Posted by Joe S. on June 17, 2000 at 21:35:14:
In Reply to: A relevant question posted by Jason on June 17, 2000 at 20:54:47:
I usually drag along a trombone to such gigs, and when they are over, the organist/choirmaster guy is usually glad that I did. If not a trombone, are you a pretty good baritone guy? If you have access to a tenor instrument (trombone/baritone), I'd take it, particularly if it is a big well-financed church which regularly seeks instrumentalists to suppliment their worship services.
I haven't done many church jobs in the past month or so (a few commencements and some jazz stuff), but at my Easter job I instinctively tossed the trombone in the trunk behind the tuba. I ended up using the trombone for 75% of the gig. It made a very good impression to pull out the right axe for each tune. Although that church had already been "outbid" for Easter 2001 before Easter 2000, the demonstration of competent flexibility created a lot of goodwill, and I'm sure that I will be called back for more work there.
To summarize, I recommend doubling - EVEN IF NOT paid to do so - if possible.