How many jobs have you held in your life? I have had a total of 33 jobs in 17 years. This does not include all of the musicals, operas, television and film projects either. I am a professional singer and actor. Did I plan on having 33 jobs in 17 years? Of course not, but life has been a crazy wild ride. There were no drugs, very little alcohol, but my drug of choice has been WORK! Most of my adult life I have worked at least 3 jobs or more simultaneously in addition to performing. Each week I will discuss and reflect on one of my former or current jobs. Here is job number 4!
First United Methodist Chancel Choir
In college, I began singing in the choir at the United Methodist Church in Murray, Kentucky. The chair of the MSU music department was also the choir director at this church at the time. She would hire a few university singers to sing with her church choir. I attended rehearsals on Wednesday nights and sang with the choir every Sunday. It was a wonderful job for a college student and, even better for a music major to work on their sight reading skills.
Cultural Difference
Many predominantly white churches pay some of the singers. Before college, I had no idea that this was a thing because I had only attended black churches. Most predominantly black churches view paying singers as something you should not do. I have received so many mixed messages over the years about singing at church for pay.
Quitting
For me singing at church is not just a job. It has been my way of serving in the church. Well, the paid singers were serving First United Methodist Church in Murray because the university singers helped the elderly singers feel more confident with their singing as well. However, I quit this job because I had mixed feelings about singing at church for money. It was actually a classmate’s comments that convicted me about it.
Conclusion
After I quit the choir, I was often asked to sing at different churches during my time in Kentucky. I was always paid after I sang a solo at a church. So, I could have just kept my regular church job to be honest. One friend recently said something recently that resonated with me. She said that she invested thousands of dollars to be a trained singer.
So, she should be compensated for her singing at a church. It is not just a talent, but something that I have invested so much time and money into. However, I am still on the fence about this topic, even in 2024. As an adult I have been paid several times to sing solos at churches over the years. I am grateful to share my gifts in the church whether I am paid or not. If I am paid it is a nice bonus, but if not that is okay too.
https://www.bydominiqueduarte.com/how-to-obtain-33-jobs-in-17-years/