Is There Any Justification For Monetizing Gospel Music Shows? – Solomon Buchi Argues

Is There Any Justification For Monetizing Gospel Music Shows?

Let’s break this down in realistic basis. A gospel concert will require proper sound: speakers, microphones, mixers and audio engineers and this will cost nothing less than 50m Naira for STANDARD!

Do you know how much it cost to hire a professional audio engineer for live sound? These are the things that you enjoy. It’s more than the Holy Spirit, there’s excellence that goes into it. Human excellence and it has to be highly compensated. And this excellence is years of hard work, study and devotion. Some got professional training that cost millions. It wasn’t free.

2. Venue: Think of the largest venue in Lagos, how much would it cost? I’m not in Lagos, but I’m sure some venues cost up to 10m per day.

The Artistes: gospel musicians are musicians. For some of them, that’s their source and you can’t invite them without paying them. In the gospel industry, the standard varies — some don’t have a fixed price, some do. Bear in mind that they have their bands too. Their bands typically consist of their drummer, guitarist, bassist, BGvocalists. They’d fly them all in, provide accommodation and pay them. Even if Pastor Nathaniel Bassey doesn’t charge you, would your conscience allow you invite such standard artiste & his team for 500K Naira?

In the kingdom, we understand honor. You honor someone’s craft by not seeking it for free. Do you how much Pastor Nath’s trumpet is? You love the sound. It’s very seraphic. But that trumpet is over a million Naira. I think there’s need to have these conversations. Because some of you have forgotten that ounce of excellence you see in the church or done by Christians is a product of FINANCE. And when you understand this, you wouldn’t even wait for the church to ask for money. You know what it takes to enjoy the excellence.

Now, let’s talk about international artistes. How much do you think it’ll take to invite Hillsong to Nigeria? I actually do not know, but I can assume that it’ll be impossible without at least 50K dollars. At least. Do you know how much their gears are worth? Their guitars are over 3m Naira. Please, before you make some statements, first make research. This is the same argument about if a world class Christian university should be expensive. How do you want world class, but don’t realize that to have that, you’ll pay big?

The EXPERIENCE , which is the biggest worship event in Nigeria gulps up to almost a billion Naira if not more, every year. It’s free. But it’s not free. Guess what? Someone/people are paying for it. These examples will help you all think straight. Now, about having different table options, like table of 5m, table of 3m like in secular shows. I honestly don’t feel that, because I think Christian gatherings shouldn’t be a place to promote classism at any slightest level. But someone can argue a case for this, I’m open.

Let’s take this conversation internationally. They barely have this conversation. Barely. The have different ticket options — to meet Jonathan McReynolds backstage after the concert isn’t same amount as regular ticket. It’s just a way to support these guys. They have families. Does that mean that these monetized gospel shows aren’t for poor people? There are loads of free shows, loads. If I can’t afford a gospel show, I’ll actually just sit it out. If I really want to go, I’ll save up for it. It’s my appreciation for excellence. It’s my offering.

Christians who think like this are the reason Christianity is associated with mediocrity. If Pastor Paul Adefarasin assembles 20K people in a tiny hall with bad sound, bad BGVs, bad vocalists, you’ll complain and whine. So, how do we please you?

No church charges for Sunday service. No church charges for worship in church. These ticketed gospel shows are usually independent of the church; using an off-church facility, and not a regular gathering. So should we not pay to watch Christian movies in cinemas? And when you buy these tickets, remember you’re helping a Christian mix engineer make income, you’re helping these Christian creatives not beg for money. Simple. The experience gives job opportunities and volunteering to Christian creatives. If you want good, good is not cheap.

Let this post stir you to be more intentional about giving to your local church. It is not easy to run a church. I’m totally against pastors who manipulate their assemblage to get money. However, it’s our DUTY to finance the advancement of the gospel. Fund your local church.