harpist Archives » Page 5 of 5

Decisions

23 September 2012 1 Comment

This has been a week of choices. Isn’t it weird how they all seem to come at once?

After a mad couple of shifts in the bar at the RNCM for freshers week, I decided that, if I really don’t enjoy working there that much, I should just quit. I need to be earning money doing things that take me in the direction of my dream. It isn’t my dream to work in a bar forever, so I decided it was time to take the plunge and lose the safety net of having that bit of extra cash each month – in favour of pushing myself to do more for my music career.

So that’s it! I never have to pull a pint again. I’ve worked in one bar or another for my whole student life, and now I feel like the time has come to move on.

And doesn’t the universe work in mysterious ways, on the morning following my final shift, I got a phone call from the Chethams School of Music asking if I’d be interested in doing some harp teaching there.

Of course I was! I taught my first lesson there last Friday and loved it, hopefully it will lead to working there regularly.

The day after the phone call day, I got an email from a hotel asking if I’d like to stay with them and provide background music for a few months… in DUBAI! Sounds too good to be true and the money is exceedingly tempting (enough to invest in a lever harp and take lots of the financial pressure away). But it would mean being away over Christmas and New Year, and I’d miss a certain trip to Lanzarote in December as well as various gigs and family commitments. So basically, I’ve said I’m very interested but maybe another time.

I had to think about it so carefully, but I need to be here, in Manchester right now. I need to be gigging and building up my contacts and getting better gigs. My dream is to be an orchestral musician, and while the money from providing background music is fabulous, I’m not sure I would want to do it all the time. What I love about my career so far is the variety. Every day is different and brings its own challenges. Not going to Dubai was a really tough decision but hopefully I will look back and be glad I stayed.

Maybe I could have gone to Dubai and could have stayed working at Brodsky. Had I done so my bank balance would definitely thank me. But at the end of the day, maybe I’m choosing the less profitable choice right now, but maybe it will pay dividends in the future? I have noticed that each day since turning down Dubai I’ve been contacted about doing a gig in the next few months. It’s going to be ok.

Maybe there is no right or wrong decision. But I’ve made mine and now my job is to make the best of my situation and keep moving towards where I want to be in the future.

Career, Music

Easter Holidays and too much time off.

7 April 2012 2 Comments

I was playing at a wedding today down in Staffordshire, about an hour’s drive from my house so not too bad. The whole day went very smoothly and I got paid (yay!)

But instead of blogging about another background gig – I’m going to talk about the holidays in general. I got a bit emotional yesterday, tears may have been involved, and I couldn’t put my finger on what was upsetting me.

I eventually came to the conclusion that it must be a number of things:

having lost my phone and shelled out for a new one, all the financial progress I’ve made recently has been pretty much cancelled out.
my harp has a buzz 🙁 nothing serious but it needs sorting – I’m currently waiting for a technician to get back to me on that. Harps are so complex and have so many moving parts that occasionally these parts can vibrate against each other to make a buzzing sound when a particular note is played. It’s not serious and it’s easily fixable but extremely annoying!
All my current gigs seem to be background music – yes it’s easy money but it leaves me rather unfulfilled. My place is in an orchestra. I’ve known this for some time now but it’s definitely time to start really pushing for this and sending emails and hopefully getting some auditions.
I’m scared that if all I ever do are background gigs, I’ll lose all the progress I made in my four years at the Royal Northern College of Music. I didn’t study for all that time just to play cringe-worthy arrangements of cheesy music for people who don’t listen or care.
I haven’t had a harp lesson in nine months and I can definitely tell, I’m going to focus now on learning some new repertoire for an upcoming recital and resuscitating some old favourites so I feel like I can still actually play the harp with a good level of skill.

Maybe it’s just the holidays, and current lack of work, but things definitely need a push right now. I’ve hit some sort of plateau that I haven’t experienced before.

So yes, sorry this post is decidedly less cheery than others, but this blog is about the whole picture of being a freelancer. Hopefully over time I’ll see that the good times far outnumber the hard.

Music

End of February…

27 February 2012 No Comments

Phantom finished last Saturday. It was a really fun week and all the performances were completely sold out – and most got a standing ovation at the end! I was particularly impressed with the lad playing Phantom, must only have been 16 or 17 but he improved so much as the week went on…

I feel like the most important part of the whole week was the post show trip to the pub down the road. A lot of the players in the band asked for my number and mentioned that they knew someone who needs a harp for something or other. So I made lots of new contacts, which is great! All the internet-networking I do pales into insignificance compared with the work I get through word of mouth recommendations.

Phantom of the Opera is in fact coming to Manchester next month… I wonder who is sorting out the band for that… I’m pretty Phantomed out but I’d definitely get over that for a chance to play for a professional show!

