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Thanks, Kay! I don’t know how clear the picture will appear (I don’t have a very good place to photograph the whole thing… and it’s quite large…) but here it is!
It has t-shirts from activities and events I was part of, college, artwork I did, wedding, newborn outfits from both my kids, and some other squares that I assembled for things we (my family) like to do/places we’ve been. 🙂Maybe this is already what you meant by outrageous, but would the shipping be more reasonable if you ordered from the UK? I am in the USA, so I don’t have any firsthand experience, but I know Clive Morley harps carries Dustys, and that’s certainly closer than California.
Thank you both! The fuschia fabric was from a prom dress–from the year I met and started dating the guy who is now my husband. The whole quilt is kind of a recap of the past 12 years in our life. 🙂
You might try Somerset, if you’re interested mainly in the folk harp. I know I would love to get there sometime!
http://www.somersetharpfest.com/I know this topic has been discussed *extensively* on other threads in the past, and seeing the heated debate that came up, I was very, very intimidated to say anything on any thread this forum for a long time. I think that those of us who *do* donate any playing at all might be afraid to admit it in these forums because we could be harshly reprimanded by some others for doing so.
I do think we have to be very careful how much and for whom we play for free, because if “free” becomes the overall expectation, how is a gigging musician supposed to earn their living? As Sylvia stated, harpists invest a LOT of work and money in this, and it is their livelihood.
That being said, live music *is* a wonderful gift, and I have been blessed to see it brighten people’s days many times. I think there can be a balance.
An example from outside the music world: I know a few dentists who, though they charge (of course!) for their services 363 days a year, get together once annually and do a 2-day event of free dental care to ANYONE who shows up during that time. They have done a LOT of good though this for the past few years, and it has not hurt their regular business at all. Donating services can be done in such a way that it is beneficial to all those involved!
I have only two places where I regularly donate my music, and they both have to do with the same organization. I am involved (on committees, programming, etc.) with a local art gallery, and I have played opening receptions for them as a donation. I also play monthly at our local cancer treatment center for patients on chemo days. That engagement is ALSO directly through the same art gallery (we call it our “Healing Arts Program” and there are several other musicians and artists who do short programs several times a month to comfort and entertain the patients during chemo).
I will add that my playing for the gallery events is written off as an in-kind donation to this non-profit organization, so it’s not just like a total freebie. I also only do that for the one organization, and that is because I am heavily involved and want to do whatever I can to further their mission. I have had some people approach me for paying gigs after those experiences, and it has worked well for me. When they approach me to play for them, I give them my rate, and they have mostly been fine with that. When they haven’t been fine with it, they simply didn’t book me.
Kreig- I can relate to that, as I am a wooden-instrument-preferring person… except when it comes to my harp, apparently! haha
I was VERY hesitant at first to even consider carbon fiber because I play some other instruments that just sound *so much better* made of wood (especially African drums–the synthetic ones just sound bad…) But I was so pleasantly surprised by the tone of the CF harp that I changed my mind pretty quickly! I, too, am excited and curious to hear the Starlight, even though I don’t intend to get one. 🙂Tracey– I suggest searching “harp column carbon fiber” and “harp column heartland harps” to find some threads where people have weighed in.
My personal opinion: I **love** my carbon fiber harp. It is very portable and durable, it looks pretty classy, and most importantly it sounds great. I like to play outside, so it being impervious to weather conditions is very important to me. Also, I have small children, and I like knowing that *if* they were to somehow knock it down or something (not likely since I do keep it out of their reach and store it in a room they aren’t allowed to play in) it wouldn’t hurt them hardly at all, and the harp wouldn’t be damaged, either.
Some people compare the tone quality of carbon fiber to wood the way a solid-body electric guitar sounds compared to an acoustic. I think that’s pretty accurate. I actually preferred the sound of the Delight over a Dusty FH36 in bubinga, as it was less muddy in the bass, and just as pretty in the treble (and that’s not a knock on Dustys, they are great harps, too). Anyway, carbon fiber is the right harp for me, for some of the very same reasons that others don’t like it as much (extreme light weight, slight difference of tone, etc.)I use my cell phone as my primary means of communication. My family does not even have a landline anymore, because we had no use for it. I see cell phones as more of a blessing than a curse, and don’t think that every person who has one is somehow automatically completely inconsiderate, or a walking zombie. Many people do use them responsibly.
That being said, I think it is *absolutely ridiculous* that someone would have their phone on stage at all! And, though I had my phone go off once in a class (I was VERY embarrassed), since then I have always, *always* double-checked to make sure it is on silent/off before church/concerts/meetings/performing/etc. Seriously, it is not hard at all to just learn how to properly use your own phone, and make sure it doesn’t bother other people.How exciting! What kind of harp are you getting, Jessica? Both times I got a harp I was so excited the night before that I didn’t sleep very well… So much fun! And Lyn, I can’t wait to see pics when you receive yours!
Derek Bell played a Mountain Glen harp, and I think it sounds really good! There is also a video sample of one they made on the Mountain Glen website. I haven’t heard any others, though. I’m pretty sure he (Glenn) can make a harp with just about any size/shape/strings/levers. Someday (after lots of saving up…) I want him to make a harp for me!
