Piper and Bubba

[highlander_Daz]

I agree that the guests can either treat you as invisible or some kind of pipeing megastar, for unusual reactions to your pipeing the I can state that the north of England is the "wierd pipeing reaction" of the known world in terms of strange requests, daft questions, baffling comments, and picture opportunities,
turning up in full no1 dress with a set of pipes can often get you asked "whats your business sir?" by wedding planners, - once in a supermarket i was made to play a set of 6/8s by the "golden greeter" before I was allowed access, to prove I wasnt a deranged lunatic that was wearing highland wear as a disguise, while a man dreessed as an officer of the SS walked past without being challanged at all,
once asking for directions in a town called Bury in lancashire I was told by an elderly chap "first its the Bl$dy Koreans now its the Scottish! can you not just be satsified with your own country and leave us alone we dont want you here Pis$ off back to Ho Chi Minh city !!!!"

"can i have a go on them bagpipes mate?"

"Sorry we had a collection for you, but it was stolen" (excuse for no fee)

"I hate those things but the Mrs wanted them for the wedding , her dad was a sweaty sock"

"My son loves Wallace and Gromit,"

"my mum loved Scotland, especially the cheap drink"

"my mate recons you Jocks dot wear any undies under them skirts, is it because your so tight? you wont buy any??"

"It good of you to play for us, when were having drinks will you play something quiet and soothing in the background?"

"we visited Scotland last year, my husband hated every minute of it"

"mate put those things away., your in Britain now you know!! when in Rome etc"

"did you know those things are banned here mate? honestly yeh after your lot nicked that big stone from westminster Abby and that wallace fellow got the queen mum pregnant".

[JS Sanders]

highlander_Daz,

Actually you've given me another idea for a separate thread consisting of the goofy things people have commented to me.

[Ian.MacAllan]

Well, the main thing is---if your pipes weren't damaged then all's well with the world.

.

[wgority]

.............Once, when I showed up for a pro-bono solo piping gig at a grade school that was hosting an international fair, the teacher who hired me kept mentioning ................ When I finally started packing to leave, she came back to me and said how much she liked my playing, but that I had been hired to be there until 4PM, ............

Allow me to put on my language nazi hat here. You weren't hired. Hire is defined as follows:
1 a: payment for the temporary use of something b: payment for labor or personal services
2 a: the act or an instance of hiring b: the state of being hired

To be hired requires an exchange of payment for services or goods. You were doing this pro bono and from the kindness of your heart with no such exchange. She should have damned well appreciated your contribution and thanked you graciously. Were I you, I'd put information about this ungrateful and ungracious person out among pipers in my general area and recommend my friends give any engagement from her a wide berth.

[JS Sanders]

I know full well the frustration JackDaw wrote about.

I no longer do gratis gigs, though will perform at charitable events as my schedule permits. Gratis gigs would be girl scout functions, elementary schools, civic organizations, etc.

I have nothing against these groups, but those who've requested my unpaid services have a tendancy to treat me with little regard or consideration. It finally happened once too often. Other musicians have told me of similar experiences.

It's the paying gigs that the piper is treated with a beau coup of courtesy. It's as if the promoter & attendees can't do enough for you.

And then there's the famous statement, "We can't afford to pay you", which is always followed by, "but you'll get great exposure".

Slainte yall,
steve

[highlander_Daz]

I play free for certain charities that I support, and for an old folks party around christmas time. if the customer is able bodied and is able to pay for things like a DJ and wedding cars then they can pay for a piper. simple as
I dont need the exposure I have enough work.

I evaluate each booking request for free pipeing as it comes, however 9 times out of ten the requestee can afford my services but tries to get me free, often I get booked for events that are community based or involve disabled or elderly people or veterans, these are the only ones I will consider and often these are the ones who are willing to pay.

all to often musicians are the one that the client and promoters will scrimp on, the DJ the sound guy the security guy the limo driver the cake maker and the dress maker all want paying

SO DO I

[Jock Scot]

Are the pipes alright?It would be a real shame if you had damaged them on an ignorant oaf like that.

[JS Sanders]

The pipes emerged without a scratch - not even a trace of DNA.

[highlander_Daz]

Its sad to say Ive stopped talking to people now when Im pipeing, even in Scotland people ask daft questions, silly remarks youve heard a million times, its sad because im sure theres loads of nice people and intelligent questions to be asked but Im sick of the "bubbas" (whatever thye are) I play, be pleasant, draw my fee then leave. try and be a consumate professional.

[beloitpiper]

Just today, I played at a luncheon for the Beloit Federation of Women. My usual fee is somewhere between $100-$150 depending, but this time I settled for a free lunch and $25. Why? It's a group of senior women who wanted me to give a presentation about bagpipes. They were so nice and insisting that I couldn't say no just because of the money. I was treated so well, they all had really great questions and all of them were genuinely enthusiastic about me being there.

Plus, it was great exposure.....