Pipers! I need help once more

[sean_cummings]

We finally got a hold of a piper who is free for our wedding. We are getting married on Sept 1 2007. The Milwaukee Highland Games are the same weekend so it has not been easy to find a piper. We just got a quote of $400 to play for us. It seems kinda high to me. They will only be playing during the wedding ceremony which will be less than one hour. Now I am getting tired of paying so much money for everything related to the wedding, so maybe I am just at the bitter point. So please let me know if the price seems ok to you guys. Thanks for the help.
Sean

[oldsoldier]

Well, I am not a piper (yet), but I have alot of friends who are. They charge about $300 for a wedding, if they arent booked (obviously). It takes a couple years to be good enough on the pipes to be hired out, and some folks, thats their bread & butter. It may seem a little high, but, not outrageously so, in my opinion.

[haukehaien]

1) How many tunes is the piper playing?
2) Will he be there for the rehearsal?
3) Does he have to travel for the ceremony?

All of these things affect the price, as does your location. Bear in mind that while the ceremony may be less than an hour, the piper will have to allow time for tuning, warmup, getting dressed (I assume that he will be in Number 1 Dress or civilian equivalent) and depending on temperature/humidity and so forth, may have to have his doublet and kilt dry-cleaned afterwards. All of that gets built into the price. How is his playing? Will you be able to find another piper of the same caliber if you decide that $400 is too much?

Without more information, it's hard to know; but $400 is certainly not out of the ballpark for a wedding, especially if any travel is involved.

[Kiltedfirepiper]

I will echo what scott says here, not unreasonable at all. keeping in mind the ?'s he's asked.

I say more than 4 tunes
yes he's at the rehersal
travel time ( getting there an hour prior, tuning up, making sure everyone he's involved with is on the same page) unless he lives a mile from the site T time should be a given...as in a given that you pay for it

ymmv
Scott

[sean_cummings]

Thanks guys. The travel time should be under 1/2 hour. I think we are having him play 3 tunes, and he will not be at the rehearsal.
I am not bitching about the price, if thats what it is so be it. It just seems like anything involving the wedding cost way too much. It all adds up to a lot of money for one day.
I appreciate the all of your comments. This is a great board to be a part of.

[highlander_Daz]

My advice is to ask him he he doesnt mind hanging around for pics after wards, a decent piper that looks the part will make your wedding a special day .

[GlassMan]

I paid slightly more than that, but he did play at both the wedding and the reception.

[wgority]

I don't see anything wrong with that pricing. I'm a piper, I play weddings most weekends of the summer and more than a few during the winter, but that's not bad for the place and time of year.

[PiobBear]

Wow; I'm undercharging. Going rate around here (FL) is half that, but wages are abysmally low here all 'round.

[kiwipipinghot]

I have been learning for two years and spent well over $ 6000.00 for middle of the range pipes, intructor and one on one lessons, training summer camps with professional scottish instructors, uniform kit, and specially knitted hose and hand made spats (see posting on Trading Hose for full story)travelling to competitions and I'm still playing for free.... But you DO get what you pay for.
However I need the experience and the money and I love every chance to play my pipes.
Yet even if you offerred me free accom and all I can eat and drink, it would be cheaper to hire the local piper at $400.00
And yes Weddings do cost a leg,but it is then shackled for the rest of your life.
Maybe you could recheck your budget for the wedding because no use starting out life broke!