up, come for just as many rehearsals as the rest of the band, spend the same amount of gas to get there, live their weekdays with your songs playing in their ears as they go about what should exclusively be their lives, trying to map out and learn your music. They study your delivery so they can come in at the appropriate times with the required harmonies using correct dynamics. Just like the rest of the band!
Yet these dedicated few, are the underpaid of the underpaid. They are the disregarded of the disregarded; who if spiritual rewards were physical, would be driving Maseratis, Bentley's, Bugattis and Porsches based on how often you have decided to bless them with only "Thank yous" for their time and work. They'd be richer than you if intangibles were essential commodities for life.
So I'm highlighting this issue because I personally want to acknowledge that this thing exists. We know it does. And I don't want to continue silently acquiescing to its existence; thereby validating and supporting it. People are valuable. Again, I say, without those people in the background, dear music minister, you are almost nothing. The ENTIRE band; of which background vocalists, are a VITAL component, is your backbone.
So as I said yesterday, value these people. Not just in the words of your mouth which we all know are sweet on the stage but questionable off of it. Yeah...they're BGVs remember, they see everything else you are behind the scenes when you're cussing out the pastor in the green room. And while your mouth is running and you boast of what better pastors paid you as an honorarium in previous events in comparison to the current Mr. tightwad, they remember they went with you to those events and you gave them only enough for McDonald's on the pitiful journey home after multiple days of rehearsals, wardrobe requirements to match, obtaining babysitting for their children, and ultimately standing for ridiculous periods of time to make you look good on stage. Because they love what they do and you use it to your own advantage.
While you were led up front to sit at the honored spaces next to the little table with the snacks and water by the eye-servicing protocol personnel who wants a free CD, you didn't bother to find out if they got there safely and were seated in chairs half as comfortable as yours until it was time for you to rehearse or minister.
You glorified their vocal abilities and flattered their singing to get them to agree to back you up, but belittled the same voices and asked, "what do they think they can even sing..." when you experienced their justified crankiness afterward at your inconsiderate reward for all they've given.
Just because their instrument to your band is not brought in on trolleys, carried in black musician gig bags, insured by guitar center's limited warranty, or connected to several XLR cables doesn't mean it's not valuable. As a matter of fact, it's potentially more valuable since after chomping on loads of honey lemon ginger drops before the event, they don't just go out and service it, they have to buy throat coat teas afterward to restore the strained cords you pulled to severity during your professional theft of their gifts in rehearsal.
Personally, people have asked why I'm reluctant to ask for help with my music. It's partly because of this thing above. It's difficult for me to ask people to give me their invaluable gifts and talents knowing full well that I may be incapable of properly compensating them. And unlike a majority of those I'm referencing who have become great at mining people for their own benefit, my conscience hasn't been seared yet; and I'd rather go solo than be a user.
I'd rather not do it than do it with the sweat of others who sincerely expect payment but who unbeknownst to them, will only be paid in indefinite IOUs that can never be cashed.
From the frequent flyer singers whose numbers you have on speed dial when you have an event, to the singers in the choir of the ministry you're visiting to whom you will send your songs to rehearse and learn before the big day, ... show some respect. Show some love. If possible, show some compensation. Because these people didn't leave their homes, drive from work, or skip naps between jobs to support you only for you to walk away under the self-delusion that you got through that set list by your own power and prowess.
Btw, this goes for ministries too. God is watching you when you pay thousands of dollars to the "no-longer-top-reigning" but "still-very-much-popular" artists you are now able to afford for your explosion conferences but say God bless you with rice and moi moi to the home-grown but highly gifted ones you have at your beck and call in what should better be classified as "Arinfin" 😂 But that's a topic for another day!
Please I'm not fighting oh... just wanted to get this off my chest... 😂 Bye 👋🏾