harpdude61
411 posts
Oct 21, 2010
11:57 AM
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I am guilty of being a stop light harp player..okay..I play a lot while moving as well..as I bet most of you do...still not as dangerous as texting or talking on a cell phone.
I stopped at a red light today and a bus full of elementary school children pulled up beside. They didn't even have to hear me to start screaming out the window. So when I rolled down my window and started chuggin away they went crazy. I followed along for awhile after the light turned green..at the next light I jumped into Somewhere Over the Rainbow and they all started screaming "WIZARD OF OZ..WIZARD OF OZ"!....I lost my legion of fans as the road narrowed to one lane.
My questions...does anyone have a good way to mount a tip jar on a broom stick?..Also, a light bub went on in my head..what if I do a call and answer the next time I order at a Drive thru...."Big Mac chug a lug chug a lug, Diet Coke ring a ling and Super Size ending on 2/5 draw split. Could free food be in my future? Maybe a new legion of fans? I'm so excited!
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Honkin On Bobo
435 posts
Oct 21, 2010
12:01 PM
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"My questions...does anyone have a good way to mount a tip jar on a broom stick?.."
two words - duct tape
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Swezey8
9 posts
Oct 21, 2010
1:50 PM
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Be prepared once you get that tip jar set up to have your young "legion of fans" show their appreciation by filling it with silly bands, jolly ranchers, and Hannah Montana pencils...
But hey if you make anything playing harp you're doing better than alot of us ;)
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nacoran
3035 posts
Oct 21, 2010
1:51 PM
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Just hand the tip jar over, let them pass it around and have them hand it back. I've had friends do this on road trips when the soda is in the wrong car. In case of a big difference in vehicle height like you experienced, just have one of the kids dangle out the window. It may sound dangerous, but we have plenty of kids as it is.
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Nate
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joeleebush
113 posts
Oct 21, 2010
4:16 PM
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LOL to Swezey8....
You got that right (about making any serious $$$)
I got a pretty good schtick when it comes to "begging on that tip jar"...one time at Fat Matt's here in Atlanta, I had done the deal and was checking the contents of said tip jar.
Lo and behold....a note to me!!!!
"Hello JoeLee, I love those white slacks you're wearing and the way you lean way back when you play those long solos on your harmonica. I really think you're cute and I want to meet you. xoxoxox,Stephen"
Now THAT's what is known as really hitting rock bottom...(no pun intended either)
Regards,
JoeLee
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RunsWithScissors
35 posts
Oct 21, 2010
8:59 PM
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"two words - duct tape"
I must correct the "two words" -
West Virginia Chrome
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In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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nacoran
3043 posts
Oct 21, 2010
9:08 PM
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More seriously, on the subject of tips, when I was a kid I was a Cub Scout. I lead my troop in candy bar sales. The trick was my mom was going back to college at the time and she'd take me up to campus. I'd walk around the campus food area and go up to every table where a guy and a girl were sitting together. Without fail the guy would buy the girl a candy bar. (Sometimes she would insist she was on a diet. Still made the sale, but once or twice I got a candy bar out of it!) There has to be some way to turn this scheme into a harp bit... if you know a lot of tunes you could offer to play requests and get the guy to pay.
I know it's also good to seed the tip jar. If people only see coins they assume that's the reasonable tip. If they see bills they are more likely to give you bills. Put some of your own money in at the start of the day if you have to.
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Nate
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N.O.D.
299 posts
Oct 21, 2010
10:13 PM
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Bro you say ( I found my audience )
And Ya talking Tips:)
you are lucky there School Kids:)
Bro I found my audience:(
At Old Folks Homes they love Me :)
Tips are Great Scones with cream and Jam
i guess i wont go Hungry :)
But i get a bit worryed when the Old Loves
grab me on the Knee:(
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Cheers Big Ears :)
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harpdude61
412 posts
Oct 22, 2010
6:37 AM
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N.O.D....I should check out the old folks home.....
I Finally got my first payday a few weeks back. A local band was playing for tips at a cookout and I was invited to sit in for their absent harp player. My share was $35.00...lets see.. several harps, two amps, more harps, jam camp, Harps, 3 mics. amp stand, trip to Hill Country, custom harps, 3 overnight trips to hear pro harp players, several harp CDs, two harp cases, etc..etc... yep..I'm SLOWLY getting a return on my investment.
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earlounge
187 posts
Oct 22, 2010
7:48 AM
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We call our tip bucket "Phil". It's a little less annoying to crack a joke like: "We would like to introduce you all to our friend 'Phil', Phillip the bucket!".
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nacoran
3045 posts
Oct 22, 2010
9:07 AM
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harpdude, don't forget, if you are getting paid, those things are business expenses.
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Nate
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harpdude61
413 posts
Oct 22, 2010
9:23 AM
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nacaron....shew..glad i don't owe taxes then on that $35...
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Shredder
193 posts
Oct 22, 2010
9:40 AM
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@ harpdude61
I know what your talkin about.My wife was driving and we were at a stop light. I found my sons pocket pal in the glove box and was checking it out to see if it still played good.
I happen to look to my right and the occupants of the next car over are clapping and giving me the thumbs up.
I can't quite remember are you Wayne or Dwayne?
@ N.O.D.
I am playing for the 1st time at an old folks home this Sunday, not quite sure what to expect. Thanks for the warning!
