A piper's rant

[JS Sanders]

I'm certain all of us pipers with merit have suffered these left-handed insults. Their origins are from those who believe it's within their (perceived) social standing to determine our wage.

Like Piobear, piping is my vocation as well as an avocation. It doesn't bother me in the slightest to tell a potential skinflint client his offer is insufficient. Though must admit when they then ask for a referral at that point, I can feel my BP rise a bit.

And over the years I've had charity-related clients take advantage of me. They'll switch times, dates, length of playing, what to play, etc in a New York second without even consulting me. And I'm expected to comply because it's a charitable event.

It has made me extremely wary of those seeking my talent & ability on a gratis basis. Currently, I do them only if the organizer has credibility in my eyes and I alone determine what is piped & how.

Slan,
steve

[KiltedSurveyor]

I have played in various bands/genres of music for over 30 years (now for "fun", as I own my own land surveying business). It is amazing the amount of people that complain about fees for gigs with comments like "I wish I could make $250 for less than two hours work!". I then inform them that they don't pay a doctor for the 5-15 minutes of exam time he gives them, but for the years of medical school and experience to diagnose what is wrong with them quickly (and hopefully correctly). They pay me not for the time that I play for them, but for all the time I put in the practice room and rehearsal hall to make the time they hire me for is the best possible experience they can get for the money.