In Concert

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At the battle of the bands the loser is always the audience. Demetri Martin.

I heard this great one liner on an XM Comedy channel yesterday. For obvious reasons it cracked me up.

But for some not-so-obvious reasons it stayed in my head. So I started thinking about Martin’s comment in a different context.

Rather than viewing it as a dig at the talent level of garage bands, I started thinking about what happens when a group loses focus and begins to pursue lesser goals, when making music or connecting with an audience is overridden by ego, envy, or rivalry.

When the battle is between bands, the focus shifts from becoming a better band to being better than the competition. The change is subtle, but significant. Rather than being the best they can be, the band (group, organization) wastes valuable time and energy trying to stay one step ahead of any band (group, organization) it views as a rival. Rather than staying focused on their sound (vision, agenda), the battling band is constantly looking at the set list, gear, direction, and creativity of their rival. If left unchecked, this fear-based approach to music making will cause a band (group, organization) to become reactionary rather than revolutionary.

When the battle is within the band, the focus becomes one-upmanship with band (group, organization) members trying to outdo one another or the members become territorial jockeying for the spotlight. This battle reminded me of a great one liner my sister delivered in the early 90’s. When “praise teams” finally made it to our notch in the Bible belt, she remarked: “If it’s a praise team, why does it look like they’re all singing solos?” When the battle is within the band, your office may look like an ensemble, but in reality, everyone’s singing a solo. When the battle is within the band, members compete with one another for riffs, resources, and recognition. Sometimes this is evidenced by tension on stage or tirades in the recording studio. Sometimes, however, the struggle is a little more passive. Band members gravitate to spending more time and energy on “solo projects” than group efforts.

A Concert or In Concert?

Is your band (group, organization) simply about giving a concert? Is your vision primarily about shaming the competition, showcasing talent, or will you decide to take your music to another level, a level that will make a difference in the lives of the organization as well as the audience?

If so, maybe this article will encourage you to change the article of your band’s promotion. Changing the article you use in front of concert can make all the difference. What if, instead of playing a concert, you chose instead to play in concert?

Contrary to a battle of the bands mindset, in concert means cooperation and collaboration. When you’re in concert with one another, shoulder to shoulder is not just a great album cover, it’s indicative of who you are. When you’re in concert with one another you work together, side by side, jointly. You put the vision of the group ahead of your solo interests. You help to develop lesser talented players while pushing each other towards mastery and improvement. When you’re in concert, you are thrilled, not threatened, when someone in your band learns a new lick.

When parents compete for the allegiance of their child, the child suffers.

When co-workers turn from cooperation to competition, the office suffers.

When ministries compete for funds and attention, the Kingdom suffers.

At the battle of the bands, the loser is always the audience.

Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “A divided kingdom ends in ruin. A city or home divided against itself cannot stand.” Matthew 12: 25 (ESV)