Performance etiquette – beginner gig

[Molly]

Hello harp friends!

I booked my first paying event this week which I’m very excited about. I’ve been hired to play background music for an hour for a Mother’s Day tea at a local retirement home. I’m a third-year student, so I only have about 40-45 minutes worth of music if I’m playing everything I know back to back without pauses. But I realize that most harpists aren’t playing “back to back”, as perhaps to take a sip of water, reset levers, flip through music, tune up an errant string, etc. Obviously since I am being paid, I don’t plan to drag out long pauses, but I’m assuming there is a certain lapse of time between songs that is acceptable? Besides pacing myself between songs, adding some extra sections and bass variations, etc, I’m also wondering how acceptable is it to repeat songs if you run out of music?

Any advice on etiquette in situations like this would be appreciated!!

[charles-nix]

To me, number one is be a professional: arrive early, have everything you need, be ready to tune with fifteen things going on around while people ask questions, and be friendly. Dress appropriately for _their_ expectations and type of event.

Number two is play beautifully. Don’t play things you are not ready to play, or simplify them. And if there is a mistake, just keep going.

For me, the break between pieces should only be short enough to turn pages. If you can arrange so that keys and mood of pieces flow smoothly from one to another, just play then in that order.

To take a longer break seem to me like you’re looking for applause. I would never expect applause on a background music event. You may have some, but a small head nod and smile to acknowledge is sufficient.

For a 45 minute set, many would play straight through, or halfway through with a 2 minute break.

Did I say arrive early and tune?

[balfour-knight]

Molly, congratulations on getting your first paying gig! I bet you have enough music to play, with some variations and improvisation thrown into the mix. Since it is background music, most people will just be enjoying it, but not paying too much attention to “what you play.” If I play tunes people know, sometimes I will have just finished one, and then someone comes up and requests that I play that exact piece! I guess they heard it only subconsciously, ha, ha! So, you could get away with repeating some in a 45-minute program, if you need to. Just don’t do what I heard a wedding organist do a few years ago! He played 30 minutes of pre-wedding music, then when the wedding was delayed for another 15 minutes, he started over on his program, playing it exactly the same way in the same order!

Good luck with your gig!

Harp Hugs,
Balfour (and Carol Lynn)

[Molly]

Thanks for the responses! They’ve booked me for an hour, and I’ve got about 40-45 minutes of continuous music to play. I’m currently learning another song that will hopefully add a couple minutes to my performance, but I may have to repeat some songs as I get toward the end. I will make sure not to repeat my music in order, too 😉

[balfour-knight]

Molly, good luck on your hour of playing! Since we were talking about 45 minutes of actual prepared music, I forgot that you actually have an hour to play. You said “I booked my first paying event this week which I’m very excited about. I’ve been hired to play background music for an hour for a Mother’s Day tea, etc.” But I am sure you will be fine, just repeat some “out of order,” and it will sound as if you planned it that way!

Harp Hugs,
Balfour

[Gretchen Cover]

Find repertoire that is easy to play. Better easy and beautiful than difficult and stressed. You may want to check the music of Angi Bemiss, Anne Crosby Gaudet, Sylvia Woods and Frank Voltz. All have good arrangements that are not difficult but musically satisfying. It will take time to build up a repertoire. Totally agree with Balfour above. Also, fine to do repeats. Try a different tempo or change octaves to mix up repeated music.

[balfour-knight]

Thanks, Gretchen! Good to see your posts here again.
Best wishes,
Balfour

[Molly]

Thanks all for your advice! I did end up repeating some music, but overall everyone loved the music and even gave me a round of applause! I learned one new simple song to play, but it will definitely take time to build up a reliable rep to play at functions like this in the future. Just gotta keep at it!

[balfour-knight]

Molly, so glad it went well! You may want to check the website of Simply the Harp, my friend, Angi Bemiss, in Atlanta, GA. My few easy and intermediate arrangements for lever harp are there, along with an incredible amount of songs arranged by Angi to add to your repertoire, in simple yet effective arrangements, with very few lever changes. My simple “Essence of the Swan” requires no lever changes, and was a best-seller when we first published it. Angi is a warm, talented delightful person, who would love to help you build your repertoire!

Harp Hugs,
Balfour

[Molly]

Thanks Balfour! My teacher let me look over a couple of her books in preparation for this event, and there were some beautiful songs I’d love to learn! I’m definitely going to pick up some of her music. I also have a book of beautiful simple Irish music I’d love to learn as well. It should help me a lot with my sight reading too, which I’ve always struggled with.

[balfour-knight]

Keep making beautiful harp music, Molly. Sylvia Woods arrangements might also appeal to you!

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