Deliberate Damage to Pedal Harp

[Sherj DeSantis]

So while you have your harp at an event, an out of control temper tantrum child hauls off and kicks your pedal harp, causing damage. This is not a special needs child. What happens next? Yes, I am fully covered by insurance. No it hasn’t happened, but I’ve had a near miss experience. The Mother speaking, “he’s four years old, it’s not like I can control his behavior.” The parents have NO desire to pay for the damage. I’m curious. What do you actually do in this real life situation? (I know what I’d LIKE to do!!!) Would love to hear others thoughts. Thanks. Sherj

[Angela Biggs]

When I read the title of your post, I gasped! I had a similar incident last year; in my case, the child didn’t kick the harp, but he did grab hold of the column and use it to swing himself around a corner. His parents were nowhere to be found during that afternoon: they were both in the bridal party, and I can only imagine they felt this excused them from parenting responsibilities. After that incident, I added a clause to my harp policy that states the hiring party needs to provide a roped-off area 6 feet square. I will also put my harp on an altar or stage, or in a choir loft, but I will NOT expose it to unmonitored children. Or to the middle-aged adults who felt it was their prerogative to walk into my (stationary!) harp and then glare at *me* during that same wedding. It was the first wedding I’d ever done, and in many ways I almost hope it was my last. . .

Did you mention to the mother that should her child damage your harp, your insurance company would like to speak with her? I’m sure they’d want to recoup their costs. I once had a coworker who twisted his knee in an icy hiking situation, and the health insurance company kept calling him to get the story of what had happened, hoping he’d say something that would give them grounds to go after the owner of the property or the manufacturers of the equipment he was using.

[carl-swanson]

I’m not a lawyer, but I think in any incident where a minor damages someone’s property, the law says that the parents are responsible. How would this play out? I’m guessing that your insurance company would pay for the damages and then they would go after the parents. But of course the best solution is to prevent something like this from happening in the first place. So placing the harp somewhere where people(and children) simply can’t get to the instrument is probably the best solution.

[kay-lister]

How about the facility where the event is being held – would they have any responsibility? It would be like if someone spilled a drink and then someone slipped and fell wouldn’t it. You can bet they would probably go after the facility in that case. Or even the people holding the event, wedding or whatever. They have contracted the location/building – would that make THEM responsible? I agree with the prevention being the best route although there will always be a case where something will happen no matter how hard you try to prevent it. Good question!

Kay

[eliza-morrison]

Although parents cannot anticipate every move a young child will make, they must take full responsibility for the actions of their child, particularly any actions resulting in damage, major or minor. It is never okay to leave young children unsupervised even briefly, and it so unsafe for the child that I am amazed any parents would even consider it. As far as the harp goes, I have found that a hand-lettered sign reading DO NOT TOUCH, placed on or near the harp, is effective if I have to step away for a few minutes, or longer. It may not be pretty, but it works…fewer people will try to touch the harp, especially if they would have to move the sign in order to do so.

[Sylvia]

Even with insurance…don’t forget there is a deductible YOU have to pay. As for the mom who says she can’t control the kid, I’d tell her it’s her job as a parent to control him.

[lyn-boundy]

Now I know I’m a real harper. Like Angela, I actually gasped out loud when I read that heading, just as I would if I’d read about deliberate cruelty to a dog. The idea of a roped-off area sounds a good one (though an electrified fence might be even better) and I’d imagine another problem might be actually getting the details of the culprit and/or its parents. Having never played in public this is all just theory to me but I wonder how practical it might be to include a clause in the contract to the effect that if damage is caused by a guest you will have to come after the organiser of the event? It doesn’t sound like the friendliest way to start the relationship but I’d suggest that your harp is more important than the feelings of the people who are hiring you. Might it even be possible to include a returnable damage deposit in the fee? Having seen the way some children behave at weddings and other events I’m surprised this doesn’t come up more often.

[paul-knoke]

Hi Sherj!

I always require that the harp be cordoned off if I’m playing at any kind of event that involves people standing or milling around: receptions, banquets, and the like. That still didn’t stop one guy from reaching over the velvet ropes and strumming the bass wires WHILE I WAS PLAYING, until his wife socked him with her purse!

I also stay right with the harp if it’s in a place that leaves it even the slightest bit vulnerable. I have no qualms about physically blocking someone who’s about to walk into the harp because they’re not watching where they’re going. I mean, we wouldn’t want the to get hurt, now would we?

Seriously, if you’re taking your harp out at all, you must talk to your insurance agent about a “professional, all-risk” policy. If the harp is just on your regular homeowner’s policy, it may not be covered if it’s not in your house, or if the insurance company finds out the harp has ever been moved out of the house.

HTH!

[Sherj DeSantis]

Dear Angela and Paul,
I really like the corded off idea, and it had never crossed my mind, so thanks to you both. Paul, I am covered by Anderson, even though (as you know!) I am not a professional. I seldom take out my pedal harp, but if something happened to her, I could not replace her financially. Thanks to all for the above ideas. Sherj

[natalie-wagner–2]

I have a clause in my performance agreement that states that if any damage comes to my harp and/or equipment, whether through weather conditions or guest at the event, that it must be paid for by the client. If a drunken guest knocked over my harp, and the poor bride was very sweet I would seek a way to get the drunk to pay it. But this will never happen because I’m a harpist, and if you think I would let someone get close enough to knock it over, you’ve got another thing coming. ;-P

[emma-graham]

Maybe this might be worth considering!

http://www.cafepress.co.uk/mf/21524808/touchdie-harp_tshirt

[natalie-wagner–2]

Oh my goodness I love it! I need one of those… Think it’s formal enough for a wedding?

I’m actually pretty friendly, if there are kids and they sit and listen very politely, their parents are right there and attentive, and they are good, on my break I let them each take a turn to play a glissando. I haven’t had a problem yet, I make sure they are one at a time and I am ready for action!

I’m more afraid of the adults as they can be as wild as a child but are far bigger.

[Philippa mcauliffe]

Worse than weddings where at least we can stand guard are amateur orchestras. Firstly you have to watch them come straight past you waving their bows and instruments and knocking over music stands. Then you have to watch them coming off stage. And worst of all the stage hands moving the harp around to fit two grand pianos on for the second half. My mum once did an emergency dash having yelled “stop” onto the stage (luckily there were steps) to grab mine as a grand piano was being wheeled straight at it during the interval. I think that T shirt needs to be reprinted as a harp cover with the message on both sides!

[kay-lister]

Philippa – YES, I like your idea about the harp cover!

Kay

[Jerusha Amado]

Philippa–Wow…I never knew what harpists in amateur orchestras have to deal with. I respect your willingness to participate, given the negatives. Is there any way that the conductor could be persuaded to talk to the orchestra/hands about the cost of a pedal harp and how they need to be careful around it?

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