Wanted, Louisville piper

**David Thornton** · 25th March 09, 05:44 PM

May 14-15 is the annual convention for my professional association and it will be held in Louisville Ky this year. I will be installed as the president of said association for the next year. So, I thought it would be fun to have my own piper at the ceremony. Most of the members only know about my legislative work and think I am a bit rigid, this could kick off a grand year!

Thanks for your consideration

David

**EagleJCS** · 25th March 09, 06:37 PM

I suggest contacting the Louisville Pipe Band (www.louisvillepipeband.org). I'm sure one of the pipers would be glad to help out. (A couple pipe for a living).

**David Thornton** · 27th March 09, 05:35 PM

Thanks, I'll try that if I get no volunteers. I'll actually need someone briefly (or stay for the thing) Thursday evening May 14

**The Barry** · 28th March 09, 09:11 AM

You may not get any volunteers; but I'm willing to bet that a piper could be easily bribed with a single malt!

**PGH** · 30th March 09, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by The Barry

You may not get any volunteers; but I'm willing to bet that a piper could be easily bribed with a single malt!

Better yet, a single malt and $200!

**David Thornton** · 30th March 09, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by PGH

Better yet, a single malt and $200!

I'm OK with the malt, or 2, but that's a pretty rich tune at $200! Just wanted to add some class to an otherwise staid ceremony.

**JSFMACLJR** · 30th March 09, 05:52 PM

How much of your work do you do for free? Pipers, like musicans everywhere, are talented artists. They expect compensation for their services. Anything else is insulting.

Sandford MacLean
(whose wife is a composer)

**JSFMACLJR** · 30th March 09, 05:56 PM

Why not just slip a cd into the portable unit? Much cheaper.

Maybe you can even find a free download online.

**David Thornton** · 31st March 09, 04:37 AM

I suspect this has already gone off track, I am not asking a professional to play a gig, I just thought it would add to my inauguration to have a piper play 1 read that one tune. I will bring a friend from Lexington. I am sorry I hurt your feelings.

And, I do a lot of my work free. I'll be in DC, uncompensated for the next three days. I teach regularly for several trade associations, gratis, and often bring the donuts. And if you haven't done it, you may be surprised just how much work is involved in running an association. I have been moving through the chairs for three years, never with a thought of remuneration, just a desire to protect my industry.

All this talk of community certainly gets lost when it is anything other than working the keyboard, doesn't it.

David

**JSFMACLJR** · 31st March 09, 06:19 AM

David,

I think there certainly is a sense of community here, and I am sorry if you feel like we are all being uncharitable. If I were a piper, and one of your dearest and oldest friends, I'd probably play for you as my gift to you on your big night. To expect, though, musicians to give of their time for no remuneration is rather selfish and uncaring. Most pipers I know suppliment their income with piping gigs. I'm afraid that to find a good piper to pipe for some sort of annual meeting of an association (even a charitable one), you will have to "pay the piper," as it were.

I don't mean to be callous, but that's just life, just like the University of Kentucky will have to pay some astronomical sum to pay off its fired basketball coach!!!