The most idiotic comments at gigs

[Mel Sandberg]

Thanks for all your comments, it was greatly amusing, and I also always get the same ones, except “Stairway to Heaven”, I’ve never heard of that one.

[janet-king]

“people have actually touched and played my harp while I’m playing or standing nearby….Most of the time I inwardly cringe but don’t say anything,”

OK, this is what I was talking about in my previous rant (“Listen up, people”).

[janet-king]

Regarding the price question, I always answer it.

[martin-solomon]

How about when people try to talk to you while you are playing at a gig, as if you should easily be able to have a chat and carry on playing simultaneously.

Or even worse (and I swear that this has happened to me on several occasions) when people come up to you during a gig and want to have a chat to you WHILE you are singing!

Martin Solomon
Bristol, UK
martin@martinsolomon.com

[Mel Sandberg]

I tried to post a reply to Janet, suddenly, something went wrong – I don’t know if this is going to be duplicated….. When they swoon when I tell them the price, I mention calmly, that it sounds so much, yet, you can look at all the cars parked outside, and the harp costs much less than any of the cars…..Probably costs half of what your car costs. That shuts them up.

[Mel Sandberg]

Hi Martin
Yes, I’ve had the people talking to me while playing, but I think your experience while singing at a gig takes the cake.

[unknown-user]

OK – this wasn’t

[barbara-low]

Yeah, Janet. You’re right. Where are my balls when I need ’em?! Who needs job security anyway – it’s an illusion.

Seriously, we’re talking about boundaries. If someone touches my harp with no ill intent, then I allow that trespassing so that I don’t offend my client’s guest. (Wealthy people can be soooo touchy regarding us servant/artist types.) I do have a voice; I will and have gone after people for being butt heads with my instrument. But generally, I cut people a lot of slack cuz they need it.

[Fairy Reel]

See, that doesn’t even bother me. My family is quite accostomed to asking me questions (Did you eat lunch? Where’s the cat? How do you feel about painting the living room green?) so as long as I speak in rythm (which is most challenging for me in 3/4 time, actually) I’m good.

And actually, I usually let people touch my harp. Not always.

[unknown-user]

I agree totally Fairy.

[elinor-niemisto]

I usually say, “No one has asked me to play piccolo at their wedding.”

Also,

[unknown-user]

I’ve got a real ‘laugher’ for you. I’m sitting at the harp, possibly turning pages, arranging music, etc. and folks will come by and ask “do you play that?”

I have to almost smile kindly to avoid laughing so corruptly at their question.

Another ‘laugher’ is I get from folks while at the harp and they have opportunity to interrupt: “Do you own that harp”?

while I do find it rude to blow people off, it’s sometimes necessary to continue playing a gig. Sometimes I tell folks “I’m being paid to play the harp and cannot socialize at this moment. You can talk to me during my break in xx minutes”. and I have that well rehearsed and can almost say it off rhythm. That usually sends them away – of course, you always have that ‘special’ one to deal with. urffffffffffff!!!

Doc

[janet-king]

Oh but Doc, I want a break when I’m on break!!!

[janet-king]

“The most idiotic comment I overheard was a woman telling her kids that
when the harp player got more advanced she wouldn’t need the colored
strings anymore.”

I vote that one for most idiotic!!

[mark-andersen]

Well I’ve gotten the one about string color as well. I’ve had people come up to me and ask how long I’ll have to be playing before I can get rid of the colored strings.

One of the strangest idiotic requests I’ve had came from a bride who, just before the ceremony, asked me to quickly show her how to play “something” on the harp so that she could step over and play it during the ceremony. I was shocked but I did ask her if she had ever played harp or even piano before. Her reply was “no but it looks really easy.” I didn’t know whether to be insulted or complimented??? I just latched down the B and E pedals to create an F major glissando and told her to have at it! (It wasn’t my harp – one the bride’s family had borrowed)

Mark

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