Hi, Rebecca - for years, I sang from the pews and said things about church musicians being fickle and back-stabbing and small-minded and downright nasty. Now that I've been a church musician myself for 15 years, my impression of church musicians hasn't changed much - and I sometimes find it hard myself to resist the temptation to commit the sin of "ecclesiastical cattiness." Maybe it's a fault that's common to all performers, and it just seems more obvious among church musicians because one should be able to expect church people to be nice.

I guess I'd suggest that you stop trying to get a solo, and concentrate on getting people to get along together and to have a good time together. Take the time to listen to people, and maybe goof off a bit and start having a good time yourself. Go out of your way to see to it that others are enjoying themselves, and that nobody is left out of the conversation. Once you've made it so people really enjoy your company, you'll start getting those solos.

All the best to you.

-Joe Offer-