Repeating rep during a dinner

[Sylvia]

When I play a song more than once, I feel like I’m cheating…that I should play the entire two hours without repeating anything. Lately, I’ve been questioning that because some things are really good listening…for example, music from Phantom of the Opera. I’ve been loosening up and repeating things. I’ve always been afraid people would think I didn’t know much music if I did that. I started wondering what other people do when they play. I’ve never been on the listening end, so I don’t know what I’d think if I heard someone playing.

[kay-lister]

Hi Sylvia,

A couple years ago, I was asked to play a private party for 4hrs. A few days before, they asked if I would play for 6 hrs. instead and I did but found myself thinking the same thing. I had enough music to go for 4, but then they would hear the same stuff all over again. I decided to S L O W it all down a bit and S T R E T C H it out by playing each piece as written, the move to the upper registers for a couple times through and then back down to where it was written again. Also, just did some change-ups with the left hand and all was well. I managed to have music left over that I never even got to :-).

Kay

[Sylvia]

That’s an awful long party…I don’t think I could even play that long.

[kay-lister]

Sylvia,

It WAS long for sure! I took a 15 minute break after the first hour and then 20 minutes on the hrs after that, so actual “Play” time was not 6 hrs. I was quite entertained myself as the hostest was an excentric older lady (retired attorney) who has a reputation as being QUITE a difficult sort. The maid who let me in asked if I realized what I had gotten myself into. No shoes were allowed in the house by ANYONE. Everything was white, glass, or lucite (including the piano). The exterior of the house was white as well as the driveway (NOT allowed by the “community rules”), but she got past that. She wore white and OBVIOUSLY with NO underware what so ever! I could go on and on . . . Anyway, I got $600.00 for the gig and it was well worth it. The old girl just LOVED me! 😉

Kay

[kay-lister]

I’m sorry, I must correct myself. I played the party for 4 hours. The breaks and the pay were what I previously stated. Whoops!

Kay

[Sylvia]

Four hours would be enough to cause mental numbness. You’re forgiven.

[lyn-boundy]

Not just mental, I’d have thought. It sounds as if you had a huge success Kay but it sounds very inconsiderate to me to expect anyone to sit and play for such a long time at once

[adam-b-harris]

Sylvia if anybody gives you a sideways look, just explain that the piece was a request so you are doing it again. Nobody listens at those things normally anyway, although I did an art show last year where some woman came up (a harp student) and said something like “wow you played for all that time and only repeated four pieces”.

[jimmy-h]

A well played tune is worth repeating. Just not maybe back to back.

[tony-morosco]

Interesting thread. As a general rule, for two hours, I wouldn’t repeat unless….

I was requested to, or…

I noticed a particularly positive response from people nearby.

That said, I wouldn’t feel guilty for repeating a piece. Over two hours I really wouldn’t feel guilty. At a party it’s not like a concert. Most people aren’t paying attention to you the entire time. Most wouldn’t notice if you repeated a set completely. The main reason I don’t repeat is simply because I have more than enough music I can play to not have to repeat for over two hours, and since I took the time to learn the music I figure I may as well use it. That and it keeps me engaged in what I am doing. Repeating gets boring for me more than the party guests.

So long as you provide what you are getting paid for, which is typically nice background music, then all is good. A concert where everyone is listening to you with close attention is something different, but for background music at a party go for it and repeat things if you like.

[lyn-boundy]

Adam, re your comment that nobody is really listening anyway, I’d say that the only people really listening that hard are the ones who are especially interested and find your playing more exciting than whatever else is going on. I must admit I’d probably be the one counting the number of repeats but that would be because I was fascinated by your harp and your playing and therefore quite happy to hear the same tune over and over again if it was played well. I suspect anyone who notices these things would be someone who is more appreciative than the general audience and probably wishing you’d repeat the song they’ve been trying for six months to figure out the chords to.

[Sylvia]

I play from memory, and I agree with airing the new stuff. If I’m weathering a piece I haven’t known for very long, I do like to repeat it for the exercise. As for favorites, my current favorite is pretty short …Angel of Music from the Phantom…it is just so light and happy that I like to hear it.

