by PASTOR MARK MOHR

This is basically how all Christian artists start out including myself. After I had demoed my first song I remember taking the cassette to my local Christian music store expecting to get a record deal. This is not how it works. Many years later I ended up being signed to a label. So what took place in between? And what are my suggestions to someone in this position?

First of all listen to God. This is essential. Draw close to His heart and open up your ears to His still small voice. Has God specifically gifted you with special talents, and are you truly called to music ministry? Many are called, but few are chosen. What are your motivations? Your desires? Do they line up with the Word of God? If your calling is strong and you will not be wavered (Trust me you will face many trials and tribulations) then proceed to the next steps.

Get grounded: It is absolutely essential that you are grounded in God's Word, a church and have a strong support system. This is essential for all musicianaries. Christafari was born within a church and if it wasn't for the support of my pastor (Bob) we would not have survived and flourished. You must have a strong church base and a group of people that are committed to praying for you. You need to be supported and held accountable by your pastor and youth workers.

I just got back from Trinidad and saw the most awesome reggae band there. It was great to see that they not only had a strong church support system, but their Pastor was their manager. He was keeping them in check and protecting them from the wrong people and negative influences. This is a great way to start off. This is the position that Pastor Bob held in the early years of Christafari (in fact he got us our first deal). I still consult him for all of my important decisions.

The best place to find band members is within the Church. You can usually speak to pastors and find out the individual's heart and make sure that their walk and motivations are pure. I cannot tell you how many bands were started out of Sanctuary. Bands like Wedding Party, Vengeance, Christafari and many others found members within the church. In these examples some of the players that they found did not play (or even listen to) the style of music that they ended up playing in the band. You are far better off finding someone inside the Church that is right with God and has to learn a style of music than finding someone outside of a church that knows the music but isn't walking with God. I believe that a band should not be evangelizing those within the band but those outside of the band. Everyone needs to be on the same foundation. It is a lot easier to teach someone a new style of music than to try and force them into your beliefs. A band needs to be united in the Gospel.

Christafari got started at my church youth camp's talent show. The first band that I performed with was a Christian Rock band from my church. They learned reggae and backed me for the talent show. Then my youth pastor asked us to play the song at a Sunday night service. Then we played at an outreach at my high school and 30 of my friends came to Christ! By then I was ready to step out and find my own members. My friends from my youth group went to GoodWill bought instruments and taught themselves how to play. At that time we also did a lot of programming.

If you cannot find members for your band or are not called to start a band but just to sing, find someone in your church that has a keyboard or computer with a workstation and has some skills in programming. You'd be amazed at what people can do these days with a Korg O1W. I had to do this in the beginning, in fact our first two demos included songs that were programmed. Hopefully you can find someone that can do this for you for cheap or even for free. Have them record the music on a cassette, DAT or burn it on a CD. Take it everywhere you go and you will have a full band in your pocket. If you cannot afford this try singing to artists sound tracks. These sound tracks are sold at most Christian Music stores. You can learn a lot from other artists materials.

For Reggae singers and especially dancehall DJs the best resource for you will be Jamaican 45s also known as 7 inches. All popular reggae songs are distributed in this format (although it is not easy to find) companies such as VP Records and others distribute them in the states. What you are looking for is the instrumental or „version‰ as they call it. Once you find a song with a rhythm that you like find the 45 and turn it over and you will find the version of that song. Each version is given it‚s own name by it‚s creator and performed on by most Jamaican artists. Practice, sing and write to that rhythm. Get enough versions going and you can travel with a DJ or sound system and minister with your original lyrics. This is also the case with Hip Hop and most types of dance music.

Play on the worship team. Worship is key and all Christian musicians should know how to play it or even lead it. It is such a blessing for me to have a band full of former worship leaders. Whenever we go to a place and they want some worship we are ready (and this happens often).

Your church and local community will give you great opportunities to perform a song here and there (perhaps in the service) or even at an outreach concert for the youth group or the community. Perhaps you can even get an opening position for bands that come to perform at your church or in your area.

But please remember that not every person given a talent by God is called to have a record deal. Again, Listen to God's specific call on your life. Maybe you are called to have a record deal, or perhaps God wants you to stay in your church and sing in your worship team. There is a girl in the church that I grew up in that has an amazing voice. She could give Crystal Lewis a run for he money. She sang in your worship service. Everyone knew that she would be a star someday. And you know what? She is a star in her Church and her community still singing in the worship team and blessing them with her jewel of a voice 15 years later. She is in the center of God's will and there is no better place for her.

Ultimately, God will pave the way for you. Just seek Him and work hard. He will take care of the rest. But never forget your foundation.

Now that I have my own record label and have 10 years of experience in the music industry I can tell you what a label is looking for. The Christian industry looks at image first. This is wrong. I wish that I could tell you differently but it is true, even more so than the secular industry. Do not bow to this. Be who God created you to be. They also seek good and consistent songwriting skills and a unique sound. Again, do not compromise your sound and who you are called to reach for anyone. Stay true to God's Calling. However, the thing that speaks the loudest to a label is this; When a band or artist is having such an impact in their church that it spreads throughout the community, city, county and sometimes even the state.

This type of impact speaks volumes to a label. They see the success you are having in your area and want to magnify it nationally or world wide. Ultimately, getting a deal should not be your focus, but rather winning souls, and impacting them for Christ. Follow God. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

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