2026 Artists Retreat
"Relevant Problems, Credible Solutions"
Northside Baptist Church
3021 E. 71st St., Indianapolis, IN 46220
"Relevant Problems, Credible Solutions"
Northside Baptist Church
3021 E. 71st St., Indianapolis, IN 46220
This year’s Retreat will look different—and that is by design.
For years, we have invited outside presenters to speak to our artists and members. While helpful, they don’t always live in the same ministry world we do—serving very small churches and local ministry settings, while working with limited resources.
This year, we are drawing on a resource that understands those realities first hand: the experience within IGMA itself.
Some of the most valuable expertise we need already exists within the larger IGMA family.
What’s Different This Year:
Relevant Problems:
Our members are facing the real questions of ministry we all need to address:
We have learned through experience—through success and through failure. This Retreat is designed to use that collective wisdom and turn it into shared, usable practices. This is “iron sharpening iron” in its truest sense.
Credible Solutions:
Our goal is simple: that every participant leaves with practical tools and proven approaches—ideas that have already been tested in the actual settings we face.
If you’ve ever wished training felt more relevant, more grounded, and more directly connected to the ministry challenges we all share, this Retreat is for you.
This year, we are not simply hosting another event.
We are strengthening Southern Gospel ministries within IGMA—from the inside out.
Saturday:
9:00 - 9:30 Registration (Continental Breakfast included in registration)
9:30 - HOW TO GET BOOKINGS and BOOKING MANAGEMENT:
(This assumes you are already prepared musically and vocally, have sufficient and appropriate repertoire, are comfortable on stage, can speak in public, a quality sound system, have been encouraged by someone (other than your spouse or mother) that you should perform in public, have gained some experience, and have an operating agreement (if a group). If not, there will be another Retreat for you.
10:30 - Break
10:45? - CHOOSING SONGS IN YOUR STYLE AND RANGE
12:00 - 12:45 - LUNCH: Chick-Fil-A (cost included in registration)
12:45? - ATTRACTING YOUTH TO SOUTHERN GOSPEL and IGMA
2:00 - Break
2:15? - AUTHENTICITY – WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS FAKE?
5:00-5:45 - DINNER: "Royal Buffet" at Northside Events and Social Club
6:00 - Doors open for Concert
6:30 - IGMA Gospel Concert at Northside Events and Social Club
Faculty:
Ginny Spillman, experienced in both gospel music and secular music; expert in engaging and holding an audience.
Rich Treptow, bari in two international champion barbershop quartets, multiple other ensembles, currently tenor and arranger for Victorious Trio. Rich also was a performance judge for collegiate a cappella contests across the country.
Eric Shaw, tenor of His Voice Through Us trio and other groups, minister of music, solo artist, and sound engineer.
Cost:
IGMA Members: $30.00 per person (The food alone costs IGMA $35pp.)
Non-IGMA members: 50.00 per person
For years, we have invited outside presenters to speak to our artists and members. While helpful, they don’t always live in the same ministry world we do—serving very small churches and local ministry settings, while working with limited resources.
This year, we are drawing on a resource that understands those realities first hand: the experience within IGMA itself.
Some of the most valuable expertise we need already exists within the larger IGMA family.
What’s Different This Year:
- A focused, one-day Retreat
- All presenters drawn from within IGMA membership
- A Gospel Concert, open to the public, to conclude the day
- A first class buffet dinner at Northside Events and Social Club (2100 E. 71st St., Indianapolis)
Relevant Problems:
Our members are facing the real questions of ministry we all need to address:
- How do we present our musical ministries with authenticity and integrity in today’s environment?
- How do we choose material that truly fits our calling, our style, and our vocal abilities?
- How can we meaningfully connect with younger generations?
- How do we secure more ministry opportunities and meet the needs of those to engage us?
We have learned through experience—through success and through failure. This Retreat is designed to use that collective wisdom and turn it into shared, usable practices. This is “iron sharpening iron” in its truest sense.
Credible Solutions:
Our goal is simple: that every participant leaves with practical tools and proven approaches—ideas that have already been tested in the actual settings we face.
If you’ve ever wished training felt more relevant, more grounded, and more directly connected to the ministry challenges we all share, this Retreat is for you.
This year, we are not simply hosting another event.
We are strengthening Southern Gospel ministries within IGMA—from the inside out.
