Question:
I have an opportunity to sing contempory Christian/folk music and play guitar at our little local coffee house. It is not specifically a Christian business, so I was thrilled that they said yes to my request. However, now that it is a reality..............I'm freakin' out little. Mainly, I just need a little advice:
1. I'm planning on doing some worship songs like I do for leading worship with the congregation. Do you think songs like "Made to Worship" or "Come, Now is the Time to Worship" are appropriate?
2. Would you talk at all in between songs?
3. Would you leave Bible tracks out? Or, simply have them available?
4. If anyone has experience doing this sort of thing, please share.
Thanks for any advice!
Answer:
1. I'm planning on doing some worship songs like I do for leading worship with the congregation. Do you think songs like "Made to Worship" or "Come, Now is the Time to Worship" are appropriate?
I would find doing worship songs would be a little bit odd
2. Would you talk at all in between songs?
Not much, people want to hear music not talking.
3. Would you leave Bible tracks out? Or, simply have them available?
I an not a big fan of tracts in general. So I would say no.
Answer:
I would say it depends on what the shop owner/manager is expecting you to do. Was there any discussion up front on what kind of music you would play? I have done both ends of the spectrum. In one the "boss" made it clear that he wanted oldies, classic rock secular music. In another, the owner was starting a "Christian Coffee Night" on Sunday evenings in which he wanted Christians to feel welcome. He wanted me to mix in a little of both Christian and G rated secular music and migrate towards mainly praise and worship songs towards the middle/end of the evening. I also talked quite a bit. They of course advertised the flavor of the evening in the window so people knew what to expect. He said he'd gotten a better turn out than normal. We even ended up having a pretty fun singalong. I had to give it up when our church started having Sunday evening services.
I'd have a conversation with whoever is in charge and see what they are expecting.
Answer:
When I was in our Campus Crusade praise band in college, we played at an open mic night at a coffeehouse on campus. We just took 5 of our normal songs and played them. One singer might have said who we were, but other than that, we didn't do any talking, I don't think. To your questions...I think I'd feel a little weird singing songs that are directly addressed to God, since in a concert setting, you're probably interacting more with the audience. I'd also feel weird singing songs that exhort people to worship with you (e.g., both of the ones you mentioned). I'd feel much more comfortable with songs like "In Christ Alone," or "Mighty Is the Power of the Cross", that state truths about God, or your faith. I'd check the place out a few times ahead of time to see whether or not other musicians talk. If you like tracts, and have some good ones, you might keep them in your back pocket. I'd be more inclined to use them as a "take-away" after you've had a conversation with someone who shows some interest than as a lead-in: "Here's a tract; let's talk."
Answer:
I would personally play some Shane and Shane or Derek Webb type stuff if I were playing Christian music at a coffee house. I wouldn't talk much between songs and I wouldn't bring tracts either.
Answer:
What exactly was your request? Did you tell them you were planning to play Christian music? Did you just tell them you wanted to play music?
Answer:
Along the same lines, did you ask the venue if you can hand out tracts?
Answer:
If you told them you were just playing music, showing up and doing Christian music would probably piss them off quite a bit, which is exactly what you don't want to do. If you want to play Christian music, and it was not brought up in the initial agreement, contact them immediately and iron it out.
1) No worship songs. It's directly against the flow of "coffee house music." I would reccomend looking into Shane and Shane, or Derek Webb as well, and maybe some Caedmon's Call. Also, see Benj's songs as he has posted them here. Don't shy away from purely instrumental music, either, if you can swing it; that is a sure way to get some attention on your music.
2) Don't talk. Personally, I wouldn't even give out my name. Start out with some largely instrumental music, and then transition into your lyrical songs.
3) No tracts. If people are interested, they will approach you. Most people are offended by tracts, or simply ignore them. The best thing you can do is make them interested in what it is you have to offer; a piece of paper is only two dimensions, but a person is unlimited in terms of the ability to express what God wants to be expressed.
