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Israel use to broadcast on an Israel radio that you could also listen to via their website, but they didn’t do it last time.
Streaming would be great!
You know, I really didn’t want to do this gig in the first place. I hate traveling over two hours for an event. So when the bid came in, I doubled my fee plus charged them 75 cents a mile. I figured other harpist in the area would give their usual low fees and I would lose it. Was I surprised when she hired me. I should trust my instincts.
My contract started out years ago with only two pages, it now up to six pages because of things like this happening. Guess i have something else to add.
I had the opposite of what happen to Onita, I succumbed to a plea to play for an event for free. I was playing during a silent auction time. After that there was a dinner and they had a guy playing the piano for that part of the event. I knew the guy and saw him some months later. He made the remark that he hoped they paid me well, he had to fight for what he got. I was a bit set off.
If I get a request to play for free, I will say no to any that tell me it would be great exposure, I back away from those right away. But I will consider those that I feel can not really pay and need the help. I do my research. There are some that I do yearly that I truly believe in. One is a volunteer dinner for a local animal shelter. I contacted them about playing for free. Plus you can also ask for trade offs like being mentioned on the charity’s website along with a link to your website. I have done that.
I also go to a local book store that has a reading room/coffee shop and play on Sunday morning. They let me put out a tip jar, and most of the time it pays off pretty well. I have also gotten quiet a few paying gigs from it too.
I did hear of a harpist in my area that was playing for an annual charity event I have played in the past and got paid for it. This event is invite only and usually the very wealthy are invited. She did it for the “exposure” , that took a paying gig away from me. Think some musicians need to wise up and know when they are being taken advantage of.
Do some research before you say yes.
I use it all the time and have to say the number of my gigs has increased because they can pay with their cards.
Thanks all. I was wondering because I have gone through 6 broken strings in the past two weeks with the heat during the day and cooler temps at night. We have AC, but trying not to use it to save money. But with temps in the upper 90’s this week, it’s back on.
OUCH Kay! I bet that hurt!
I get this cuticle oil from my manicurist, yes I get manicures. The one thing people notice first about a harpist is their hands and that makes a huge impression.
I’ve used a homeopathic solution called Stage Fright – Fear, It is put out by Newton Homeopathics. You might try a vitamin shop to find it.
I just hope that everyone is keeping a record of your non-profit playing. It is still tax deductable.
The guy that does my taxes wants me to keep a record of distance I travel for a free event and what I would have charged if it had not been a freebi.
Just FYI.
Lauren, are you planning to study music at CU? or just wanting to continue lessons? CU has a great teacher Janet Harriman, plus there are really great private teachers in the area too.
Just my word of advice when having to play on a windy day, take the cover off your harp!
I had to play on a very windy day, got my harp to the space for me to set up, turned around to pick up something and the next thing I heard was “BOOM” the cover acted as a sail and my harp fell on to its side. Lucky it was on grass and not on the tuning disk side. No damage done, excect for my heart which was in my pants.
I have four dogs, they just love to come in while I am practicing and soon all hear is snoring hounds!
All of my dogs are from rescue shelters, this made me contact one of them today and see if I can maybe do the same. I have to be careful though, I’ll just want to bring them all home with me.
