By Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterMANY GOSPEL artistes are 'serving two masters' - the music and their jobs. Most declare that their 'part-time' love affair with music is because the income from the music is not enough to feed the multitude - themselves and their families.
Still, gospel artistes caught in this dilemma say they desire a monogamous relationship with music, but for now the 9-5 helps pay the bills.
Being a part-timer, though, has its hang-ups. Ask Robert Foster, who has the popular Heaven My Home among his credits. "The thing is, being a singer part-time, I really cannot get to do what I want to do in terms of promoting the album the way I would want to and taking up more overseas shows," he said.
Foster revealed that in order to take up overseas gigs, he has to schedule his vacation leave strategically. Foster declared that although the regular job complements the income from music, it puts a strain on his artistic development.
"Most times, with a 9 to 5 job, as you reach home you just have time to get a bite, have yourself a shower and go to bed - worse if you have church activities at night," he said.
Full-time gospel deejay Goddy Goddy says that part-time involvement in the music ministry is a two-edged sword, which delivers good and bad slashes.
BIG DISADVANTAGE
"The big disadvantage is when it comes to the anointing, as a full-time artiste can spend more time in fasting, prayer and the studying of the word. The ministry is more powerful for a man who is full-time, as he does not have much distraction," said Goddy Goddy.
On the other hand, the deejay highlighted that the part-time act is more financially secure than one who is fully committed. "One of the advantages a part-time man can have over the full-time is the cash flow, because him know seh him affi get pay every Friday or fortnight, but the full-time man don't really know when is pay-day. Him affi exercise more faith," reasoned Goddy Goddy.
In addition to jobs, academic pursuits also cut into some gospel performers' time. Case in point is Sandy Smith.
DERAILED
In a recent interview the budding gospel diva, who is a first-year student at the School of Music, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, revealed that plans to release her debut album have been derailed by her demanding school schedule. "You can't stay and rinse the whole day at the studio; you have to be hurrying up to get some sleep for class the next day," Sandy said.
