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I agree Tacye! Busking can be fun and and an easy way to make extra money…but not close to the sand with all the drunk people around. I live in a college community where drinking is not allowed ON the beach, so they get around that by drinking ACROSS from the beach.
Unfortunately, I’m not in the position to purchase a second harp at this time. I’m building up my medical practice and am looking for a way to supplement my income for awhile. Busking wouldn’t work with a Concert Grand.
My harp was used and has a VERY rich and HUGE tone! It wasn’t played much and the soundboard is almost perfectly flat (despite the fact that it was build in the 70s)!!! I love it and I feel like it’s a part of me!
I have a Venus harp and I love it! It’s about 25 yrs old but has a very FULL sound. My advice is to try out several harps and see what resonates for YOU! We are all so different. The RIGHT harp will FIT you and you will just know its the right harp for you.
Hi Alison,
I think the key is to relax! Most people have NO idea that you’ve messed up anyway, as long as you know how to cover mistakes and keep going. I’m nervous in the beginning, but then it’s a mental game. I realize that no one else “out there” knows anything about what I’m playing. If I am REALLY nervous, I start to play glissandos for awhile (to warm up) and everyone goes wild! They THINK I”m GREAT! Then my confidence is fed and I can go on with no problem. Again…all MENTALI’m 5’4″ and not a large person. I have a Venus Classic which is 6′ tall and about 80 pounds so I ALWAYS have to have help with loading my harp! It’s too akward for me to maneuver it into my vehicle. Also, I just wouldn’t risk it. I can’t imagine dropping it!
Before I was a harpist, I played in bands in LA..and had the same thing happen. People would come up and ask if they could “sit in”. I would tell them: ” I’m sorry, but we’ve been booked for this gig. If you feel like you want to play this venue, you’ll have to go through the same channels that we’ve gone thru.”
I never had any problems after that. And I’ve been more adamant now with my harp. I tell people that my insurance doesn’t cover “other players”. I’m always nice and polite, and they can’t argue with that.
It sounds like I should go to Chicago (venus or lyon and healy) and ship the harp thru the company they use.
I thought about buying an extra seat on a plane, but I checked the regulations and the instrument has to be buckled in like a person. There’s no way my pedal harp would fit. This is really a dilemna.
