I should have posted this before, but I have moved. Some friends of mine over at SoGospelLovers are allowing me to continue my blog on their website. Thanks SGML! So, you can catch my SG Notes over there from now on. Thanks!

Miss Elaineous' SG Notes

Miss Elaineous

 Have you ever heard a song and felt like you had to see the song performed to be able to feel the total worth of the song? I picked up quite a few CD's at the past NQC. Some how, one of the CD's was misplaced and I had just recently discoved my lost treasure. It was the Spring Hill Sampler entitled "Just The Hits". The very first song on the CD is a real gem. The song is called "It Looks Like Love To Me" by CrossWay. It is a wonderful song all around! The vocals, the lyrics, the music, and the delivery are all of the highest quality! I love this song! I must say that I am very thankful for my repeat button. It is such a great song on the CD, I know it must be multiple times better in person. I have not seen CrossWay in person, but I hope to soon!

What songs are even better in person for you?

I was watching my Gaither DVD, Going Home, today. Enjoying it as usual and then a phrase in one of the songs got me thinking. It was Mark Lowry singing "Home Where I Belong". I love that song. It usually brings a tear to my eye, but today when I heard it I thought about how SG artists have a "ministry" that I have never heard anyone talk about before. The song talks about the singer singing the song TO the Lord. It says...
 

 These words made me think of the wondrous gifts that so many people have to give back to the Lord. Every one of us have talents that we use everyday for our own selves: as hobbies or for careers. We are blessed so much when we give back to God what he has given us. There is that old saying, "You can't out give God." Well, that is true. To think that on any given weekend, hundreds of SG singers are using their talent for His glory. I would dare say that on those nights, when around the country, gospel songs are being sung that rise up to the heavens and touch the heart of God.

It doesn't matter what "level" you are, you can touch the heart of the Lord and be blessed. I hope this can be an encouragement to every gospel singer out there. You have such a wonderful ministry that covers many different areas of ones' life. I pray that every singer would be fortunate enough to realize the great impact that they can and do have. God gave us a beautiful gift in musical enjoyment. How He must enjoy when His children use that gift to exhibit His love, grace, and mercy. I pray that all who sing this wonderful music would be both inspired to go on and reassured that they are serving for a grand purpose. Whether that is to show the wonders of God to others or to simply sing praise to our God. Keep on keeping on!

~Miss Elaineous

Everyone can always find something to negatively criticize within the SGM circle. There will always be things that someone somewhere has a better idea to improve something. Let us take a look at what is good about SGM for a while.

The Ministry – Many people have been blessed at SG concerts, and in different ways. There have been people that have been saved, rededicated their life to the Lord, relationships restored, spirits renewed, and people healed. The Lord works in the wonderful ministries that SG groups have. When the artists are focused on His cause, He does great things. I am blessed to have been in attendance at concerts where the Lord was working. It is the best thing that anyone could experience outside of salvation. There are a lot of people that do not realize the wonderful spiritual works that go on at concerts. Most of them do not happen in the auditorium, but at the product table. From my own personal experiences, I have seen the things that I had listed earlier. Just witnessing those things in person lifts your spirit. I am pretty confident that most artists would rather hear, “I have been blessed tonight, the Lord has been working,” than “You have the best voice and you sing the best of anyone in SG!” Another part of the ministry rests on the fan’s shoulders. The life that a SGM artist lives is not all glitz and glamour. It is rough and is physically and spiritually draining. We need to lift up in prayer the people who have chosen to spread His Word through music. That is not enough, though. Tell them, either in person or through a note, that their ministry is worth everything. God uses people that we come in contact with to encourage us. That person may be you that He uses.

The Entertainment – Southern Gospel Music is wonderful! There is no doubt about that. I personally don’t think there is any better music. There is a never-ending supply of great music from traditional to progressive styles. SGM covers a great deal of sub-genres. It doesn’t matter what style you like or are in the mood for, there is always a vast selection of artists and songs available. This world is filled with gloom, despair, and hopelessness. SG is filled with hope and love. That hope is from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You cannot come away after hearing SGM and not feel better. Any positive adjective that you could think of would describe SGM. Concerts are filled with joy, laughter, and tears (good tears of course). There is not any other genre of music that the artists are as real as in SGM. They will talk to you, joke with you, and treat you like a real person. That in itself is fun and rewarding. Bottom line, SGM is great!

There is a problem in SGM that we have all witnessed. This is a big problem now, but with a little ingenuity and gumption, it can be solved or at least improved. The problem is the lack of attendance of SGM concerts. The only income that some of these groups have is from their bookings and product sales. If the fans, and their money, are not at the concerts, then the groups have no way of getting the support for their ministry that they need. From my own personal experience, there are a couple reasons why the auditorium seats are empty. I'll share a couple of my ideas.

