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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:
lolajane2009 · 16/05/2012 22:09

speak to the vicar or failing that people above the vicar

LRDtheFeministDragon · 16/05/2012 22:11

Btw, I am really shocked by this - I know churches need to pay upkeep and it can be very expensive. But when I got married, my vicar didn't do the service but let us use the building, and made no mention of any fees at all (and I only thought to write him a cheque because I happened to know he was in his rights to charge). Likewise the organist offered to play for free, although we didn't take him up on it in the end.

My vicar explained that he would not expect to charge a local regular unless we actually had him and the organist do the service - I see that may not be the norm but I just wanted to say, I think many people doing these jobs would actually be pretty shocked at this attitude you've come up against.

bronze · 16/05/2012 22:12

Fair enough if you were replacing him then you pay him too.
Tell him you can't afford to pay two organists sonic you're paying he better run up. You're not choosing to replace him.
Then tell the vicar there will be no hymns as you can't afford to pay two organists.
Throw a spanner in the works

NorksAreMessy · 16/05/2012 22:13

That would be God lola

bronze · 16/05/2012 22:13

So as

Turn up

Insert words in correct places

Original poster
purpleloosestrife · 16/05/2012 22:22

Porc - I was being tongue in cheek about the "deserves to burn" ( i hope everybody realises that & understands I wouldn't actually condone the burning of anyone in real life) I certainly didn't mean to offend you.

poulay- I never said that I was trying to insist to the vicar that he shouldn't get paid , so not sure where that came from.

I am going to pay him, (as long as he provides a dated invoice) I'm just a bit lot miffed as he is not going to be there - and from the supportive comments I think most people think he is morally out of line.

OP posts:
trio38 · 16/05/2012 22:24

lilymaid is that why musicians are all so well off? I think the organist is taking the piss, but most music teachers or 'militant' orchestral players have studied and practised for years and still earn less than the national average. the only career that is more demanding but worse paid is dancing.

(Sorry for hijack OP).

porcamiseria · 16/05/2012 22:26

I know you did not mean it, but given all thats gone on this week, maybe a different term!

spg1983 · 16/05/2012 22:26

We had to pay our organist about £180 when we got married in the summer. £80 of that went towards PPL licensing which apparently we had to pay because there was going to be music played. The organist was paid £100. Is it possible that the regular organist is responsible for paying the PPL charge?

sashh · 17/05/2012 05:58

Wow, I wonder if I can charge anyone £100 for not doing something.

differentnameforthis · 17/05/2012 09:40

Bloody hell 500pounds to use the church? I paid less than a 100 (mind, that was 18yrs ago)

We didn't pay the organist either.

Sirzy · 17/05/2012 09:44

All the money for the churches sides of the wedding should come into the church and then they distribute it appropriately through the books I wouldn't even consider paying someone who is having nothing to do with it!

ReallyTired · 17/05/2012 09:45

Can you not speak to the church warden. It is ridicoulous to pay for an organist who is on holiday.

Anyway most organists are self employed.

DeWe · 17/05/2012 10:06

I've asked God and he says to look at 1 Timothy 6 v 10. Please pass it on to your organist as a word from the Lord.

It says "Money is the root of all evil" Grin

uggmum · 17/05/2012 10:09

I am shocked by this. My step-dad is a church organist and only charges if he is actually paying. I would speak to the vicar about it.

fedupofnamechanging · 17/05/2012 10:15

I think you are mad to pay him - you haven't entered into a contract with him. If the church has, then it's the church's responsibility to pay him. Why should you have to pay twice?

He isn't available to provide the service you require - end of!

BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 17/05/2012 11:57

On the other hand, £100 might be a reasonable price to pay for him NOT playing, IYSWIM.

By arguing this one, you may risk him coming back from holiday specifically for him to play...

ragged · 17/05/2012 12:03

£100 might be a reasonable price to pay for him NOT playing lol, good points!!.

IAmNotACowbag · 17/05/2012 12:04

I would not pay him, I do not understand what you are paying for. You have paid for use of the church etc, so it should be the church's issue if he wants paying for anything.

If I was that vicar, I wouldn't give a toss about losing that organist, and I'd just use a computer for organ music until a replacement could be found, or not.

Went to a christening recently and a laptop was used by the vicar to provide music as there was no organist available, it was absolutely fine.

redwineformethanks · 17/05/2012 12:07

Pay the £100 with a smile on your face and demand he cancels his holiday to play at the wedding?

redwineformethanks · 17/05/2012 12:07

....and then tell him on the day that he's not required

ragged · 17/05/2012 12:19

If he comes back & says "Ooh, my holiday plans changed, I'm available after all" then claim you've made a deposit with the other organist & can't possibly break that contract.

MaidenDevon · 17/05/2012 12:23

£500 doesn't sound too unreasonable. When we got married in 2009 costs for our parish church were:-

Church and services of vicar £254
Banns £22 (now £35)
Caretaker £10
Organist £30
Certificate £3.50 (now £4 - get 2 copies done in the church or they cost £9.25 each after - keep one and one to send to your bank etc for change of name if you need to.)
Bells £100

We used a CD for my "walking down the aisle music" and it sounded fine. Our organist for hymns was a little old lady who was about 110 and 4ft nothing, how she reached the pedals and keyboard I'll never know. There were a few bum notes, but it just added to the occasion Grin

I wouldn't pay him the money, he's not going to be there - what's he going to do?

madmouse · 17/05/2012 12:25

There is absolutely no need to pay this man. I'm totally puzzled as to why you should. And I'm a vicar's wife.

lou2321 · 17/05/2012 12:39

I am confused as to why you are still going to pay him? (I admit I haven't read the WHOLE thread)