I have been playing gigs on a full-time basis for the last 25 years. Here’s what I have found:
People who aren’t prepared don’t stay in the market.
- They don’t have enough technical ability
- They don’t have enough repertoire.
When I started my “Bagpiper For Hire” business, I wanted to not only stimulate the audience but stimulate myself. The only way that I was going to play for long periods of time was to be able to play a variety of tunes, meters and styles. Bagpipe music has a lot of variety. If the only thing that you are playing are marches in 4/4 time, then you are missing out on a lot great music.
When someone hires me to play, they hire in 15 minute intervals. Playing at the opening of a ceremony is a 15-minute gig. A prelude at a wedding is a 30=minute gig and a golf outing is a 60-minute gig. What I needed were 15-minute sets, combined to reach the amount of time required. Here is my formula:
4/4 set
6/8 set
2/4 set
Strathspeys 2-2part
Reels 2-2part
Jig
Hornpipe
Retreat set
With this formula, the listener and I get a change of meter at the right time, as well as variety. I’m building the set to a frenzy and doing the “cool down” with a set of retreats. I have 6 of these sets that I play depending on the event. Here is one of my sets:
Blue Bells of Scotland
Bonnie Charlie
Johnnie Scobie
Steamboat
Bugle Horn
Bonnie Dundee
Mucking on Geordies Byre
High Road to Gairloch
The Brown Haired Maiden
Because He was a Bonnie Lad
Lady MacKenzie of Fairburn
The Piper of Drummond
The Fairy Dance
Paddy’s Leather Breeches
Tim’s Mushrooms (a tune I wrote)
Green Hills of Tyrol
When the Battle’s Over
I have practiced and played this set over and over so that it is totally automatic at this point. I personally like 2=part Strathspeys and Reels. I have bunch of Strathspey and Reel sets. People like them because they are different.
The point is: If you want to make money as a bagpiper, nobody’s going to pay you to play Scotland the Brave 60 times in a row. If they do, it will be the last time. Word gets around fast about bagpipers who aren’t prepared to perform. Don’t let that be you.