Hiring Musicians for Christmas and Easter Services
Christmas Eve and Easter are the two biggest Sundays of the year for most churches — and the two hardest weeks to find extra musicians. The churches that sound great on Christmas Eve usually started booking in October.
Why holiday services are different
- Demand spikes. Every church in town wants strings, brass, extra vocalists, and a solid rhythm section on the same few days.
- More services. Many churches add Christmas Eve services or run a full Holy Week, which means longer days for players.
- Musicians travel. Holiday family plans shrink the pool even further.
The Christmas timeline
Early to mid October: decide what you need
Pick your set list and arrangement style, then list every role: drums, bass, keys, guitars, vocalists, strings, brass, choir accompanist, audio, and stream. Set your budget per role and per service.
Late October: post the roles
Post each role with the date, number of services, rehearsal times, and pay. On Rifflynk you can post an opening once and nearby musicians who play that instrument are notified — and with weekly repeats you can post all of December's Sundays in one go.
Early November: confirm and send details
Confirm every player in writing using a booking checklist: call times, every service time, rehearsal schedule, pay, dress code, and parking.
Two to three weeks out: send the music
Charts, keys, recordings, and arrangement notes. Holiday sets often include carols in unusual keys and medleys — the earlier players have them, the better the night sounds.
The week of: rehearse and plan the day
Hold your full rehearsal, finalize the run sheet, and share one contact person and phone number. Plan meals or breaks for players doing multiple services.
Right after: pay and thank
Pay promptly — ideally the same day — and send a genuine thank-you. Then ask your best players about Easter while it is fresh.
The Easter timeline
Easter moves every year, so count back from the date:
- Eight to ten weeks out: set the plan for Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday services.
- Six to eight weeks out: post the roles and invite your Christmas players first.
- Three weeks out: send charts and recordings.
- Holy Week: rehearse, confirm call times for every service, and plan the day.
What to pay for holiday services
Expect to pay more than a regular Sunday. A common approach is your normal per-service rate for each service, plus a holiday premium, plus paid rehearsals. If you run three Christmas Eve services, that is three services — budget accordingly.
For typical rates by instrument, see How Much Should You Pay a Church Musician?, and for audio and stream roles see How Much to Pay a Church Sound Engineer.
Keep holiday players coming back
- Send music early. It is the single biggest sign you respect their time.
- Run a tight rehearsal. Start and end on time.
- Feed people. On a long Christmas Eve, a meal goes a long way.
- Pay fast. Same day if you can.
- Save them to your roster. On Rifflynk you can keep great players in your roster and invite them directly next season.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a church book extra musicians for Christmas Eve?
Start in October and aim to have your players confirmed six to eight weeks before Christmas Eve. Good musicians are in high demand for the holidays, and many fill their December calendars early.
How much should we pay musicians for a Christmas Eve service?
Holiday services usually pay more than a regular Sunday, because demand is high and many churches run several services. Plan on your normal per-service rate per service, plus a holiday premium, and pay separately for extra rehearsals. Agree on the total before the date.
How many rehearsals do holiday musicians need?
Most teams plan one or two full rehearsals for Christmas Eve or Easter, plus charts and recordings sent at least two weeks ahead. Larger productions with strings, brass, or choir often need more.
Should we use the same musicians for Christmas and Easter?
If they played well and were easy to work with, yes. Asking your Christmas players for Easter right after the holidays is one of the easiest ways to lock in a strong team.
How do we find extra musicians for the holidays?
Ask your regular team for referrals, contact local music schools, and post the roles on a platform like Rifflynk, where nearby musicians who play each instrument are notified automatically.