Charging Churches For Shows

maybeone · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2003 12:50 pm Post subject: Charging Churches For Shows

I am in a hardcore (rock,rap,punk) band in Michigan. We are solid and good at what we do. Non-Christians love our sound just as much, if not more, than "church goers." We have been playing self financed shows for years. By this I mean that we rent a place, promote it, and charge admission. All of our shows are meant as outreach for Christians to bring non-Christian friends to. But now we would like to take our message into other churches so that they can host us as an "event." The only problem I am running into is how to charge.
Some options:
1. Pass The Plate
I personally hate this idea. It totally weirds worldly kids out.

2. Charge Admission
This is a lot like playing at a club. "Splitting the door with the house."

3. Charge the Church
Ask for a flat rate based on how good we are. The church decides if they want to charge or use $ from the budget.

I personally lean towards #3. I am just having trouble with how much to charge. Not to mention that the more we charge, the fewer churches we will be able to play in. But this is our ministry and it needs to support itself. Please reply with advice.
Thanks,
ben

dj · Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2003 11:42 pm Post subject: Charging Churches For Shows

Hello Ben,
Grace and peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ. First off, let me say congratulations on being solid and good at what you do(even to non-Christians), that is awesome! God wants us to work at whatever we do with all of our heart and it sounds like you guys are doing it! Secondly, as per your ?, I am in a Christian alternative group in San Diego and we have faced the same dilemma that you now face. We have taken the approach that whatever God wants to give us and bless us with is fine with us but we have never asked for one penny. Now this is a little tricky and I am not saying that we have made a lot of $ because we haven't, but God has always provided exactly what we have needed and sometimes more abundantly than we could have imagined. What we have wanted to do is sell our merchandise(cds, hats, t-shirts, etc.) to those who enjoy our music and let God provide however He wants to for everything else. Again, this is just the way that we have chosen to do things and it has worked out well for us so I hope and pray that the Lord will just lead you and guide you in whatever direction that you choose to go....
In Christ's love,
DJ