Resurrecting this old thread...haven't come back to this for years so thought I'd stop in to see if anything new has been added. At this point I'm at $62 per service...this is after playing 20 years at the same church (my own parish). Over the last few years the annual increase has dwindled down to $1 per year. I'd almost rather no increase, since it sort of feels like the $1 is being given solely cause the priest feels that he has to offer something and yet would probably rather not (?) Might be interpreting this wrong, but, I mean....really....a buck a year?? 5 years ago I assumed direction of the youth choir (formerly was basically just accompanist) after our permanent Deacon retired from directing the group. I've always gotten a cash gift with a thank-you card from the priest for both Easter and Christmas, but was a bit disappointed to find that, since taking over - which entails MUCH more work - I now research and get new choir music (even pay for it myself), do all the clerical work with the choir binders, do all the planning and rehearsing, etc. - and yet there has been no increase in the cash gifting compared to what I got for just accompanying. I have not minded taking on the extra responsibilities and in fact have in many ways enjoyed working with the group, but....ya know what I mean??? I have to dig down deep to avoid feeling just a l-i-t-t-l-e taken advantage of. There are other issues too. Our overall "music director" of the parish does very little for undoubtedly far more money than I get. There is very little 'spark' to try and improve or build the program. This 'director' is actively involved in performing with several local choir organizations and so the church program really takes a backseat. There is also a guitar group that does one of the weekend Masses, so along with the youth and adult choirs that totals 3 musical groups. The parish "music director", however, has virtually nothing to do with any of the groups other than the adults (he directs this every Sunday) - which is a group that has been gradually fizzling out to a handful of singers. There are never any meetings between the 3 directors of the respective groups. (I've proposed doing this but the idea was not met with any enthusiasm - as is the case with nearly everything I've ever proposed. My voice counts for nothing.) Never any collaboration between the groups either. (Actually, there's even some bad blood between two of the directors). I think you all get the idea. I just have to stay focused on what I do and keep telling myself that it is for the Glory of God - not for myself or anyone else within the parish. Still, I constantly hope for some sort of change for the better.