A Super Wierd Arrangement (Upgraded)
OK, if you thought the previous wierd arrangement was wierd (hmmm, sounds duh, but, never mind), it has upgraded it's status of wierdness (well, the upgrade is not in the positive sense). I was asked to scout for a guitarist and a drummer for the Praise & Worship session during the wedding. So now, some conversations run through my mind as I envision the scenario when I ask someone for help:
Me: "Hi! Would you like to help me out in a (wierd - but not stated to enhance success) band or something? We need a guitarist. Someone's getting married."
Someone: "Hmmm, who is it?"
Me: "Actually, I don't know. ="
Someone: "Erm, you're playing for someone you don't know?"
Me: "Well, yes." (at this stage, the feeling of I-don't-know-how-to-explain-it-all starts to creep in, let alone the feeling of impending failure of convincing the someone I'm talking to)
[Questioning and conversation about the above 2 lines skipped]
Someone: "Oh, ok. So your teacher asked you to help her scout?"
Me: "Yup."
Someone: "Do I know her?"
Me: "Well, probably not."
Someone: "Oh, ok. Who else do I know who are there?"
Me: "Actually, I don't know anybody in the entire arrangement other than my teacher who arrowed me =\"
Someone: "..."
The interesting thing that I found out (well, I was never married in Lighthouse though I do envision that it would be Lighthouse should I be married), though, was that Lighthouse have a rule. The marriage couple could only enlist musicians (if they wanted any) from Lighthouse. External musicians are not allowed or something. Hmmm... some bad experiences with external people?
So, in short... additional wierd stuff about the upgraded situation
- My friend would be helping his/her friend (which is me), to help my teacher, to help her friend's friend in the wedding. Man... I bet friendster doesn't even have such a big number of degrees of friendship
- My friend would not know my teacher, or her friend, or her friend's friend or anyone else on earth in that arrangement other than me
- I still do not know my teacher's friend, or her friend's friend (Although I was told that they will be my friends-to-be. I guess it's a formality.)
As if the above isn't bad enough, I heard from my teacher that she bragged about me (erm, I'm nowhere near 10% of mozart's level. Hey, that's classical. Whatever) in order to reassure her that she didn't pick a lousy one. And she'll actually hear me out during the practise. ARRRRGHH!!! And also, like someone else (i think you'll know who you are when you read on)... IdislikeperformingIdislikeperformingIdislikeperformingIDISLIKEPERFORMING! This is bad =\ People should play and sing for the Lord. Not zoom in on some poor student arrowed by his teacher. Hmmm... stage fright may kick in, my hands would go cold and harden (as if the sanctuary isn't cold enough to already produce a perfect deep freeze. Man, someone ought to fill up that suggestion form with me) and all my chord sense may be lost as my mind slowly goes blank (I noticed such traumatic experiences like the mind going blank do not occur instantaneously. It happens at a fast rate though).
Oh, oh, if anyone is interested in becoming a guitarist or drummer and if you do not mind the above wierd arrangement and on top of other considerations in my previous post about the arrangement (http://glasscookie.blogspot.com/2006/07/wierd-arrangement.html), could you please drop me a message or something? (Hmmm, sounds like an advertisement. A bad one, to be exact.) Thanks!
posted by Glass Cookie @ 11:47 AM
Well, since strings sound somewhat soft, and somewhat muffled such that demisemiquavers are not to distinct, and considering it does take up time and there are 5 other pieces to go, and considering this is but 2 bars in a 100 bar piece, and considering blah blah blah... sometimes I play just a note. (OK, most of the time, happy?) Hey, I'm not the only keyboardist around guilty right? Someone tell me I'm not the only one... pleeeese....
9 Comments:
Don't let the compliments get to your head, seriously, not meaning to be a cynic you must always consider the possibility that you are being used. As a freelance artist, never undercut, always demand a fair wage. This is the most ethical thing to do. Haha I've said this before but I'll just say it again for added effect :)
Erm, it ain't no compliment. In fact, such stuff (teacher's bragging) can't posisbly get into my head. It FREAKS me out!!! ARRRGH!!! =| I'm quite freaked out now.
i'm sure you'll get ang pao lah. sigh. guys.
My dear piano teacher, I'm doing this cause you asked me. Didn't really think of the ang pao. In fact, with wierd arrangements like these, the ang pao (though a nice incentive that I now know of) was actually not in my mind. hahahah
yes i know that. i do appreciate that. haven't i always been the nicest piano teacher to you?
sigh, anyway it's up to you. Perhaps I'm too jaded by Western Capitalism, I don't know.
Weddings just seem to be a hotbed for sloppy deals and downright dispicable cheating, IMHO, and photographers and musicions seem to be the primary victims. A professional is, as a professional does, as they say, you may not regard yourself as a professional but I'm sure your clients will regard you as one. Think about it. You're going to put your best shot at this, right ? You're not going to just show up drunk or high or miss the appointment because you felt tired. This arrangment requires time, practice, rehersals, sweat, stress, etc.
I'm not saying you that should squeeze out your mutal aquaintence every last penny, I'm just saying don't get cheated. I mean, you've never even met the couple you are playing for right ? So this deal should be strictly on the basis of buissness. I suggest you meet up with them and iron out these details (without a proxy - your paino teacher !) before you actually start any practicing. Take look at the market, think about the time you would spend, how much you could make otherwise etc. A simple assesment, some research on the internet, a contract written in black and white. This will go very far.
This is buissness ethics, right ? If your piano teacher was your "friend", why don't you trying paying HER with "ang paos", I'm sure she'll appreciate that. Your mutal relationship is developed on a system of trust, trust measured in the value of money, a wage that is fair and where both parties are happy with the transaction.
Sorry if I sound harsh, haha. I just feel strongly about this. I know people (photographer) who've been in this exact situation and felt really cheated after.
Hahaha, it sounds so business-like. Well, there are 2 main reasons why I decided to help out.
1. My piano teacher
2. Just to see if my skills 'can make it' or not because playing Christian instrumental solos (which was how I started out) is quite different from playing for worship.
Actually, money was never in the picture, but thanks a lot Gabriel, for your thoughts and concern. And you're right. I don't see myself as a professional musician. Hahaha. =)
ok then, good luck, and have fun. I still think this is a lousy deal on your part, but if you enjoy it I suppose no harm is done.
Hahaha, music's me passion. Thanks a lot Gabriel!
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