Saturday:
9:00 - 9:30 Registration (Continental Breakfast included in registration)
9:30 - HOW TO GET BOOKINGS and BOOKING MANAGEMENT:
(This assumes you are already prepared musically and vocally, have sufficient and appropriate repertoire, are comfortable on stage, can speak in public, a quality sound system, have been encouraged by someone (other than your spouse or mother) that you should perform in public, have gained some experience, and have an operating agreement (if a group). If not, there will be another Retreat for you.
- The first "why." What is your goal? Is your goal reasonable? When to change goals.
- Venues to consider.
- Social media avenues for promotion.
- What's the best way to contact venues or churches.
- Get on a list for potential artists at events, etc.
- Festivals and conventions – how to get invited?
- Referrals from talent agents, other churches, other artists.
- Promotional materials needed - demos, website, social media, etc. What works?
- Compensation issues: Love offering, flat fee, minimums, etc.
- Communications, Calendars, GospelGigs, Correspondence, Gig Salad, and more.
10:30 - Break
10:45? - CHOOSING SONGS IN YOUR STYLE AND RANGE
- What is your Style anyway?
- Where to find and how to choose songs consistent with your style.
- Does your ministry have a message, or do you just like to sing Southern Gospel?
- Songs you shouldn’t do because of style concerns.
- Repertoire management. When and what to add, when and what to drop.
- What IS your Range anyway? (esp. if there’s more than one in your group)
- Harmonization issues affecting your repertoire.
- Songs you shouldn’t do because of range concerns.
- How to adjust the pitch of your tracks to better fit your vocal range(s).
- Software needed, and demonstrated
12:00 - 12:45 - LUNCH: Chick-Fil-A (cost included in registration)
12:45? - ATTRACTING YOUTH TO SOUTHERN GOSPEL and IGMA
- Promotional materials needed - demos, website, social media, etc.
- Contacting younger pastors/youth pastors
- Ideas from the Melton family and possibly Westward Road.
- Reaching a wider audience through collaboration with artists and musicians of a different genre.
- Developing opportunities within our own ministries that would include the younger generation
- Blending Contemporary Christian songs with Southern Gospel harmonies.
- Developing membership across the state and location to work towards.
- Who do we know and how could the IGMA benefit from additional participation?
2:00 - Break
2:15? - AUTHENTICITY – WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS FAKE?
- How to be to just be who you are, nothing less and nothing more. Who are you?
- How to enlist the Holy Spirit to do His work through you.
- Both general audiences and especially the youth get enough of the fake with virtual reality, AI, and other such things... they are looking for what’s REAL!
- Putting your life, soul, and heart into every song. Singing with joy!
- What is the “why” of your ministry and every song in your repertoire.
- Singing with passion and remembering what Christ has done for us, how to encourage others, and how to point people to Jesus.
- What do pastors say?
- Demonstrating best practices in performance for authenticity.
5:00-5:45 - DINNER: "Royal Buffet" at Northside Events and Social Club
6:00 - Doors open for Concert
6:30 - IGMA Gospel Concert at Northside Events and Social Club
Faculty:
Ginny Spillman, experienced in both gospel music and secular music; expert in engaging and holding an audience.
Rich Treptow, bari in two international champion barbershop quartets, multiple other ensembles, currently tenor and arranger for Victorious Trio. Rich also was a performance judge for collegiate a cappella contests across the country.
Eric Shaw, tenor of His Voice Through Us trio and other groups, minister of music, solo artist, and sound engineer.
Cost:
IGMA Members: $30.00 per person (The food alone costs IGMA $35pp.)
Non-IGMA members: 50.00 per person
Registration - Deadline is March 18!
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Registration fee includes all 3 meals on Saturday:
Per-person costs:
ALTERNATE WAY TO PAY FOR THE RETREAT - WITH VENMO or US Mail!
You may find paying with Venmo is easier, and it will also save IGMA on processing fees. To pay by Venmo, transfer money to IGMA's Treasurer's account, which is @Jeannette-Pederson. NOTE: There is more than one Jeannette Pederson using Venmo. The correct account has a phone number ending in 2708! Just indicate it's for the "Retreat." To mail a check, make check payable to: "Indiana Gospel Music Association" and mail to 6741 N. Oxford St., Indianapolis, IN 46220. |
NOTICE: IF THERE'S A PROBLEM USING THE BUTTON BELOW. TRY USING YOUR COMPUTER INSTEAD OF YOUR PHONE, OR, PLEASE MAIL A CHECK OR USE VENMO! THANK YOU!
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