Re: [Harp-L] You wanna play harp?

BiscuitBoy714@xxxxxxx · Sun, 15 Jul 2007 07:47:30 EDT

 Thanx Smo Joe, you made me laugh and cry at the same time. I came up with 
some  other things.

                           Have you been successful in your harmonica 
endeavors?

    First....think of when you started out. How much did you  pay for your 
first harp? (that's the only thing I remember about 1972) Now think  about how 
much they are now!!
    Did it make you happy the first time you bent a  note?
    How many of your friends bought harps after you  did?
    How many of them kept playing for more than 2  weeks?
    In your life have you tried to spread the love of  harp?
    Did you ever get cold chills playing along with somebody  that you 
thought was the MAN?
    Do people ever ask you to play...ie.   Hey  boy....did ye bring dat dare 
Juice Harp wich ye? 
    Did you ever get a date because of the way you play  the  harp?           

 It was worth it.

     Now try and not think about how much money you  have made compared to 
how much time you put into it and how much you spent on  harps over the years.

              Please feel free to add on at your leisure.

    When I'm on my death bed I want them to do what Robert  Cline suggests 
and stick a harp in my mouth. That way when I go out I will  play that last 4 5 
6 blow chord and they will know I'm done.

          Randy
    BiscuitBoy Blues 

In a message dated 7/15/2007 2:00:55 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
leone@xxxxxxxx writes:

So...you  wanna play harp eh. Lotsa luck

Listed below will be several things to  consider when thinking of  
playing harp. They are not necessarily in  order of importance because  
I'm just going to let it  roll.

One thing to consider is: "Where do I sit on the lunch box or  food  
chain of harp"? Am I:
1.. a harmonica owner? A harmonica  owner is one who buys a harmonica,  
toodles around a little bit and  then relegates the poor lonely little  
'krome klondike' to a  drawer.

2.. A beginner? A beginner is one who is actually spending  some  
semblance of time in an effort to play. Their progress may  be  
hampered somewhat by their ability or inability OR it may just be  a  
matter of only having been at it for a short time. They may be  able  
to swawk out a semi recognizable tune or two.

3.. A  novice? A novice is one who is able to get some pretty sounds  
and  possibly tunes out of the 'Tin Tootsie Roll'. To the point that  
an  impromptu 'Happy Birthday' played at a party won't bring too much   
pie throwing.

4.. An intermediate? An intermediate is at the point  where they might  
go from gussing to the bravery of trying an open  mike stint. Some  
mistakes are evident but not enough to ruin  everyone's fun. There  
might even be clapping. You WISH.

5..  Advanced? Advanced means that you may be able to pull sunshine  
out  of your anus and do an evening slot at a harmonica festival. You   
have now arrived at the point where playing with a band is not out  of  
the question.

6.. Expert? You don't make many mistakes,  you do some fast +/or  
difficult stuff and have enough 'snowjoberol'  to pull it off.

7.. Professional? You are good enough to get  paid...regularly

8.. Master? You are one of the 2 dozen or so getting  the commercials,  
jingles, movie sound tracks, and sitting in on  other people's records.

9.. Virtuoso? You are one of a half dozen who  can write your own ticket.

Then ask yourself: What do I expect from the  harmonica and Where do I  
want to go with it.

How about  budget? If you are in the lower branches of the salad tree,  
buying  expensive harps doesn't make much sense, BUT, I WOULD suggest  
this:  Always get harps that are 1 eschelon above your position on the   
ladder. Leave some room for advancement. Playing a harp that's   
lousier than YOU is a drag and will bring dis-allusionment.

Just  tossing some figures out on the table and seeing what they do,  
if  you make (say) $41,895.84 per year, and allowing 1 per cent for   
harmonicas, we come up with $418.96. That's $139.65 for a chromo (we   
only need one...for now), and 12 (min) diatonics at $23.27  each.

Now it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to see that if you only  make  
$27,930.56, you are POOR and have to adjust accordingly. $93.10  for a  
chromo, and 12 (min) diatonics at $15.51 each.

Now  naturally, we don't blow harps out all the time..(DO we?) But ,  
we  can see that what with buying food, making mortgage & car   
payments, utilities, insurances, taxes, clothing, medical, gasoline,   
etc. we can't spend ALL our money on harps.

As to whether a  harmonica is worth the price. It's only worth the  
price IF we can  afford it. It's worth the price if we love to play  
enough to adjust  somewhere else. Can our playing amortise (justify)  
the expense? Some  (like me) use harp for therapeutic purposes. Mental  
health, so to  speak. There was a time when (in the words of Jerry  
Adler) I lived  hand to mouth. Lived from pay day to pay day. Since I  
was paid every  other week or every fortnight,  I was oft to say: "  
I'm Only 13  days away from being homeless".

Now, I can get whatever I want. And  remember, most harmonicas today  
are beyond the capabilities of the  players.

smokey joe said it

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