Piper and Bubba

[highlander_Daz]

To be honest Ron, I welcome people coming over for a chat and questions about the pipes Scotland and Highland wear I will gladly chat to people all day long, as a paid performer we are obliged to be polite and professional at all times, someone like you Ron with, Im sure very intelligent questions and opinins are ALways welcome.

However you get Rude and ignorant people in all walks of life and all circumstances, its just frustrating when your trying to entertain people , or in the case of a funeral, pay respects to a dearly loved relative for a bereaved family you get people making daft and frankly stupid comments.

Playing at a Funeral in particular is very difficult, ive seen people break down in floods of tears when you strike in with AG or Flower of Scotland ,they are litrally heartbroken, but afterwards they always say that the tune has helped them connect with their loved one and that tune will always give them a connection. there is NO other instrument that can stir that kind of emotion.

So Ron got talk to the piper they will appreciate your appreciation

[OFCJAX]

In the future we'll have Xmarks snipers standing by with tranquilizer dart rifles.

Did I just hear bells ringing?

[Jack Daw]

I don't rate it as a bad experience, but once an elderly man came up while I was playing some medley and kept tugging at my jacket. I kept thinking of that scene in "The Glenn Miller Story", in which, despite dropping bombs, the band kept playing. So, I ignored him and kept playing. When I had finished he yelled at me that he had a request for a tune, which happened to be included in the very medley I had finished playing. So, I played the tune again, this time at the beginning, and added other couple of different tunes.

Early in my piping, I used to play a brand of chanter reed that gave a good crow on high A, but I learned quickly to use it only for piobaireachds as I got tired of people telling me my reed had gone bad or that maybe someday I'll be able to hit the high notes.

[Jack Daw]

To be honest Ron, I welcome people coming over for a chat and questions about the pipes Scotland and Highland wear I will gladly chat to people all day long, as a paid performer we are obliged to be polite and professional at all times, someone like you Ron with, Im sure very intelligent questions and opinins are ALways welcome.

However you get Rude and ignorant people in all walks of life and all circumstances, its just frustrating when your trying to entertain people , or in the case of a funeral, pay respects to a dearly loved relative for a bereaved family you get people making daft and frankly stupid comments.

Playing at a Funeral in particular is very difficult, ive seen people break down in floods of tears when you strike in with AG or Flower of Scotland ,they are litrally heartbroken, but afterwards they always say that the tune has helped them connect with their loved one and that tune will always give them a connection. there is NO other instrument that can stir that kind of emotion.

So Ron got talk to the piper they will appreciate your appreciation

I agree with you as 99% of the comments I get are of appreciation and I heartily welcome those.

[highlander_Daz]

Crow on high A

David Chesney reeds (formally Warnock) ouch

great reeds so long as you sand a bit off the top to stop the crowing

[JS Sanders]

Ron,
Never hesitate to speak sincere words of praise to a piper. Most are human and welcome a kind word. I've found most people enjoy saying something pleasant to another, even a stranger. Regrettably, we tend to remember the numpties most.

My wife has heard the compliments paid me over the years and as a result, she constantly reminds me, "Remember thou art mortal...".

Slainte yall,
steve

[Sionnachdubh]

I have honestly never had anyone come to me and profess to hate the pipes. I wonder if it is that I always wear my officers dirk as part of my full uniform? (hee hee hee)