[Harp-L] Can one make a living playing harp? ( NOT sent from my Blackberry, -)

["Rob Paparozzi" <Chromboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Apologies to the list if you had a hard time reading it in the Blackberry 
format! here tis from my PC a bit more readable format....I had a long 
flight yesterday and only had the phone to type on,-)


You can make a livin playin harp but as you can see from the responses it 
sure can be quite challenging.
In this day n' age only three players I know of and have tremendous respect 
for:  Robert Bonfiglio and Tommy Morgan and Mickey Raphael  play ONLY 
harmonica for a living. Their income is from PLAYING harmonica! I'd like to 
add Mike Turk but I'm not sure what he's up to Lately or if he is teaching 
etc.....who am I forgetting in the USA??

Internationally I'm sure there must be more and hopefully some more in the 
US that I'm unaware of.....
Though I love players like Toots, Galison, Peloquin, Levy, Madcat, Brendan, 
Randy S, Baker, Meurkens  etc, they either double on others axes, write or 
have harp related buisness' to generate a portion of their income such as 
myself. However, we should point out these players do quite well when paid 
for their expert Harmonica playing services be it live or studio.

Dave Barrett, Gindick, Gruenling, Filisko, Yerxa,  also seem to be making a 
living or supplementing their incomes  playing, performing and teaching etc. 
I have tremendous respect for them and the great work they do fo our 
instrument......
Then my list gets larger, if we think of diatonic players who JUST play harp 
you can include Magic Dick and Lee Oskar and Jerry Portnoy. WHEN they were 
with Full Time bands. Like War, J Geils,and Muddy n' Clapton.  Since then 
they have gotten into other endeavors aside from just playin harp to 
supplement their income.

Two great players still with us that are retired but made a darn good living 
with just Harmonica are Stan Harper and Blackie Shackner.

So I guess my point is, if HARP is your first love, don't be discouraged do 
it!You may have to add other music related skills ie: reading,doubling, 
singing, teaching, recordIng, songwriting, contracting....but don't sweat it 
as it will make you a better Musician and Harp Player in the long run.

My situation as M.Fugazzi points out is rare indeed, but so Is everyone's 
and you have to do what works YOU and your situation. There IS no magic 
formula.

I'm 58 have a BA in Sociology and have played Music part time, full time, 
had day gigs, did construction work, was a Juvenile Probation Officer, 
played on Broadway, did Studio work with Bo Diddley to Cy Coleman....played 
in bars and at some of the worlds largest festivals, TV with DOLLY to Boy 
George....fronted BS&T and The Original Blues Brothers Band on Vocals & 
Harp.

....It's all good and I was able to raise a family too thru all this 
craziness! Now that my kids are grown I can travel more w/ my music.
Just like I NEVER think of myself as a either a diatonic player OR chromatic 
player, a blues player OR a jazz player TB or PUCKERER ..I carry THAT 
philosophy on with me in my life and music. No neat boxes or genre labels 
are allowed in MY world of music.

It's just that I love the musical diversity and also LOVE that I can make 
more money via that ecclectic approach to music. Some can 'specialize' and 
for them THAT is what works best..I applaud as well.

In the music Biz I play Harmonica, Sing, play Guitar, Piano. My expertise is 
in Fronting and Leading bands of all styles. I keep 'entertainment' and the 
art of it HIGH on my list of priorties.

I hope thIs helps shed some lIght on this topic.......do what you do WELL 
and the Money WILL follow. It matters not whether u play FT or PT, Music 
will always be THERE for you to give you Joy!

Whether you are performing in a bar a wedding or carnegie hall...give it 
your all and play like you mean it!!
Kudos to Mitch Kashmar for his diversity in gigs and also Charlie 
Musselwhite and Toots for crossing over their Blues and Jazz with mainstream 
artists exposing MANY more to the Harmonica....

My hat is off to the late Norton Buffalo for his amazing diverse approach to 
music.....he was as huge inspiration for many of us.
My 8 cents,-)

Best,
Rob Paparozzi
www.robpaparozzi.com