Donate your live music

[David Ice]

I’m truly horrified by Allegra Lilly’s story about THE KNOT. I’ve had a running dialogue with them (I confronted them in person at the Wedding MBA conference last October in Las Vegas about their horribly inaccurate article about harpists and live music.) They were totally unresponsive and, yes, snotty about it. Their promises to “review the issue and get back to you” was ignored. That’s why I have NOTHING to do with THE KNOT that involves one cent of my money. They are NOT harp friendly, and they know the situation about vendors….and they should absolutely be ashamed.

I think it was Jan Jennings who said, after being fed the “think of all the exposure you’ll get” the classic retort, “Yes, and you can die of exposure.” I’ve adopted a great response to those requests: I tell people that I do 2 charity functions a year (which is true), and I’m already booked for this year. If they want to give me a call in January with dates and times for next year, I’ll see if it’s open. I’ve never gotten a call back….and after 35 years of playing, I’ve never EVER gotten a single paying job from all the “exposure” gigs.

On the other hand, like many of you, if the charity resonates with me, I will do it. A struggling community orchestra that needs a harpist to play Carmen Suite #1? Sure. A candelight vigil for Parents of Murdered Children….I’m there in a heartbeat. But I no longer allow myself to be intimidated or browbeat into submission, especially when they can pay for the parking valets and the open bar!

[kay-lister]

I know this is a very sensitive subject with a lot of musicians and I do understand the concern. Yes, I have been asked to “Donate . . . blah, blah, blah – think of the exposure . . . blah, blah, blah”. It those cases I just turn them down. Had a real go-around with an “Arts” group that wanted me to play for nothing and they became quite snippy when I explained to them that it would be no different then if I asked for some of their paintings to be hung in my house or office and that I’d be SURE to tell those who enquired who painted them – BOOM, exposure right back atcha!

What I WILL do if I feel the need (and I have done this before) to “Give” of my services, I will get a contract drawn up for the usual fee and explain to whomever that I expect to get paid in the usual manor and on the day of the event, I will hand them a personal check of mine to use as a donation. I’ve been paid, they’ve been given a donation and everybody is happy. I don’t feel like any musician should have a problem with that. If they do – well, too bad.

Kay

[Sylvia]

I had to LOL about the paintings. Such a perfect reply!

[andee-craig]

I laughed, too!

[shelby-m]

I like to offer myself to play for no charge to causes or organizations that I have a connection to (which I think is what the OP was referring to). But I do not accept requests to play for no money (except when my church asks me to play because nobody gets paid, not even the ministers). For example, I have a few elderly relatives in nursing homes/assisted living centers. I used to volunteer for those nursing homes almost every Sunday before I went to college. I got to see my relatives frequently AND get to “test drive” my newest pieces (which maybe I was nervous about performing) on a very forgiving audience: win-win situation!

I haven’t been performing professionally long enough to get any “exposure” gigs offered, but the one or two times somebody did ask me to play for free, I told them that I would be happy to play at their function, but here was my fee – so far they all agreed to pay the fee. Usually people say something along the lines of, “You’re so young (I’m 19), we didn’t know you had your own business playing for money.”

One thing that’s nice about my area is that it’s so rural, the only other harpist here is my teacher who lives 2 hours away! He actually encourages me to go out to nursing homes and the community to get better known as a professional, so I never worry about taking gigs or undercutting another harpist. 🙂

[Sherri Matthew]

I’m not a live performer, so strictly speaking this doesn’t apply to me, but I don’t allow free downloads of my music. Streams yes, but downloads no. I worked too hard over the years to learn organ, harp, music theory and arranging, earned my degree, built my recording studio (wasn’t cheap), bought my harp (wasn’t cheap either!) to give my music away for free. As I see it, listening to a stream is already getting it for nothing, like listening to the radio. And I’m not impressed with the current debates in the music industry regarding the value of copyright law, either. I can’t believe piracy has now become a party and a cause in some parts of the world. I’m just interested in keeping my bills paid and food on the table. I’m not signed to a major record label, just starting my own and trying to protect my work, so I can keep going. I’m not a kid and my husband is a lot older than me and the health issues are starting to crop up. I have to look after him too. He still has his performing career but it is getting harder for him. No freebies!!

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