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On the message boards not long ago the topic of local groups opening for the featured group was brought up. I found this interesting, because as a young singer coming up, The Lesters gave me a chance to open on several of their big concerts. They were gracious enough to allow me as a soloist and as the founder of a new group called The Sunday Edition to sing a song to warm the people up before the main groups took the stage. So, this practice of allowing local groups to sing, goes back a long ways. I was dumbfounded when someone in the discussion said that it wasn’t worth their time if they didn’t get 15 or 20 minutes to sing. Lest I get too righteous sounding here, let me tell you that I once made a statement similar to that, and a fine Christian lady was quick to set me straight. I said that I didn’t think that it would be worth our time to drive 100 miles to sing one song. This lady, who was a singer herself let me know that if we traveled 100 miles to sing one song and if one soul was saved because we ministered that one song, then it would certainly be worth our time and effort to do so. OUCH. I felt about two feet tall. Needless to say, if the opportunity to minister is availed to us, we do not hesitate to go, wherever it is within reason. Now back to opening for featured group at concerts. I encourage promoters to use local and regional talent, and I encourage local and regional groups to make themselves available to work with promoters. Let me say that it should STILL be considered an honor and privilege to get the exposure of singing on the main stage of any concert. Somehow local groups seem to have forgotten that. Promoters cannot afford to pay opening groups, but they usually allow them to sell their products. Here’s the secret, if you are good enough to be paid, then you will sell product, if not, then you probably need to hit the practice hall some more. So, at this point I would like to say a great big Thanks to The Lesters for allowing me and my group to open their concerts, and I would like to encourage all the other part-timers that are getting used by promoters to extend a thanks for their opportunity to sing before Pastors and Music Ministers who attend these concerts.

Reader Comments

Amen, Deon! I hope local groups will read & heed your remarks.

God is good all the time & all the time God is good. 

Elaine Harcourt

Tony, I agree completely with you on this one, if we book a church or concert, then we are obligated to keep that commitment, even if we have the opportunity to do a bigger event with main line groups. However, the person I was referring to in my article said that they thought they "deserved at least twenty to thrity minutes if they were asked to sing". I do not believe that it was you who made this statement.

Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
My Blog

Some people are like Slinkys…  Not really good for anything, but they
still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs -  Author Unknown

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