[Harp-L] Re: Can one make a living playing harp? (Long)

[ColdRail <gwoodhouse40@xxxxxxx>]

I concur with Grant's comments and experience.  I had the opportunity
to joing an established band a few years ago.  The lead guitarist/
singer was clearly the leader and wanted it that way.  I was fine with
this and just loved being a part of a good band and getting to play
harp (and getting paid to do it!).  It was a dream come true for me
after 25 years of closet playing and the occassional jam.  I just
listened, watched, and learned.  When the lead guy became ill and had
to step away from the band I decided I was going to do everything I
could to keep this dream experience alive and the band together.  Our
other guitarist and I (mostly me) completely revamped our song catalog
to songs we liked and could sing and worked it all out over a few
months.  Suddenly I was the lead singer too!  Something I had never
set out to become.  Out from under the shadow of the previous lead
guitarist, her playing just blossomed.  I took over managing the PA
setup and most of the promotion/business end.  We emerged from this
"shake-up" a better band with a better sound, energy, and rapport (and
no egos!).  In this case the democratic method worked out well after
having been under a dictator.  We were a happier more motivated band.
This positive energy resulted in some really nice collaboration on
original tunes as well.

Now I am by far the least talented musician in the band but I was
willing to work hard to keep this band together.  My band mates do
respect and appreciate me for this.  I am convinced that we would have
fell apart if I hadn't stepped up.  My wife, kids, and I have made
some of the best friends of our lives through this experience.  I am
having an ongoing musical experience that has far exceeded my muscial
fantasies.

This experience has not allowed me to play music full time, that is
not my goal and probably not my potential.  I'm playing just the right
amount to have fun, improve, and still hold down a good job, be a good
family man, and cast a fly once in awhile.  But my experience does
support the input that Rob P., Rob B. and others have stated here.
First you have to do it for the love of playing and then be willing to
do more than play (lug, drive, promote, write, sing, dance?, etc.).

Glenn Woodhouse
The ColdRail Blues Band
www.ColdRail.com

>
> If you own the PA, book the gigs...do the graphics, deal with the club owners and treat your band mates with respectl...you will always have work...
>
> Secret is...I would pay to play music with the guys I get  to play with...I love it and some days I wonder what if I would have been "married to the blues"...(no day job)
>
> But being in a band is the best...It is a family and an experience beyond a price tag.
>
> Grant Walters
> Big Crawdaddy Band
>
> On Sep 19, 2010, at 6:41 PM, rob paparozzi wrote:
>
>
>
> > 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 Paparozziwww.robpaparozzi.com
> > Sent from my Verizon crackberry phone!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -