Gigging presents several challenges in addition to beer (see July 28th’s post).\u00a0 One of these is the unwieldiness of many instruments and gear. \u00a0This can be extreme, and is why roadies exist . . . if we could afford them. As many of my readers have probably gathered, I play the harp: probably the pinnacle of musical unwieldiness. \u00a0\u00a0Today, I will discuss two of the main harp-gigging challenges: doors and llamas (yes, llamas).<\/p>\n

First, doors.\u00a0 Doors and harps don’t tend to get along with each other very well.\u00a0 The harp I use for most gigs is a folk (lever) harp about 4 feet tall.\u00a0 Compared to a concert harp, this is nothing, but mostly I’m not comparing it to a concert harp.\u00a0 Most often, I’m comparing it to the flute, or the clarinet, or any of the other instruments I could have chosen that easily fit through doorways.\u00a0 There is<\/i> an effective procedure for getting a harp through a doorway: you use one hand to support the harp’s weight, your other hand to keep the harp from swinging into the jam, your third hand to hold open the door that’s trying to close on you, your fourth hand to keep from stepping on your artistically long skirt- I think you see the problem.<\/p>\n

Some gigging venues, however, have no doors to deal with, being, in fact, out-of-doors.\u00a0 This is where the llamas and other animals comes in. \u00a0Flower-filled meadows are understandably popular for weddings, and mean less doors, but animals can be an issue.\u00a0 I have played a surprising number of \u00a0weddings in llama pastures, which are particularly challenging in terms of where you can step.\u00a0 Also, with outdoor weddings, the guests often bring their dogs.\u00a0 I am very fond of animals, and they seem to know it, which means they all want to hang out with me, next to the harp.\u00a0 I played one wedding with a puppy asleep in my lap behind the sound box and a llama looking over my shoulder; I hadn’t the heart to dump the puppy, and the llama wasn’t budging.\u00a0 In my experience, however, the wildlife most dangerous to a harp is small children running loose after eating enough wedding cake to power a small town.<\/p>\n

Despite the bulkiness, there are some significant advantages to playing the harp.\u00a0 It can be a major selling point, since it is a bit unusual and most people associate harps with beauty, peace, heaven etc. (“of course it sounds good- it’s a harp<\/i>“).\u00a0 In fact, people in general seem so taken with the idea of a harp that I sometimes wonder whether I really even need to be able to play- I sometimes get the impression I could just sit there, with a harp, and still provide the atmosphere the client wants.\u00a0 I suppose that would be an easy job, but I prefer not to feel like an accessory to a piece of woodwork.<\/p>\n

There are, of course, other issues associated with gigging with harps: bagpipes come to mind.\u00a0 But that will have to wait, because this post already too long.\u00a0 To those of you who actual read this far: Huzzah! You are amazingly cool!<\/p>\n