WestVirginiaTom
92 posts
Sep 26, 2013
10:30 AM
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How many living harp players on MR's list use the harmonica as their primary source of income? For how many is the harmonica (or harp-related things) thier ONLY source of income?
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Kingley
3164 posts
Sep 26, 2013
11:00 AM
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Not very many at all. The reality is that there are very few professional harmonica players. By the term professional I mean that they make the majority of their income from playing harmonica. Most players that are classed by amateur harmonica players as "pro" make their main income from some other source. Even the ones that do make a living from playing harmonica often have to supplement that income with teaching harp, fixing harps, selling mics and amps, playing other instruments or simply working in other jobs that aren't related to the music scene at all. Just to make ends meet.
Last Edited by Kingley on Sep 26, 2013 11:02 AM
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Greg Heumann
2379 posts
Sep 26, 2013
11:23 AM
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My harp related business is my only job. But making it as harp player? Not me. The best guys in the world have paid dues for years and make modest incomes.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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WestVirginiaTom
93 posts
Sep 26, 2013
11:38 AM
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Okay, so who's on the list? (Including harp professionals like Greg who specialize in harp equipment and/or teaching harp) Here's a start:
Billy Boy Arnold
David Barrett
Sugar Blue
James Cotton
Grant Dermody
Rick Estrin
Joe Filisko
Dennis Gruenling
Greg Heumann
Howard Levy
Charlie Musselwhite
Lee Oskar
Rob Papparozzi
Rod Piazza
John Popper
Jerry Portnoy
Annie Raines
Jason Ricci
Madcat Ruth
Toots Thielemans
Phil Wiggins
Kim Wilson
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harmonicanick
2031 posts
Sep 26, 2013
11:43 AM
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JJ Milteau, I have on good authority has made a shed load of money from the harmonica, and don't forget Steve Baker.
(they are not yanks)
Last Edited by harmonicanick on Sep 26, 2013 11:47 AM
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Gnarly
719 posts
Sep 26, 2013
11:50 AM
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Bill Barrett, Wade Schuman, Greg Maret, Joe Powers, Tommy Morgan.
Last Edited by Gnarly on Sep 26, 2013 11:51 AM
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Michael Rubin
811 posts
Sep 26, 2013
11:58 AM
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I make it by playing and teaching.
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HarpNinja
3487 posts
Sep 26, 2013
12:02 PM
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FWIW...
I talked quite a bit with Blues Traveler's manager and the guy who brought them to town. As part of that discussion, we compared their asking price and accommadations relative to other acts that have come through like Buddy Guy (one of the most popular blues acts in the world) and Willie Nelson (who has a harp player full time).
The price difference between BT, GB, and WN is nearly nothing, and when you take overhead into account, I'd be shocked if anyone make more performing on harmonica than Popper.
Even then, it isn't nearly as much as other vocations - without royalties and song writing credits, etc, it is way hard to make a living performing.
He can ride the wave of "four" still, but that perfect storm is near impossible to replicate. Even just look at pop artists now. Their riches come from marketing and not performing.
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Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
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HarpNinja
3488 posts
Sep 26, 2013
12:04 PM
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But to make a go of it by diversifying yourself w/in the harp world...that's the ticket.
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Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
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Buzadero
1124 posts
Sep 26, 2013
12:10 PM
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I realize this is all academic discussion, but what is the difference between John Popper and Huey Lewis? Both sing and play harp as their only jobs.
Mick Raphael, on the other hand, only plays harmonica for a living.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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HarpNinja
3490 posts
Sep 26, 2013
12:16 PM
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I get what you're saying...
JP's harmonica is a focal point of a band in a context that is still very unique.
Huey plays harp, but it is not a primary feature of his band and is used sparingly.
Mickey only plays harp, but he also is part of an ensemble and not the featured instrument.
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Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
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WestVirginiaTom
94 posts
Sep 26, 2013
12:27 PM
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Buzadero: "I realize this is all academic discussion, but what is the difference between John Popper and Huey Lewis? Both sing and play harp as their only jobs."
There isn't much difference in my mind. However, I would say the difference is that HL is known as a singer who also plays some harp, and JP is generally known as a harp player who also sings. To me, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, et al. are not professional harp players; they are professional musicians who include harp as part of their acts.
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Kingley
3165 posts
Sep 26, 2013
12:33 PM
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I doubt very much that Huey Lewis, Alanis Morrisette, Bob Dylan or Neil Young would class themselves as "professional harmonica players".
