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I'm the pianist for the children's baptisms at church.
Background They are held at the stake level and are take place on the first Saturday of the month and last about an hour and fifteen minutes. If we have more that 3 kids being baptised then the service is split halfway through. We have the opening song, talks, and special musical numbers all together as a large group and then half the group goes into the baptism room and when they're done they come back to the chapel for the closing message and song and the other group goes into the baptism room and stays in there for the same things. The group that stays in the baptism room generally finishes later than the chapel group.
Originally, we were supposed to share the duties among pianists from all the wards but they kept flaking out on the program director (PD from here out) and he finally asked me to do it each month because I "was the only one who ever showed up when asked."
I have no problem with this but what I do have a problem with is the song leaders. They change from month to month, basically whoever the PD asks each time. Now, I have learned (from hard experience
) that the only music books left out are the hymn books. Not the Children's Songbook. So I make sure that I bring mine every time. These song leaders however, NEVER bring their own book. I used to think it was because they were just pulled out of the audience right then and there but then I noticed that their name was printed up in the program. I also happen to know that the PD prints these up on the Thursday before the baptism. Therefore, these people have at least 2 days warning, probably more because I have to have the song selections in to him by Tuesday.
Somehow, though these people think that it's my responsibility to either have a book for them or help them find one and I get all sorts of deer-in-the-headlight reactions and "what am I supposed to do now" questions. Newsflash: it's not my problem. In November, I was just kind of tired of the whole situation and as I walked out of the door at home, snagged my mom's copy which just happened to be lying on the piano. I figured I would try it and see if it worked with me bringing an extra copy. Well, guess what? yeah, my plan failed.
It was one of the split programs and the lady that was leading the song comes back to the piano as the 2nd group is leaving and grabs my spare book again. I gently 'remind' her that it's mine, not the church's but she pleads and begs and tells me that the other group won't be long and they realllllly need the book. So, I reluctantly let her take it. I ended up waiting for 20 minutes (!) after my group had finished. Plus, as everyone leaves the baptism room I count no fewer than six other songbooks that people had brought with them. Not only that, this lady was one of the last people out of the room because she stayed and gabbed with everyone. She hands me the book and I quickly stuff it in my music bag and leave. Last month I was looking for my mom's copy and couldn't find it. What I did find was the building's copy. Yep, I had been handed the wrong book, also, it has been so long now that when we went back to return the building copy, Mom's copy was nowhere to be found. So, I am never bringing another book. They'll have to figure something else out.
At this month's baptism I'm up at the piano playing out of the hymn book and the song leader for the day comes up to me and asks if I have the Children's Songbook. I tell her no. To her credit, she didn't expect me to solve the problem this time but went about finding one herself. She somehow lucked out and found someone with a key to the library and they go off to get what they need. After a few minutes, I switch to the Children's Songbook. One of the guys looks at it and the following conversations happened:
Guy: Oh, there is a songbook in here...
Me: yes, it's mine. (keeps playing)
Guy: Do we need two then?
Me:
I guess if she wants one to lead from, yes. (Really? it's kind of obvious, do you have to ask. 
)
a few minutes later the song leader comes back--
Song leader: (looks at Children's Songbook on the piano) You have a songbook!
Me (ignores her and keeps playing): *thinks* yes, for ME. To play out of. I can't play if you take my book. Duh!
Then, just before the program starts a lady from the audience comes up and says "I'm doing the special musical number but I forgot my book. Can I use yours?" So I let her but for crying out loud. Your the "entertainment" and you still managed to leave your book home? Gah!!!
Background They are held at the stake level and are take place on the first Saturday of the month and last about an hour and fifteen minutes. If we have more that 3 kids being baptised then the service is split halfway through. We have the opening song, talks, and special musical numbers all together as a large group and then half the group goes into the baptism room and when they're done they come back to the chapel for the closing message and song and the other group goes into the baptism room and stays in there for the same things. The group that stays in the baptism room generally finishes later than the chapel group.
Originally, we were supposed to share the duties among pianists from all the wards but they kept flaking out on the program director (PD from here out) and he finally asked me to do it each month because I "was the only one who ever showed up when asked."
I have no problem with this but what I do have a problem with is the song leaders. They change from month to month, basically whoever the PD asks each time. Now, I have learned (from hard experience
) that the only music books left out are the hymn books. Not the Children's Songbook. So I make sure that I bring mine every time. These song leaders however, NEVER bring their own book. I used to think it was because they were just pulled out of the audience right then and there but then I noticed that their name was printed up in the program. I also happen to know that the PD prints these up on the Thursday before the baptism. Therefore, these people have at least 2 days warning, probably more because I have to have the song selections in to him by Tuesday.Somehow, though these people think that it's my responsibility to either have a book for them or help them find one and I get all sorts of deer-in-the-headlight reactions and "what am I supposed to do now" questions. Newsflash: it's not my problem. In November, I was just kind of tired of the whole situation and as I walked out of the door at home, snagged my mom's copy which just happened to be lying on the piano. I figured I would try it and see if it worked with me bringing an extra copy. Well, guess what? yeah, my plan failed.
It was one of the split programs and the lady that was leading the song comes back to the piano as the 2nd group is leaving and grabs my spare book again. I gently 'remind' her that it's mine, not the church's but she pleads and begs and tells me that the other group won't be long and they realllllly need the book. So, I reluctantly let her take it. I ended up waiting for 20 minutes (!) after my group had finished. Plus, as everyone leaves the baptism room I count no fewer than six other songbooks that people had brought with them. Not only that, this lady was one of the last people out of the room because she stayed and gabbed with everyone. She hands me the book and I quickly stuff it in my music bag and leave. Last month I was looking for my mom's copy and couldn't find it. What I did find was the building's copy. Yep, I had been handed the wrong book, also, it has been so long now that when we went back to return the building copy, Mom's copy was nowhere to be found. So, I am never bringing another book. They'll have to figure something else out.
At this month's baptism I'm up at the piano playing out of the hymn book and the song leader for the day comes up to me and asks if I have the Children's Songbook. I tell her no. To her credit, she didn't expect me to solve the problem this time but went about finding one herself. She somehow lucked out and found someone with a key to the library and they go off to get what they need. After a few minutes, I switch to the Children's Songbook. One of the guys looks at it and the following conversations happened:
Guy: Oh, there is a songbook in here...
Me: yes, it's mine. (keeps playing)
Guy: Do we need two then?
Me:
I guess if she wants one to lead from, yes. (Really? it's kind of obvious, do you have to ask. )a few minutes later the song leader comes back--
Song leader: (looks at Children's Songbook on the piano) You have a songbook!
Me (ignores her and keeps playing): *thinks* yes, for ME. To play out of. I can't play if you take my book. Duh!
Then, just before the program starts a lady from the audience comes up and says "I'm doing the special musical number but I forgot my book. Can I use yours?" So I let her but for crying out loud. Your the "entertainment" and you still managed to leave your book home? Gah!!!
. One thing I have thought of is since the church owns the copyright to those songs, they're pretty lenient with how we copy them. As long as it's for church or home use we can make copies. So that's another option.
). The hymns are kept in the pews and used in the main service each Sunday. Generally, no outside music is allowed and special music numbers have to be approved. 
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