Fwd: [Harp-L] RE: Harp-L Digest, Vol 82, Issue 13

[Grant Walters <grant@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Grant Walters <grant@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: June 4, 2010 8:40:34 AM PDT
> To: "Bill Kumpe" <bkumpe@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] RE: Harp-L Digest, Vol 82, Issue 13
> 
> I have to agree with you here Bill ..love the dentist reference...  you got it.....It can be the same in  my little world.
> 
> However, my introduction to Irish music was at a pub in Galway...
> Not only did the players around the large table encourage me to sit in ...they insisted on on it...
> I've never experienced such a welcoming sort of "professional musician"
> Not sure what anyone was getting paid but the level of musicianship was outstanding.
> 
> In my neck of the woods there are many harp players...so many that I have heard the phrase "Check your harps at the door"
> 
> Nice when you get invited with open arms but I would never admit to even having one hidden in my pocket unless the 
> the subject had been discussed during a break or something....(why is the harp in the pocket in the first place.."lurker")
> 
> Usually it is your "fan" who is promoting you (even if you can't play yet}  to the band and embarrassing you by insisting that the legend you came to see
> drop everything and allow you to take over his "payed gig" ..."let my friend take over the Drill mr. dentist...he is great"
> 
> One way around this for the band...you pick one song during the night ...when the crowd is small..allow all harp players to play at one time..
> A bandleader I know...got so tired of the egging on of all the harp players ...that he lined up 9 in  row one night...
> The audience loved it...they got to see their guys play...and the harp players felt like they got a whack at it...
> 
> Fortunately, for example, at my last gig there were four players present who as it turned out can play circles around me
> and I had to beg them to come on board...and they improved the show without playing over each other.
> 
> My wife asked why I tried to get them on stage... I said  sometimes it is best to check your ego at the door.
> 
> Grant
> 
> Usually, by letting someone else play...I appear to be the bigger person in the eyes of the audience...
> The band hates me for it sometimes...but most often...the guy has some chopsl
> On Jun 4, 2010, at 6:42 AM, Bill Kumpe wrote:
> 
>> "Aongus Mac Cana" said:  A safe rule is never to do it unless invited. This
>> applies to all instruments.
>> 
>> IMHO that is a good rule of universal application.  I do not define a gig as
>> "a jam" to start with.  Gigging pros make their living at these gigs and I
>> would no more ask to join in than I would walk into a dentist's office and
>> ask to start drilling teeth.  Making a living as a musician is hard enough
>> without some beginner or no talent jerk trying to horn in.  (And don't even
>> get me started on "Gussers.")  In our little world, everybody knows who
>> everybody else is.  If they want you up there, they'll ask.  If they don't,
>> you don't want to be there anyway.  My two cents.
>> 
>> Bill Kumpe
>> Tulsa, OK
>> 
>> 
>