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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > harmonica Skills "used" in places other then bars
harmonica Skills "used" in places other then bars
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Frank
4755 posts
Jul 02, 2014
6:35 AM
Playing at bars or festivals etc is fun, but are not the only places to have fun musically...

What are some other places you play ex: - schools, nursing homes, hospitals etc...

Last Edited by Frank on Jul 02, 2014 6:35 AM
Ugly Bones Ryan
96 posts
Jul 02, 2014
7:15 AM
I played a lot in highschool. I'm probably gonna play in college as well. I've busked as well and thats a lott fun.
Gnarly
1044 posts
Jul 02, 2014
7:20 AM
I have gigs in nursing homes, and I have played music at school assemblies.
Also have a gig next Saturday at McP's, an Irish bar in Coronado.
I play where they ask me to, but haven't been seeking employment as a musician except for my Gigmaster site.
https://www.gigmasters.com/Rock/Gary-Lehmann
It brings in just enough to justify its cost--and almost none of those gigs are in bars.

Last Edited by Gnarly on Jul 02, 2014 7:21 AM
Tuckster
1439 posts
Jul 02, 2014
7:37 AM
Through our local blues society,I've played at a veteran's hospital. The vets don't get much entertainment,so we are very much appreciated. I've also done our local version of blues in the schools.
S-harp
222 posts
Jul 02, 2014
1:33 PM
I do some gigs now and then with two guys ... one is lecturing about a poet and the other guy is reading the poems. One hour very well payed gigs ... in art galleries, libraries, theatres and so on. So what am I doing? I'm improvising music that fits the poems ... some interludes and some parallel to the poems. I play diatonic, 48 chord harp and bass harp at these gigs.

I'm also a music teatcher. It's a blast to have a 20-student class play harmonica as an orchestra. If you ever consider trying this, remember to choose low harps, 20 people playing C-harps will kill you.
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The tone, the tone ... and the Tone

Last Edited by S-harp on Jul 02, 2014 1:34 PM
Mirco
179 posts
Jul 02, 2014
2:32 PM
I am a public school Math teacher, and I like to use harmonica as a classroom management technique. It's a good way to grab the class's attention when transitioning between activities, like when they are working in small groups and I have to teach something. Also, a strong 10 draw will shut up the noisiest class.
BronzeWailer
1330 posts
Jul 02, 2014
3:07 PM
A couple of auburn-haired, doe-eyed beauties found me busking on the street. I played their poetry slams in bars, a library, park, and alley in the business district at lunchtime. I filled the silences between slammers. I controversially won one slam with my (non-fiction)song about a can collector whose pet rat was snatched from his shoulder after she was successfully operated on for cancer. There was an argument about whether musical instruments were allowed.

BronzeWailer's YouTube
Littoral
1110 posts
Jul 02, 2014
3:25 PM
Many times to teach sound as a Physical Science teacher (frequency, pitch, wave length).
I also taught a group of 20 middle schoolers Christmas songs and we went caroling -that was awesome. I did have about 3 hours/week with them starting in September.
Star Spangled Banner for event openings -Little League Opening Day, New School Dedication, 4th of July Events.
Memorial Events -tree planting service etc.

Funerals -many. Solo harp does a great job at of projecting a solemn, respectful sound that is simple and not too big of a production. Reminiscent of bag pipes. Amazing Grace is standard but there are a lot of hymns that work well. I'll Fly Away is perfect.

Last Edited by Littoral on Jul 02, 2014 3:26 PM
KC69
389 posts
Jul 02, 2014
3:29 PM
I give the devil the blues!! I play at church 3 nights a week and in the prison 1 time per month. We are a rock band with a touch of blues. I mic up with one of Greg's custom chrome bullets or his ultimate 57. I run those through 4 Lone Wolf Harp Pedals. Then I send that through an early 1950s Masco Tube Amp. You would think the pastor was Stevie Ray on his custom guitar. Like I say, We give the devil the blues !!!
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And I Thank You !!
KCz
Backwoodz
Bluz
nacoran
7850 posts
Jul 02, 2014
3:30 PM
I haven't played harp in nursing homes, but I did belong to a choral group that used to perform in nursing homes. In college our choir sang in high schools.

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Nate
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SuperBee
2100 posts
Jul 02, 2014
6:21 PM
I just walk around town playing. And at the bus stop. Sometimes I entertain street people...those cats are always up for something to change up the day...they don't tip real good though.
Used to have a director here at work who got me to play in back of management propaganda video...played at a kiddy matinee as a warm up for kiddy entertainer Peter Coombes...played at a community garden 'grand' opening...a 'shave your head for a cure' fundraiser, a car show, an agricultural show (with Monique Brumby), a few farmers' markets...doing another this weekend...and busking at markets and folk festivals...
Lots of parties and fairs. Very few bars.
jnorem
347 posts
Jul 02, 2014
6:38 PM
Here's one, about the girlfriend I had right before I met my wife. She'd always ask me to play the harmonica after we'd had sex. She'd say "Please, please", so I started keeping a harp on my nightstand.

She now lives in Asheville.
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Call me J
garry
523 posts
Jul 02, 2014
6:47 PM
I was going to comment on this thread, but I need to go buy a ticket for Asheville.

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1847
1927 posts
Jul 02, 2014
10:02 PM
i don't care what anyone tells you,
if you are asked to play the playboy mansion
don't do it!

it is highly over-rated
while it pays quite well,
it is not worth the heart ache.

stick to the local strip bars
you will thank me later.


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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
Diggsblues
1409 posts
Jul 03, 2014
5:35 AM
Musicals like "Big River" studio work if you can get it.


The more styles you play in the options you have.
Reading skills can help to.
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JustFuya
304 posts
Jul 03, 2014
6:31 AM
I once had the number for public address at the San Jose airport. My girlfriend and I holed up in the elevator and dialed the number. She sang "I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane" to my harmonica accompaniment.

We got hauled into security and were scolded but they released us with a stern warning.

Last Edited by JustFuya on Jul 03, 2014 10:53 AM
STME58
964 posts
Jul 03, 2014
9:23 AM
Speaking of Airports, I find the corridor between the international and domestic sections of SFO to be a fun place to play when you have a long layover in San Francisco. People are moving though so If they don't like it the aren't bothered for long, and if they do, they stop and listen for a while.

At a goat show in San Bernardino there was a delay in the proceedings and the judge had the mike and was trying to get someone to come up and sing a song. When none else came up I pulled a harp out of my pocket, took the mike and played a tune. I was asked to play more so someone liked it. I think my 113 year old son, the one showing his goat, was a bit embarrassed. I would be careful if anyone asked for someone to perform at a goat show though. In urban slang that is a very different event than the one I was at with my son.

Last Edited by STME58 on Jul 03, 2014 9:30 AM


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