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Buzadero
1126 posts
Sep 26, 2013
12:35 PM
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Very well.
Then, I suppose that one could attempt (if one was so inclined) to define where the percentage demarcation falls of singing more than harp vs. playing harp more than singing.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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1847
1134 posts
Sep 26, 2013
1:27 PM
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my guess huey lewis would consider it an insult
if he wasn't thought of as a pro harp player
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some folks... if they don't know you can't tell'em
i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Frank
2835 posts
Sep 26, 2013
1:30 PM
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Then you have "Triple Threats" like Studebaker John - who sings, plays harp and guitar all with equal Professional efficieny. Even with his vast skills, while visiting with him at his hotel room with friends... we sat around and ate baloney on white bread with choice of ketchup or mustard for condiments :)
http://www.studebakerjohn.com/
Last Edited by Frank on Sep 26, 2013 1:31 PM
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HarpNinja
3491 posts
Sep 26, 2013
1:31 PM
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Define pro. He does not generate the bulk of his music income from playing harp...he does however, play harp very well and to a professional standard.
I think he said himself that he thought of himself as a blues harp player, but put that aside in order to make it in music.
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Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
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tmf714
2054 posts
Sep 26, 2013
1:32 PM
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MP
2933 posts
Sep 26, 2013
1:42 PM
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In the late 80s and early 90s my main money was from giving lessons and gigging. This was possible because Budweiser had my band on retainer and paid us large quarterly checks. We did have to promote their stuff every gig and even play Bud guitars. one was shaped like their bow tie logo and the other was a strat style. We went through two mascots. The drunken dog Spuds Mckenzie and the doughy little super hero Bud Man.
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
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Michael Rubin
813 posts
Sep 26, 2013
3:03 PM
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To take away the harmonica's importance in the success of any of these major acts, including Morisette, is conjecture. Her first single featured harp. That might have been the reason for the success, as could be Huey's.
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1847
1135 posts
Sep 26, 2013
3:10 PM
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you could buy a house with the money huey
made off just that one song.. the heart of r&r.
the only reason i bought that record was because of
that harp part.
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some folks... if they don't know you can't tell'em
i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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Rick Davis
2445 posts
Sep 26, 2013
3:19 PM
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Al Chesis is a pro here in Denver. As far as I know he makes all his income from playing. He does not teach. Tomorrow night he and his band are backing Bob Margolin at the Outlook in Boulder.
Ronnie Shellist makes all his money from performing and teaching. He has to be considered a pro.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Sep 26, 2013 3:20 PM
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Rick Davis
2446 posts
Sep 26, 2013
3:31 PM
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In the harp amp poll we did for The Blues Harps Amps Blog two years ago, 26% of the poll participants said they earned at least 25% of their income from playing.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
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GMaj7
286 posts
Sep 26, 2013
5:51 PM
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I would say Jeremy Bustillos made all his money last year playing harp.. although it came from the U.S. Navy...
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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Jehosaphat
555 posts
Sep 26, 2013
6:56 PM
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Brendan Power fits the bill.Total income from playing and developing harps
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garry
442 posts
Sep 26, 2013
7:03 PM
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i considered going pro, but when we ran the numbers ($50/gig x 4-6 gigs/year), it made more sense to stick with the day job.
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nacoran
7165 posts
Sep 26, 2013
8:34 PM
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I'm not sure what Alanis Morissette did to the harmonica counts as playing. In fact, I'm pretty sure in some countries it's considered a war crime. (Somewhat ironically, I'll admit I don't mind her as a musician. I just have a bone to pick with her on harmonica and irony.)
Garry, that beats my rates. I have, to date, made $1 playing harmonica (before expenses). :)
I'm not sure touring would agree with me anyway. Now, I'd love to make money writing music, or inventing harmonica stuff, but I haven't had any luck selling music and my one harmonica invention is still a one of a kind prototype (well, a couple other people expressed interest in building one for themselves, but I haven't been able to sell anyone on producing them and I don't want to be a manufacturer.)
That said, if anyone wants to bankroll my inventing or buy some songs... :)
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Nate
Facebook
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harpwrench
688 posts
Sep 26, 2013
8:53 PM
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Just finishing up my second year of harmonica tech work being my sole means of income.
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The best you know is usually only as good as the best you've had.
Spiers Custom Harmonicas
Last Edited by harpwrench on Sep 26, 2013 8:53 PM
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