The SG message boards and websites are replete with ideas on how to improve SG music.  Everyone has their own idea on how best to deal with what is perceived as a downturn in this field. 

I have read suggestions of better marketing, changing appearances, live band vs tracks, etc, etc but none of these address the real crux of the problem-the quality of the product we are putting out.

SG is unique in that anyone, and I emphasize ANYONE, is allowed to form a group and get themselves into churches to sing.  There is no one telling them that they aren't good enough to sing anywhere but their church due to constructive criticism somehow being unchristian.  This is what is hurting SG the most-the lack of willingness to be exclusive.   

I am not advocating keeping the music to ourselves-it should be shared with everyone.  We have a very important message that the world needs to hear.  But we have to be exclusive in who shares that message with the world. 

The argument used by advocates of letting everyone sing is that they are making a joyful noise unto the Lord. These versions render noise as "shout". When you couple this with the very next verse that admonishes us to "come before His presence with singing", perhaps our forefathers were a little too exuberant in making a joyful noise and not distinguishing between the two. I personally believe that the "joyful noise", or "shout" if you will, is more along the lines of a "Hallelujah!", an "Amen!", or "Praise the Lord!" The fact is that the Gospel message we are trying to get out there is being delivered to people who are notorious for rejecting anything they don't like. Okay, so maybe they reject the message. Let the message have a chance of getting to their heart before their brain shuts it off for the noise.

We recently sang at a place where we were the feature artists and two other groups were there.  To be honest, while their hearts may have been in the right place, their vocals weren't. And that is where we saw the impact of the "let everybody sing" attitude on non-SG fans.  Two families, with preteen children, got up and left.  My wife and sister-in-law were standing in the foyer area visiting with a friend when this happened. They looked at them and said "that's just bad, we can't take this" and went out the door.  My wife followed them out, trying to get them to stay until our set, but they refused.  They even refused free cd's.  Those families will probably never attend another SG event, and if they were lost to the Lord, may never attend another Christian event. You can't plant a seed in dead ears.

I can accept singing to small crowds. We have before and I am quite sure we will again. I can accept a financial hit because the Lord somehow will meet any financial need that we may have. I, however, cannot accept a group opening in front of us that is so bad that they affect our ability to minister to those who have, more than likely, never heard.

To the numerous quality groups that are in the area I say stay the course and establish higher standards for what is acceptable in our concerts. Perhaps we should accept fewer engagements for the sake of engagements so there can be a better quality of music out there. Open mics are going to happen and unfortunately are here to stay. That does not mean that we have to place our hand of approval on these "concerts" by being a part of them.

On so many levels, it is wrong of us to assume that it is okay for everyone to get onstage and perform for a wider audience than their own church, family and friends.  When we present this type of noise to a wider audience, we do the Lord a disservice because we are pushing people away from Him not drawing them to Him.  It isn't just about the music, it is about Him.  The core of SG is the Gospel message and we water it down if we give less than the best a public face. 

We need to honestly address this question first, before we address the other areas where SG needs to grow up.  Until we address this, SG will continue to be known as the "Little Engine that can't quite make it to the top of the hill".