How to get rid of the Music Director?

[Blah067]

Every summer our church puts on this summer kids program, involving about a 5 piece band and 10 channels of wireless.

For two years, I've been thrown into command, and, although stressful, enjoyed it. Played piano, directed the band, ran all sound.

I want to be officially in charge without it being short notice this year.
Problem is, for the last two years, out music director hasn't been there, and I'm worried this year, he'll get to be in charge (rightfully).

However, i kinda want to be "in charge", since I've done a decent job the past two years.

How do I talk to him about asking him if I can take over? (by take over, I mean get him out of the picture)

[Sayen]

How to get rid of the Music Director?

I know this guy, who knows a guy, who works down by the docks...


Or...can you talk to whoever is in charge and who makes the decision? If you've done a good job the last couple of years, and it's your baby, hopefully they'll let you remain in charge?

[jwl868]

You might not be able to get rid of the music director. The church may require having an adult and/or church employee in charge of the program. There may also be administrative tasks (such as dealing with parents) that the music director is in the best postition to do. Now, that doesn't mean you can't do what you've done in the past under the music director's supervision (such that it is). Sounds like you need to talk to the music director.

Joe

[Hughesie]

Originally Posted by Sayen

I know this guy, who knows a guy, who works down by the docks...

I obviously share this friend

[DaveySimps]

You know Big Tony The Rat too???


~Dave

[Hughesie]

Originally Posted by DaveySimps

You know Big Tony The Rat too???


~Dave

No Dave, you must have another guy. Ours is called Charlie Beta, it might a codename maybe.

hmmm

[rochem]

What all does the Music Director do? Generally, a Music Director is responsible for helping the actors to learn their music and interpreting the show from a music standpoint, where the actual conducting of the show is just a small part of it. Also, as Joe mentioned, there may be some other administrative tasks that he does that you don't know about. So what exactly is it that you want to do? From what I read, you're interested in conducting the orchestra (and playing piano), but not necessarily those other tasks. Maybe try talking to him to ask if he would allow you to conduct during the show (if that's what you want to do). If he hasn't shown up for two years, then he's probably not very interested in the actual conducting part. So he might be more than willing to let you take over that part of the show.

If conducting the show really is the only responsibility of the Music Director, then there is a bigger problem. He is being hired (paid?) and receiving program credit for being at the show and conducting. If he doesn't even show up, then replacing him should be a fairly easy decision for the director or producer or whomever is in charge. If he is not doing the job for which he has been hired and credited, he should be replaced.

[philhaney]

Originally Posted by rochem

What all does the Music Director do?

Depends on how things are done at your church. At the church I go to, the "music director" is called the Worship Pastor and has complete and total control of all musical worship aspects of all services. On the other hand, the Youth Pastor is in charge of VBS (our week-long summer event) as well as our children's Christmas musical (which is our annual 10-wireless mics with children event). For the children's Christmas musical, he has a volunteer who directs, and she always gets with me ahead of time and we go over everything (can we do this? How about that? etc). I'm not on staff at church, I just volunteer, but I am the lead sound/lighting/video/computer guy in the booth.

Best advice I can give you: Politely and respectfully go to your music director and explain your situation, "I've done so-and-so for the last two years and I was wondering if I could do such-and-such this year?" Whatever he says, respect his wishes (after all, he's the guy in charge). If he bails again or there are problems, follow your church's protocal for things like that (talk to the senior pastor, church board, etc.).

When all else fails, pray! (Which is the first thing you should do anyway.....)

[Blah067]

I'd like to point out this is a church VBS program, not a professional theater.

Our music director is in charge of directing the "band" (however large or small) and getting the sound set up (or having whoever he wants to set it up).

He HAS NOT performed any of these administrative tasks as MD, as there are none. He did not attend any of the planning meetings for the past two years, I did that. He actually went to a different church to do THEIR VBS, instead of ours, claiming "nobody asked him to do our churches" (which, imo, is fine by my, because I don't want him around).

So no, he doesn't do any other tasks, because he's literally had zero involvement. No sarcasm intended, he's never done anything. He hasn't even BEEN there, at all. So again, no, he hasn't done any administrative things. Sorry to be stern about this, but its so very true.

[Blah067]

Originally Posted by rochem

What all does the Music Director do? Generally, a Music Director is responsible for helping the actors to learn their music and interpreting the show from a music standpoint, where the actual conducting of the show is just a small part of it. Also, as Joe mentioned, there may be some other administrative tasks that he does that you don't know about. So what exactly is it that you want to do? From what I read, you're interested in conducting the orchestra (and playing piano), but not necessarily those other tasks. Maybe try talking to him to ask if he would allow you to conduct during the show (if that's what you want to do). If he hasn't shown up for two years, then he's probably not very interested in the actual conducting part. So he might be more than willing to let you take over that part of the show.

If conducting the show really is the only responsibility of the Music Director, then there is a bigger problem. He is being hired (paid?) and receiving program credit for being at the show and conducting. If he doesn't even show up, then replacing him should be a fairly easy decision for the director or producer or whomever is in charge. If he is not doing the job for which he has been hired and credited, he should be replaced.

With all due respect, I don't think you understand the concept of a church's musical director. We don't have separate people for every role, and he is the permanent hired music director of the church. It is his responsibility to plan, organize, and manage the sound and music for the entire program. (off record, this is the role I would much rather have than him, because he doesn't show any interest in doing this).
At a church, he is not just hired for one show, he has many other tasks to perform besides just this show.

He is not credited and has not been in previous years, exactly as it should be. As I stated in my last post, he does not perform any administrative tasks to aid or help this show at all. And in fact, I don't WANT him to.

Allow me to clarify one last time, for the last two years, I've conducted the band, stepped in in less than two weeks notice, and ran the entire sound for the show (yes...while playing piano). He has done nothing to help the performance.

Please understand that a Church's Music Director is clearly much different than a Music Director in a true theater setting.