[Sylvia]

I’m wearing out this topic, but usually for a dinner, I play a mixture of music, and I suppose other harpists also do that. I play classical, popular, and Mexican. …but sometimes, an event will be all one kind of music…and that’s what I have coming up right now. I have a Victorian-style tea, for which I plan to use classical, and a Mother’s Day event, for which I plan to use all Mexican. (I know that may sound strange, but where I am, and in the place I will be playing, it is expected, appropriate… and it was requested.) Since my rep is memorized, that tightens things up a bit for me. I’m planning on the tea party not noticing too much except each others’ hats and dresses, and I know that Mexican can be repeated because it just doesn’t wear out…it’s all so pretty (my favorite rep)…they never tire of those songs, and neither do I.

As for Adam’s comment about people looking at me…I really don’t know if they do. I don’t look at them. I try to just go into my zone and stay there. The only time I really look is at a wedding when it’s time for the bridal procession to start or the bride to enter, and I’m trying to see if anything is happening back there.

[kay-lister]

You know, I found that people pay attention when you really don’t think that they can possible even hear themselves think. I was playing a wedding reception and people were milling around, drinks in hand and I was leaning my ear on the back of the harp just so I could hear MYSELF – it was just that noisey. I finished playing a peace and remember thinking that I could have played the Mickey Mouse March and no one would have noticed. Then . . . it’s as if someone devided the croud just long enough for me to catch this older gentlemans’ eye and he gave me the “Thumbs up” and winked at me. Ah Ha, someone WAS listening! I didn’t care if anyone else heard it – HE did and it made my day.

Kay

[onita-sanders]

At first, I was not going to offer any comments, until I realized, how important this subject is. In my van I bring with me at least three sets of repertoire. They are religious ,
folk and classical, and contemporary. I come to the event with a certain mind set of Sunday brunch, upbeat and jazzy, inspirational, or perhaps more classical and/ or folk.

If it is a two hr job, play one hr solid with all memorized music. Take a 10 min break and start again with several selections memorized. At this point, I feel I can now introduce new music either classical , etc. pulled from my choices from above and conclude the set with memorized music..

I have played as long as an eight hour job ( Auto Shows, Mothers’ Day Brunch), so I have had to repeat. By hour three and four I most definitely will repeat. But, I will play it with a completely different arrangement. Perhaps as a waltz, next time with a swing feel, maybe even a la Mozart style.

Some times if I know I will be playing for a very, very long time, I will divide my music selections into groups. For example, all musical broadway shows ( My Fair Lady, Phantom of the Opera, even Show Boat). Maybe the next set would consist of a Michael LeGran medley or music all from the fifties or Stevie Wonder or perhaps an all jazz set. Even an all folk set. Yes there are lots of mind trips one can use to make it through. As the day gets longer so do the length of the breaks. I am also helped by the fact that I have a CD of my own recorded music which I use during break times. This gives the feel of non-stop music.

Do I repeat music? You bet I do. Do I play from memory only? Depends on the length of time. But I also use music. Even Pavoratti, used music on nationally televised events. There is nothing sacred about not using music on a casual reception, cocktail hr., or even wedding ceremony. I too, have had it said,” Oh, you played the whole time without using music”, knowing the comment came from someone who missed the time I did use it.

In general I play for the audience and what would be appropriate for the situation. I take myself out of the picture. So if they listen great. I remember seeing an old Candid Camera episode whose premise was,” Does anyone really listen to a cocktail pianist in a piano bar”? The pianist was playing beautifully, Misty. Everyone was talking loud and really into their conversations not paying any attention to the pianist. Suddenly the pianist begun playing every other melody note wrong. The patron nearest the pianist who was smoking and drinking and clearly the loudest, began to wince at every wrong note he payed. That image has stayed in my mind when I play a casual. So I make each rendition as if I am playing a recital.

So I guess what I am saying, the bottom line in these situations, if you can play from memory with out repeating yourself that is commendable. But, on the other hand using music and repeating selections, is just as great and can help one use valuable time in learning new music and judging the public’s reaction. After all, it is great being payed to practice for a change (SMILE AND GO FORTH).

Onita Samders

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