The fans didn't know about the concert.
Now this is not the artist's fault. Promoters are not fulfilling their job title. Booking a group is not the same as being a promoter. Even if a church books a group to sing, there still needs to be some kind of promotion. It would benefit both promoter and group if there was a little publicity for the events and concerts. Sure it will cost a little, but mostly just your time and effort. Consider your time put into advertising your event an investment with a great return in the end. There are many free or low cost ways to promote your concert. Most groups have "promo packs" on their websites. You can download their flyer and print that off your computer. You can more than likely get flyers from the actual group, also. Local papers are always looking for articles or announcements to put in the paper, usually for free. Local radio station also run ads for concerts. There are many more ideas, just use your imagination!

There is an overabundance of the hometown SGM.
We have all seen and heard about this as well. Every church has them. The churchgoers get their filling of sgm by their very own "First United Free Will Holiness Church House Ensemble & Quartet & Trio & Soloist." With today's top SG groups having their soundtracks available, any one can sing like the pros. By the time the groups get booked in the area, the church goers have already heard the groups' hit songs. The only people that end up going to the concerts are the die hard fans or the people who love music and don't have anything better to do. They get so full of SGM from the Hometown Groups that when a real group comes to town, there is nothing worth seeing or hearing. It even seems that the churchgoers prefer to see Sister Grace & The Church House Choir sing "Through The Fire", "God Handled It All", and "Four Days Late".

SGM Fans Are Cheap!!!
Oh the mighty shallow pockets? This deserves its own post!

What are your opinions?

~Miss Elaineous

There are imaginary lines drawn that separate the SG Groups or Artists into different categories. What are the categories? What makes you fit in those categories? Here is my take on the whole thing. Some of the groups listed can and do fit in other groups, so leave a comment about what groups you would put where.

Top Dogs - These groups are are the "big guys". Groups such as Gold City, Gaither Vocal Band, Talley Trio, Jeff & Sheri Easter. You mention their name and everyone knows who you are talking about. These groups can fill an auditorium with no problem. They have a huge fan base all over the country. These groups have been around long enough as well, so they can pull rank.

The Heritage Group - These groups/artists hold a high ranking even if just on legacy, although some could probably fit in the Top Dog Group. Groups I would put in this category would be The Chuck Wagon Gang, Legacy Five, Signature Sound (more on them in a bit), The Inspirations, and the Weatherfords. That does seem like a strange list, doesn't it? I put these groups with in here because when I hear the name, I think of a long heritage of either that group, or the group they formed from. They all have their steady fan base and are popular, although that might be argued by some.

The Flash Fire/Switch Flipping Group - I hope you can get the idea from the name. These groups are relatively new, or recently noticed and made it big. Groups I would put in this list are The Dove Brothers, Signature Sound, The Booth Brothers, and Mercy's Mark. Now those groups that I listed cover a broad spectrum. The DB's have been around for a couple years. They were "nobodies" one year and the next they were a hit on main stage at NQC. Signature sound took SGM by storm. They were instant hits. The Booth Brothers were just plugging along, then the switch flipped and they are one of today's top groups. I have not heard Mercy's Mark, but from all the raving, they are a pretty hot item now.

The Sophomores - I chose as the name because these groups have had been at it a long time, but they haven't reached the next level yet. Groups I would include on this list would be The Dixie Echoes,  The Dixie Melody Boys, The Toney Brothers, and The Wilburns. These groups have a smaller fan base, but that does not detract from their talent at all. For some reason, these groups have just never grown past where they are. Any thoughts on why?

I will continue this another time, please leave your comments! I would love to hear from you.

~Miss Elaineous

There are many groups in the SGM field today. There is no doubt about that! I wish there was a poll that could actually tell us "Who is singing for the Lord?" and "Who is just singing?"  There is a big difference between the two statements. I would also venture to say that the difference between these statements is a reason why there are so many group member changes in SGM. It seems to me that there are quite a few artists in SG that are "singing for the bus" instead of for the Lord. I'm not saying that this is wrong, but I do feel that if you are following God's will you will have a steady and secure life.

Quite a few artists, mainly the younger ones, seem to have a goal of singing with the top group or singing on stage at NQC. These are both great things to dream for. However, if your cause is to spread God's Word through song, it doesn't matter what "level" you are, He will use you and your talent for His glory. When you are following Christ, he will provide for you and give you the desires of your heart. All those with a great talent, who sing for the love of singing SGM, just do not have the "stability" of an artist in God's will. The artist following Christ will always have the stability of God. This is my idea about the reason for the many group changes. Now I know it does not include everyone, but I do feel that it is valid for some. I would like to know your ideas, please leave a comment.

~Miss Elaineous