Mike
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harpdude61
414 posts
Oct 22, 2010
11:29 AM
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@Shredder
I'm Duane..what type of music are you playing at the old folks home? I'm sure songs like Rainbow would be good with those folks...I bet if you danced a little as you played that would go over well.
That does bring up a question about tone. I always hear that the big open mouth/throat/diaphragm are the resonator that creats a fat tone. Well..I want FAT tone. If i had my teeth pulled would that not make for a bigger resonator? Just seems like it would be easier to become "one with the harp" if those pesky teeth were not in the way.....Shredder..could you have one of the residents play one of your harps with teeth in. then out and do a tone comparison for us?
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Shredder
195 posts
Oct 22, 2010
12:08 PM
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Duane,thats a good point you make with the teeth not being in the way. Maybe thats why some of the old Blues players have that tone I can't seem to find" I got a full set".How about you next day air mailing that nice Chromatic you got not so long ago and I'll let them give it a shot and sent you an audio/ video clip:)
Really, watch the DVD of Kenny Wayne Shepherd 10 days out. Some of those old Black players don't have many teeth and WOW what tone.
By the way how is the Chromatic coming along, I'm just getting familar with mine?
Mike
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harpdude61
415 posts
Oct 22, 2010
3:24 PM
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Since the chromatic was under $40 and got decent reviews I thought why not...but it really aint my thing..it works and sounds good... but all my spare time is spent on my diatonics. I should learn something for open mic sometime..
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Shredder
196 posts
Oct 22, 2010
7:23 PM
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Thats a good price, I woundup spending $150. I got a Hohner Super Chromonica 270.After I bought this one an older friend gave me a Chromonica 280 that belonged to his father. The slide is sticky but hopefully all I'll have to do is clean and sanitize it. Both of my Chromatics are in C
It's hard switching from the Diatonics, my mind is programed for cross harp. I saw a guy at an open mic I attended 2 weeks ago play one and it got me to pick it back up. I noticed he never activated the slide , he just played some split octives with a minor progression from the guitar. Hell if he can do it so can I.
Good to hear from you,maybe I'll se you again at HCH2011.
Mike
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TNFrank
503 posts
Oct 22, 2010
7:34 PM
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So do you think you'd have time to go to the schools and maybe teach a bit of harmonica to the kids?
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Shredder
197 posts
Oct 22, 2010
7:50 PM
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As a matter of fact I gave a short session to a young man that approched me at the open mic mentioned above and ask how I got such smooth and controled blow bends in the upper register. He said he had been playing for 8 years and it was still kicking his butt. He looked to be 26 maybe.
I explained what I was doing and got it across to him that you don't have to blow your brains out to get the bend to happen and demonstrated how softly I could blow and still get the bend. He was very gratefull and said he had been blowing with all his might trying to get the bend. I hope to see him again and see if he got past his road block. I nevr pass up a chance to pass along what little bit I know to any one that ask. I just wish I had had some one to ask questions when I 1st started, Now we have internet and YouTube and Adam. WOW!
Mike
Last Edited by on Oct 22, 2010 7:52 PM
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TNFrank
505 posts
Oct 22, 2010
8:01 PM
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I always thought that people without teeth learned to play the Banjo, least that's how it is around here in our neck of the woods. LOL.
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Stickman
480 posts
Oct 22, 2010
8:14 PM
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After I present a lesson to my students and get them working, I'll sometimes whip out my harp and jam. They don't like what I want to practice and often ask for happy birthday or "That blues song...you know Duh, duh, Duh, duh" meaning I'm A Man. It's funny watching them cup their hand in front of their face and mimic me playing. Often they ask me if they can try to play my harp so I give it a big wet lick.
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If your wife keeps burning out the clutch in the Chrysler Lebaron it might be because it is a crap car, but when she keeps blowing it out in your new Bitchin' Camero, Its time for her to learn how to drive.
Last Edited by on Oct 22, 2010 8:16 PM
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nacoran
3051 posts
Oct 22, 2010
9:02 PM
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Harpdude, if you itemize I think you can write the cost of your gear off as a loss, or at least depreciate it. There are some rules for scheduling it out over a longer period than one year too. Don't quote me on that though.
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Nate
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omaha
22 posts
Oct 23, 2010
8:59 AM
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Harpdude that is hysterical! I too play in the car on my way to work etc. The stop lights are an excellent place to gain an audience and i often get thumbs up or shouts of encouragement. Unfortunately not everyone is a fan as I recently got quite an earful from a friend who was driving next to me on the interstate and was wondering who the idiot was next to her driving hands free with his eyes closed playing harmonica at 80 mph. She probably would have been less irritated if she could have heard what i was playing because I was tearing it up! : )
Last Edited by on Oct 23, 2010 9:00 AM
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oldwailer
1391 posts
Oct 23, 2010
9:37 AM
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Yeah, an invention I've been working on without success so far is a rack to hold the steering wheel. . .
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nacoran
3053 posts
Oct 23, 2010
11:14 AM
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Oldwailer, don't worry about it. Google has you covered. They've been using cars decked out in sensors to drive through cities with only minimal driver input. (And usually the driver takes over only to err on the side of caution.) Once we have cars that drive themselves we can make every trip into a mini-concert.
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Nate
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