Church musicians should be assertive in negotiating for better conditions - Pastor Edwin Dadson

Pastor Edwin Dadson, a worship leader at the International Central Gospel Church, has a message for church musicians. He encourages them to be assertive in negotiating better conditions.

He spoke with Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM's Showbiz A-Z. Pastor Dadson acknowledged that some pastors make it hard for musicians to voice their concerns. However, he believes musicians should find ways to express their issues instead of just complaining.

Pastor Dadson discussed the importance of paying church musicians. He said, “Sometimes we don’t add value to ourselves and we are not assertive.” He noted that many musicians lack knowledge on how to negotiate effectively.

He advised musicians not to stay silent about their needs. Instead, they should approach the accountant and present their case confidently. For example, they could say, "I have been working here and doing more than any volunteer."

Pastor Dadson shared an incident involving a drummer who left his church. The drummer wanted to perform at another church but needed new skills first. He emphasized that musicians should always learn new skills to improve.

He suggested that a musician who plays one instrument should learn others too. Adding music production skills can also increase their value.

Finally, Pastor Edwin mentioned that whether a musician plays for free or for pay is a personal choice. It depends on how much time they dedicate to church music versus other commitments.