Playing at your special event
Congratulations on your special event, be it your wedding, reunion, high tea, business function, christening, funeral, concert, fundraiser....
I've played at more than a few of these events over the last 35 years, and organised more than a few of them myself from small to large, so I know what this looks like from both sides of the coin.
Things to consider:
Indoors or outdoors ?
*Does the venue provide amplification or do I need to supply it - what sort of distance/space does my music need to cover? Is there easy access to power? Is it close to parking or will I need to lug gear for a distance? Will there be close parking/helpers to lug gear?
*If it's windy the harp strings will sound by themselves in a breeze - the only way to stop this is to either angle the harp out of the breeze/have shelter or have my hands firmly placed on the strings to dampen them - I can't play and dampen at the same time.
*If it's wet, the harp is not the sort of instrument to expose to rain... we need to have an alternate space for the harp.
Which part or parts of the event/ceremony do you wish to have harp music for? Do you have special requests of music you wish to feature. If you have unusual musical requests or music that I have to compose or arrange for the event, this may incur an extra cost.
Please note that my fee (please ask) is different for different events - things to consider:
*multiple emails as we negotiate the details of your vision for the event.
*preparation time for your event (special musical requests etc) which I need to practice for - a small amount of practice time is included in my fee.
*attire/makeup/hair - its easy to rock up in jeans, but takes a little more time to get dressed up for a wedding.
*music/harp/sound gear - all my 'gear' has come at a cost to me, a small part of this cost is included in my fee.
*travel time - for a wedding or formal function I generally allow 45 minutes to pack gear, dress/make up, then add travel time so I arrive at the venue 15 minutes prior to the time you have requested ... just in case there are traffic issues or anything else that gets in the way.
*performance time - generally you have asked me to be there 15 minutes before your guests arrive, and I have to wait for a suitable time to leave. My fee does not only cover the time you have asked me to produce music for your event - it's so much more!
*then pack up and drive home, and unpack everything at home.
It's so much more than merely turning up at your event and plucking some strings!
If you feel my fee is excessive, please ask and I can supply you the details of a student harpist, who will happily rock up, with two years of harp lessons under their fingers, no repertoire, in their jeans, with no gear and no idea.
I've played at more than a few of these events over the last 35 years, and organised more than a few of them myself from small to large, so I know what this looks like from both sides of the coin.
Things to consider:
Indoors or outdoors ?
*Does the venue provide amplification or do I need to supply it - what sort of distance/space does my music need to cover? Is there easy access to power? Is it close to parking or will I need to lug gear for a distance? Will there be close parking/helpers to lug gear?
*If it's windy the harp strings will sound by themselves in a breeze - the only way to stop this is to either angle the harp out of the breeze/have shelter or have my hands firmly placed on the strings to dampen them - I can't play and dampen at the same time.
*If it's wet, the harp is not the sort of instrument to expose to rain... we need to have an alternate space for the harp.
Which part or parts of the event/ceremony do you wish to have harp music for? Do you have special requests of music you wish to feature. If you have unusual musical requests or music that I have to compose or arrange for the event, this may incur an extra cost.
Please note that my fee (please ask) is different for different events - things to consider:
*multiple emails as we negotiate the details of your vision for the event.
*preparation time for your event (special musical requests etc) which I need to practice for - a small amount of practice time is included in my fee.
*attire/makeup/hair - its easy to rock up in jeans, but takes a little more time to get dressed up for a wedding.
*music/harp/sound gear - all my 'gear' has come at a cost to me, a small part of this cost is included in my fee.
*travel time - for a wedding or formal function I generally allow 45 minutes to pack gear, dress/make up, then add travel time so I arrive at the venue 15 minutes prior to the time you have requested ... just in case there are traffic issues or anything else that gets in the way.
*performance time - generally you have asked me to be there 15 minutes before your guests arrive, and I have to wait for a suitable time to leave. My fee does not only cover the time you have asked me to produce music for your event - it's so much more!
*then pack up and drive home, and unpack everything at home.
It's so much more than merely turning up at your event and plucking some strings!
If you feel my fee is excessive, please ask and I can supply you the details of a student harpist, who will happily rock up, with two years of harp lessons under their fingers, no repertoire, in their jeans, with no gear and no idea.