A popular form of entertainment for everything from weddings to Royal events, Last Minute Musicians harpists have previously performed at the Queen’s 80th birthday celebrations at Balmoral Castle and the King of Thailand’s birthday celebrations in Bangkok.
Commonly used for wedding ceremonies, breakfasts, drinks receptions and corporate events.
A professional harpist is able to add a sense of sophistication and class or romance to any occasion.
In this blog, we’ll examine everything you need to know before booking a harpist.
What kind of music do harpists provide?
Whilst the harp sits comfortably within the classical genre, many professional harpists choose to include traditional music, folk, jazz, contemporary and seasonal music into their repertoire.
Some professional harpists may even rearrange pop hits and theme songs from popular films and theatre.
If needed, clients are often able to consult their harpist as to what music would be suitable for their event.
Often clients have specific songs they want to be played, it is important to check with the harpist that the genre of the song is within their repertoire.
Things to check before enquiring
Recent clients
Many harpists have performed for some extremely interesting and influential companies and people, and this can speak to their popularity (this can also make for an interesting topic of conversation with guests!).
Equally, if you’re looking to book for a wedding, testimonials by brides and grooms can be just as helpful.
Example repertoire
Before hiring a harpist, it’s important to know what style and genre of music they specialise in. Almost every professional will have an example repertoire that will imply what sort of event they are suitable for.
Sample audio and video
Perhaps most importantly, clients should take time to listen to sample recordings and watch sample videos of the harpist performing. By doing this, it decreases the unlikely chance of the musician not quite performing to the desired standard.
Things to ask about in the booking process
PLI insurance
Public Liability Insurance is something every professional musician should have, with no exceptions.
Before finalising a booking, it is crucial that clients ensure their musician is covered by this performers insurance.
Most wedding or events venues will require a PLI certificate before allowing a performance.
PAT certificate
Depending on the venue, many harpists may choose to perform acoustically, without any need for any electrified equipment. However, many wedding or events venues will require any equipment that requires power to be PAT tested for electrical safety, and require a certificate in advance
Dress code
Clients should not forget to tell the harpist the dress code of the event. Whilst most professional musicians are aware that their role requires them to dress smartly, if your event necessitates a special dress code hired musicians need to be made aware.
The harp is not only a beautiful and soothing to listen to, the body of the instrument itself is also aesthetically pleasing.
Its beauty means that even when not being played, the instrument is guaranteed to act as a spectacle for your guests to enjoy.
Do harpists require amplification?
The standard concert harp is intended to produce a large sound entirely un-amplified and therefore is an entirely ‘green’ and eco-friendly form of entertainment.
For events of fewer than 150 guests the harp will create a sound that carries from room to room and can be usually be heard by everyone in the background whilst they are talking.
Whilst in theory the harp can be performed anywhere, it is important to note that most harpists are often unwilling to perform outdoors.
Conditions such as direct sunlight and potential rain causing humidity can be detrimental to the harp itself. Taking this into account, it’s important to be as clear as possible with the musician as to where they will be playing.
What will a harpist need?
As with most live musicians available for hire, a harpist will require the client to inform them of various details and technicalities regarding the event.
Whilst all professional performers are likely to provide a technical rider before the event it is sensible to, at the bare minimum, provide the harpist with a chair or stool and ensure there are suitable electrical sources close to the performance area.
All harpists will also need to know whether there is parking close to the venue, if they have a room specifically for them where they can tune their instrument – tuning 47 strings takes a lot longer than 4 or 6!
Have you hired a harpist for your event? Perhaps you’re a harpist looking to play more gigs? Let us know in the comments below…
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