interesting thing happened at my mom's funeral

[LordKiltClad]

Well I can now put Don a little higher on my list.

Excerpt from Bagpiper.com

Pipe Major Don Shannon, a native of Northern Ireland, has been piping for over 35 years. In the UK, Don served as Pipe Major of an award winning band, participating in numerous competitions in Northern Ireland, England and Scotland, including the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association World Championships. Don has performed for many V.I.P.'s and numerous members of the Royal Family including Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Tony Blair.

Anyways, I think starting small and building up people's confidence in your presentation will bring nothing but good things. I wish you luck!

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Scott, I will just respond by saying that everybody pays for every other part of the funeral process, so a piper should not be any different. It would be a wonder and a miracle if there were enough pipers who had incomes that let them volunteer their piping for funerals, or enough donations to let pipers do so. However, the reality is that piping takes many years of training and practice with an expensive instrument.

I

[PiobBear]

anyone involved in a Military Color Guard?
advice on how things are done, protocols, ect would be helpful

I'm a member of one, albeit Canadian, as a piper. I also work frequently with several of the local American Legion honor guards. I've also worked for funeral homes before (not as a piper) and have a pretty clear idea of how funeral director's minds work and what their expectations are. Should you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

I charge, same as any funeral director, officiant, limo company, florist, and everyone else associated with a funeral (or wedding, or whatever), that's why there are death benefits. I take an extremely dim view of dilettantes who sanctimoniously infer that I'm somehow doing something dishonorable for trying to earn a meager living, while by doing so many freebies they give folks the impression that pipers aren't worth paying for; directly or otherwise in a very real sense stealing money out of my pocket!

Yeah; it's a particular pet peeve of mine.

I piped a military memorial service Wednesday, and have two ceremonial gigs contracted for Memorial Day, all paid at my full price. The veterans organization I was performing for this week was very pleased with what they got for their money, and the two for Memorial Day are repeat customers so I assume the same holds true for them as well.

[LordKiltClad]

I draw a parallel to your dilemma everyday at work. The architectural firm I work for does 85% church work. Almost all our clients have the mindset (because they are a church and considered non-profit) that our services should come cheap if not free.

And really they are getting a little bit of a discount.
On a standard commercial building project an architect can make upwards of 8-9% of the total building construction cost. For churches we're down in the 6-7% range. Now while 1% point may not seem like a lot, but we deal with $50 million dollar church buildings, and 1% is $500,000 dollars. That's a lot to me.

Point being well put by others. You're providing a professional service, I would expect to pay for a professional service. No difference in services by you whether it's a funeral or not.

[Kiltedfirepiper]

oh and I totallly forgot to mention, the service went great, I played after the color guard did the flag folding, and the VFW did their thing, as the VFW marched out I played AG and going home.. as I played the second part of going home I started walking away slowly, causeing a fade out for the tune.

everyone I talked to couldn't figure out how I got the bagpipes to fade out..... I just looked at them dead pan and said " I walked that way for about 200 feet" I got a big hug from the widow and she thanked me over and over again for being available to be apart of the service.

I hate to say this but going to other funerals has been kind of helpful to me as far as my Mom is concerned......I feel mostly its because I get to help other people in their time of need.... I dont know.....but I do feel better than I have in the last few days after being a part of 2 other services. reguardless if I would have gotten paid or not

KFP

[RK-REX]

Good going Scott!! Sounds like you found a niche and you get to help folks out as well.

[highlander_Daz]

I play at a lot of events and nearly always charge, it reassures the client they are getting a "proper" piper and secondly as a semi pro musiscian you owe it to yourself to recieve some from of reward, also you will have other pipers on your back if you undercharge. Pipeing is a noble art, In Scotland the piper was and is respected as an educated man, my advice to you is carry on charge reasonable rates, if you feel the need to donate a percentage to charity then do so, If the clients are a community group I waive my fee or donate my fee to a cancer hospital nearby, its up to you.

my only advice is that you always look immaculate, always be early. and always have your drones in tune,

this is my secret weapon

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Korg-CA-40-Chr...QQcmdZViewItem

[thescot]

KFP--good show!

I got a little misty thinking of you pacing off and the skirl of the pipes fading in the distance as the last strains of "Going Home" were played. Man, that's a nice touch, and it's one that the family will always remember.

And always remember, the funeral is for the family, not the deceased. He or she doesn't need anything anymore; it's the folks left behind who need that kind of comfort, and having the flag and pipes is a fitting tribute to a soldier/sailor/marine who has gone to that country from whose borne no traveler returns.

Thanks for your post.

[morrison]

I GOOGLED funeral and lots of others terms. This was a couple of the ideas that came back out for me to look at.

This idea will likely lead to netting nearly ANY requestor a BUGLER for a funeral,
www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1679199/posts

This is most informative,
www.uwyo.edu/armyrotc/cadetresources/infolibrary/fm225/CH9.PDF

This is rather helpful,
www.usps.org/national/om/pdfs/opsman08.pdf

[Kiltedfirepiper]

Vinnie laid out the prices for us to the Funeral Director, its on par with the pipe band here in town. he told me that the PM said to him when he was asked to perform a while back that he (the PM) didn't mind as long as Vinnie didnt undercut the band and make them lose gigs.
as my tune knowledge grows, and as I get better outfits ( Ie. the full kit for a regimental piper) I will charge more due to what I wear and the fact they will have more tunes to select from.

I have shown up an hour early to each gig so I can talk with the family, and find out what they require of me. the funeral directors I worked with just wanted me to be there....no real direction as to what is played, and when.

I also talk to the pastor/priest/ vicar what ever to see what he has in mind.

right now I have two kilts.
I wear my black rabbit fur sporran a white long sleeve shirt, tie and a black balmoral.

the... I guess it would be the No. 1 kit will cost about 2800 when its all said and done. and I also want to get a daywear ( argyle) jacket for other times.
its going to take a while but this feels right and I want to do/ look my best

I just cant believe that a pipers plaid costs as much as a kilt!

KFP