Yesterday I was in Liverpool at the Liner Hotel for an audition for an agency that sends musicians on cruise ships, and to luxury hotels and corporate events etc. As I do lots of background music anyway I thought I’d give it a go and see what comes of it. Most of the acts auditioning were singers, songwriters, magicians or comedians. I was the only harpist, and I have been invited to take part in the agency’s ‘Showcase’ in October – which is a brilliant chance to play for the people who book musicians for cruises, corporate work etc. Personally I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there’s a luxury hotel in the Maldives that needs a harpist all Summer, that’s the dream anyway.

When I think about the place I was in a month ago, the difference between then and now is like night and day. In January, I went home to my parents and cried my eyes out – I was worried about work, money, where to live, if music was really what would make me happy. I had applied for a full-time job in arts administration and had two bar jobs. I had hardly any gigs in the diary and had no idea what I was going to do and if I’d be able to succeed. My parents have always had faith in me and are totally behind me, ready to fight my corner, they just told me to have faith and trust that things will pick up – no matter if it’s hard right now it will get better.

Now, my diary is filling up very nicely and there’s always something I’m working towards, something going in the diary. I am so happy that I’m doing what I love, and so happy that my life cannot be pigeon-holed into an everyday 9-5. I can sleep in when I want to, going to the pub can be justified as networking (brilliant!), I am my own boss and in charge of my own finances, I can never get fired! I hardly ever have to battle through rush hour traffic or be up before 8am, plus I decide how much to pay myself. I feel so free! I have a career that is interesting to talk about and I have no idea where it might lead, or what I might be doing in a year, two, five, ten years time. Sure, money is still tight, but I am getting by and I truly believe that if I keep doing what I love, the money will come.

Uncategorized

Valentine’s Day

15 February 2012 1 Comment

Valentine’s Day. For girls like me who aren’t in a relationship, it can be a tricky one. Do we pretend it doesn’t exist and try not to be insanely jealous at all the romantic things guys are doing for their girlfriends? What do we do when the evening draws in? Luckily for me I had plans months in advance this year: playing the harp to set the mood in a romantic restaurant in Chorlton, Manchester.

I remember thinking this morning sure, I set the mood for the restaurant, but who sets the mood for me?

The restaurant was The Lead Station in Chorlton and I would thoroughly recommend it. It was beautifully decorated and very romantic. Lots of candles and roses. The harp was placed right in the middle of the eating area – and as you can see from the picture I think it looked lovely. The staff were also lovely and very helpful with my harp and its covers. Finn, the manager and Nick, the owner in particular were really welcoming.

Background music is a funny one. As a harpist, I’m frequently called upon to play background music for events like this, or weddings, plus the occasional corporate function or fancy office party. We sit there making (hopefully) beautiful music while the party happens around us, with nobody really listening. But tonight was different, the restaurant was really quiet and I got applause. Applause!! For background music. This was quite radical.

I also was given a complimentary meal from the special menu for the evening. So I chose beetroot and spinach risotto with goats’ cheese (I can hear my mum’s mouth watering at that) followed by a beef burger – and I’m not kidding, this was the best burger I’ve ever eaten in my life! I asked for it medium cooked because I was so shocked they gave me a choice! But seriously – excellent food and free drinks all night, shame I had to drive home.

Yes, it can be hard not having that special someone to spend Valentine’s Day evening with, but just because you’re not being taken out, doesn’t mean you are not loved. It was a really good feeling to know that I was adding something to numerous couples’ Valentine’s Day – but never mind that, I earned some much-needed cash!

Music

Brit Idol

13 February 2012 4 Comments

Today, I had an audition for ‘Brit Idol 2012’ – a nationwide talent show with a prize of £1000 plus performance opportunities. I came across the competition through starnow.co.uk.

As I live in Manchester, which is quite a large city, I was expecting the audition to be packed. I was also expecting to be sitting around for hours. So I took a new book with me, Stephen King’s The Stand, I’ve only just started it but I can tell I’m going to enjoy it.

So anyway I turn up at the Zion Arts Centre and the place is … well … pretty much deserted. Eventually a man comes out with a clipboard and calls a register. His register is only about a dozen names but half of those hadn’t turned up – luckily there was a friend of mine from RNCM also auditioning so we could sit and chat while we waited for our 5 minute audition.

I had arrived at 11.45am, by the time they start taking people in for auditions it was already 1.15 and I’d had to sneak out to buy a sandwich. They didn’t call me in until 3.55pm! I went in and did my thing (will post a video as soon as I work out how to transfer it from my phone to the internet). The judges were a singer, a cellist and a pianist, and the only piece of constructive advice they gave me?

Smile more.

I waited around for FOUR HOURS and you are telling me to ‘smile more’ ? ? !

I could not believe what I was hearing, the piece I chose was jazzy and light-hearted, but what do they want me to do – grin like the cheshire cat because I’m playing happy music? So frustrating…

So I’m just going to chalk it up to a learning experience – still can’t believe I paid £10 and waited all afternoon to be told that I look too intense when I play.

Nevertheless, onwards and upwards as usual. I’m going to a friend’s house for dinner tonight so I can forget about this waste of a day…

« Previous 1 … 3 4 5