What to charge

[unknown-user]

Hello Everyone
People frequently call me to book me for weddings, receptions and other events and I always get so nervous about pricing. Once a woman rang me and said I was far too expensive and got pretty vicious with me to the point where I had to put the phone down and have a cry! I charge €250 for a wedding and €200 and hour for background music. Am I being unreasonable? Please let me know what is the going rate for a harper, I am well qualified Classical and Irish Traditional.
Thanks

[Sylvia Clark]

I think the rates differ according to what area you are in.

[David Ice]

Wow!

[richard-hagan]

I would like to pose the question as to why one would even refer such a person to other musicians (of harp or other instrument)?

[Briggsie B. Peawiggle]

I wouldn’t do it without calling the other musician to warn them immediately upon hanging up….however, it might be worthwhile to set up an arrangement with a colleague so that when they say your rates are too high, and you refer them to the colleague, the colleague then quotes a higher fee. Personally, however, I would just tell them I wasn’t able to accomodate them and let THEM search for someone else, thus breathing a sigh of relief that I didn’t have to deal with it.

Briggsie

[Sylvia Clark]

If someone wanted to argue the price, I’d refer them to someone else simply because they need to know that we all charge for our services, and I am not a unique case.

[unknown-user]

Hi Everyone
Thanks so much for the tips and support, I really appreciate it very much.
I live in an area where there is no other harper around at all, even of poor quality so if they turn me away, there isn’t anyone else.

I hope a big break comes my way soon, I’d love to never bother with a wedding again – they’re simply not worth the effort, I find my whole day is gone when I play at a wedding, between packing and unpacking the harp, getting dressed, travelling.. they are time consuming and stressful;(

I don’t know what people expect when they ring me, surely a harpist at your wedding is an extravagant extra!!

It’s so nice to be among fellow harp players who understand the BS we have to put up with!!!

Secret Harper

[Seoid OC]

Whereabouts are you?

[barbara-brundage]

>certainly more than an organist or singer, but not too much more.

Harpists generally get MUCH more than an organist or singer, who only has bring himself/herself and not lug a harp.

[Seoid OC]

Should a pedal harpist charge more than a lever harpist?

[barbara-brundage]

Why? It’s your skill they’re hiring, not the particular harp you want to bring. Should I get paid more if my concert grand cost more than your semigrand?

Regardless of the kind of harp you play you have these expenses that the organist/singer do not:

instrument.
strings
insurance
vehicle to haul it around and fuel for that vehicle

etc.

[barbara-brundage]

I should add that I play both pedal and lever harp and I charge exactly the same for them. Nobody but other harpists cares how you make your sharps and flats.

[steven-todd-miller]

Amen, Barbara! I had that mindset when I began playing for weddings. When I got my first concert harp, I thought this is it, the big time. Then one of my first weddings out, someone asked me, “I thought all harps were gold…” So now I have to think I can charge more when I have a gold harp? Enough is enough! The music and service you are providing is an out pouring of you – don’t undervalue yourself. Size doesn’t matter! Play like you’re packing a Louis XV!

[jennifer-buehler]

Some pedal harpists charge more because they hire a mover.

[barbara-brundage]

And some smart lever harpists charge the same and pocket the difference. I believe Ray Pool said once he does that: charges his standard rate and takes his Dusty in the subway to gigs.

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