Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the church organist deserves to burn for this?!

172 replies

purpleloosestrife · 16/05/2012 20:09

I'm getting married this summer, but everybody in the village knows the local church organist is awful and sounds like Les Dawson playing the piano on a GOOD day.

Anyway, I rang him - and he told me that he was on holiday on my wedding day.

(whilst secretly extremely happy & punching the air) I oh so tactfully and very politely said what a shame and said not to worry as I would organise someone else, and really hoped he enjoyed his holiday. All very nice... but then just as i was ringing off and saying my goodbyes......

Right, he said, now about my fee....I said what fee, you're not even going to be in the country so won't be playing at my wedding??? to which he replied... it is £100 regardless.

He's not even going to be there or play and I have to pay him £100 !!!!

I've had to also pay a second (professional) organist - who incidentally only charges £80 which also includes his travel and an hour of practise ( on a strange organ ooh er !!) before the wedding. So the local organist is overcharging as well as fleecing me!!!

AIBU to think a regular church goer should actually have more christian values????

Oh and he wants it in cash and seemed EXTREMELY put out when I said I would only pay him if he gave me a dated itemised invoice for tax purposes.

OP posts:
AdoraBell · 16/05/2012 20:20

Does he realise that the love of money is said to be route of all evil?

I'd be all flustered when talking to the vicar about the cost of TWO organists and highly polite when talking to the tax office if I were you.

meditrina · 16/05/2012 20:20

Tell him you are paying all fees to the vicar on a single cheque, and you will ask the vicar to make sure he (and bell ringers, other randoms) receive the customary fee from him.

BackforGood · 16/05/2012 20:21

Don't think I'd be paying.
Magoosmom - if it's already part of his salary, then why is he requesting separate payment ?
I've never come across an organist being paid for not even being there.
I too would mention it to the vicar/priest/minister.

AnAirOfHope · 16/05/2012 20:24

No.way would i pay him. Ask him what the money is for as he is not playing at wedding. Then tell the vicar.

AnAirOfHope · 16/05/2012 20:26

Meditrina 'like' :)

Original poster
purpleloosestrife · 16/05/2012 20:27

thanks for all your messages- glad it's not just me who thinks he's in the wrong.

I think the vicar is aware, but concerned that he will leave her in the lurch every week for church services if she stands up to him, and as she needs a church organist....

I wouldn't mind so much if I'd chosen someone else and he lost the opportunity to earn his fee - but he's on holiday!!

I will definitely be talking to the Tax Office....

OP posts:
JesusWept · 16/05/2012 20:29

Tell him to sod off.

AKMD · 16/05/2012 20:30

It sounds like the music would sound better without his, erm... accompaniment.

magoosmom · 16/05/2012 20:31

Backforgood -don't know If the church actually pays the organist a salary or if they are given a contract making them the church's official organist , presume it's a contract and they therefore have the right to play at every wedding/funeral etc. My sister got married 3 weeks ago in London and had to use the cathedrals organist even thought he wasnt what she wanted and I had to pay the organist in the cathedral I got married in in Ireland and I brought my own musicians!!

Anniegetyourgun · 16/05/2012 20:36

And here was I thinking Jesus didn't like moneygrubbers in temples.

TheHouseOnTheCorner · 16/05/2012 20:37

I would be tempted to tamper with his organ in revenge.

FunnyBird · 16/05/2012 20:41

It is normal to pay an organist a fee if you bring your own organist, as you're doing him out of his income. (DH is a church organist). But not if he's on holiday anyway. Ridiculous.

DeWe · 16/05/2012 20:42

Ask the vicar.

What's the worst he can do if you don't pay? The vicar can't refuse to marry you (they have to have a "cause and just impediment" for that). Will be take the organ with him... or turn up and play jazz music over the top.

Failing that say you'll have no need for an organ and find a good pianist with a electric keyboard and plug in.

Holiday pay is one thing, but you're paying (if he's there) a bonus to him, not a regular wage.

bruxeur · 16/05/2012 20:42

Put superglue down his organ pipes, so it won't work properly any more.

EclecticShock · 16/05/2012 20:43

!!! Why are weddings such a ripoff! Speak to the vicar.

QuickLookBusy · 16/05/2012 20:44

Just don't give it to him.

If he asks for it again, ask him to detail in a letter why he is charging you when he will not even be at the wedding playing with his organ

ToryLovell · 16/05/2012 20:46

What a dodgy organist YANBU

MrGin · 16/05/2012 20:46

I'd just look in to it before repoting them to the IR or outright refusing.

It does sound bonkers..... but you never know they might work for free at the Church a lot, spend their own time and money maintaining said organ. Maybe. Maybe not.

Perhaps agree to pay on the condition the money is used for lessons. Win / win . ;-)

AmnesiaCustard · 16/05/2012 20:50

I've heard of this before. it is common practice in many churches.

purplestripysocks · 16/05/2012 20:51

This is standard, I'm afraid. You can try asking nicely for the organist to waive the fee but he doesn't have to.

EmmaCate · 16/05/2012 20:52

Is that legal? I mean - what does he actually DO to justify income to him? I would have thought costs of organ upkeep would fall to the church, and if there's any 'prep' any professional worth his salt would do it themselves rather than trust to another.

It's a pisser you had to ask him in the first place really. I was pretty laid back about all aspects of my wedding, except the music, which I would only entrust to singers and an organist I knew could cut it! What a cow. But I didn't want my favourite anthems corrupted by the standard one or two woefully flat/warbly/shrill singers you always find in parish church choirs.

cory · 16/05/2012 20:53

I can understand that paying the organist might be standard; it's the fact that he is insisting on cash in hand and no bill that sounds dodgy.

HecateTrivia · 16/05/2012 20:56

Why not, purple? What is the reason that they have to be paid, whether their services are used or not?

HecateTrivia · 16/05/2012 20:58

I mean, surely in order to be paid something - you have to have done something. Provided a service. Which clearly he isn't.

If he took it to court, what would be his argument? I realise you can't know that Grin I'm just wondering. i am in this small claims court because these people got married in a church, I am the organist, they didn't give me £100. No, I didn't play. I was on holiday...

nocake · 16/05/2012 21:01

Wait for him to provide the invoice then don't pay it because he hasn't provided any service. It'll be a brave man who tries to take that to the small claims court.