I would say to have a spare bible or two in a bookbag, if anyone approaches you. But don't expect someone to the first time. If it goes well, and you actually get to play Christian music, I would try to make it a recurring deal.
The biggest mistake you can make is try to be "showy." Do your thing, do it well, and do it with passion. That is what a coffee house is all about. It's not about gimmicks, or power chords, preaching, or any of that garbage.
Answer:
My wife and I have been doing acoustic gigs for years, both in Christian and non-Christian coffee houses.
I can't tell you what you should and shouldn't do...every situation is different...but I can say that we've always done that thing that it is that we do and no one's every asked us to leave and not come back.
On the contrary, they've asked us to return because there's something 'different' about us and the music that we do.
As far as doing "worship" songs...be prepared to be the only one worshipping. The monotonous repetitiveness in many modern worship tunes doesn't make them well suited to casual listening, imho, but there are plenty of songs by Christian artists that could be received by the listener as simply good music.
We do tunes like "Free" by Ginny Owens, "God Shaped Hole" by Plumb, "Whisper Softly" by Chasing Furies, a few Ashley Cleveland tunes and all of our originals, none of which are "worship songs" per se but they are, imho, good music that anyone, believer or non, could appreciate.
Limit your talking. People go to hear music because they want to hear music, not dialog. Unless you're a gifted orator who can capture people with words, keep the yapping to a minimum.
You can take tracts it you want but the strongest witness to non-believers that I've experienced is your personal testimony wrapped in the Gospel message. You have to remember that you're a guest/employee of the place that you're playing so you have to abide by their rules. Tracts and Bibles may (err, WILL) step on some toes but your testimony, the Gospel message, and the Holy Spirit go with you everywhere so just be genuine and let your actions speak as loudly as your words.
Answer:
Thanks to all who responded. This is new to me. The coffee house I mentioned fairly recently started having music on weekends. When I spoke with the owner, I specifically asked if they would be willing to have me to Christian music and his response was "Sure, we like all kinds of music."
I will go back now, though, and work out a few more details. Also, there is a Christian place one town over that I could get some ideas from. I like the ideas of Shane & Shane/Derek Webb/Caedmon's Call.....I was even thinking about throwing in John Denver because what the heck!
In the beginning, I'll avoid songs that specifically address God or exhort people into worship. That will take some work since most of what I'm used to doing now does those things. Usually it is the goal; however, I would like to be asked back and make this a regular thing if at all possible so I suppose the softer approach in the beginning is good.
Thanks!
Answer:
Originally Posted by Jo1967 I was even thinking about throwing in John Denver because what the heck!
This pretty much gives away what the "1967" in your SN means
Not that that's a bad thing....
Nate
Answer:
Go buy some Pierce Pettis and Sufjan Stevens albums and do some of their stuff.
Answer:
Originally Posted by nate95366 This pretty much gives away what the "1967" in your SN means
Not that that's a bad thing....
Nate
Well......kind of.........1967 is the year I was born. Of course, that is probably ancient to a lot of you!
Answer:
Originally Posted by 1967 Well......kind of.........1967 is the year I was born. Of course, that is probably ancient to a lot of you!
That's what I was getting at - you were born at the right time to be exposed to John Denver's heyday, just as people my age were born at the right time to be exposed to Garth Brooks' heyday...
You're only 10 years older than me, though, so I won't go into the "you're getting old" thing...
Nate
Answer:
Originally Posted by Jo1967 That will take some work since most of what I'm used to doing now does those things. Usually it is the goal... Good thought.
Key thing to remember: Exhorting others to worship assumes that they are in a position to do so in the first place. If you are not in an explicitly Christian shop, your goal should be to cause people to wonder about what there is to worship. Indeed, that should be a chief goal regardless of the religious affiliation of your environment; even good congregations need to be reminded of their roots daily in order to be in a position to truly worship God and not the things they associate with him.