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chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
 Posted - 04/03/2010 : 06:52:29 AM
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Ok TPers,
I've been approached by a wedding planner to play for some Hawaiian-themed weddings. Irrespective of my skills, I've never played for $, so I've not been concerned about the royalities issue. If I score one of these gigs I will, hopefully, be paid. I can do a bunch of public domain and original tunes, but my playlist also includes tunes from Ozzie, John Keawe, Uncle Dennis K and so on. What is the protocol for royalities? I don't know what kind of frequency there will be, but I don't want to screw this up with the legitimate authors. Thanks.
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Peter Medeiros
`Olu`olu
546 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2010 : 07:35:00 AM
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Although your intentions are well, as a rule you as the musician(hired help) are not responsible for performance royalties. If the venue is a large commercial or educational venue than the venue would usually be paying a blanket license per year to the performance rights organizations ASCAP, BMI or SESAC. It is a rare occaision if one of these venues makes an inquiry as to the set list for a wedding.
If, however, you are selling product CDs or copies of published music than you would have to license the sale of the music with either the Harry Fox Agency (mechanical licenses) or the writer's publising representative (paper product -- sheet music). This is assuming that the songs are not in public domain or are copyrighted product with actual license numbers from the US Libary of Congress. Public Domain songs are fair game. |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2010 : 10:15:27 AM
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| I agree with Peter (of course). I've played a LOT of weddings in my time. They are usually a lot of fun, especially if the participants agree with what I want to play. Usually, good $$ (anywhere between $100 solo and $1000 with 5 piece band) and ono grinz. No need to worry about royalties or the union. A wedding is most often a private party, not a public performance, so anything you play is ok. As Peter said, if you're selling your CD's, that's another issue. Because it's not a public performance, I'd advise against selling anything, unless someone asks, then deal with the sale after its over. |
keaka |
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chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2010 : 5:19:10 PM
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| Thanks guys. I feel better about this. The private party issue nailed it. |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2010 : 03:54:28 AM
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Hi Chunk,
Great to hear that you may have some wedding gigs. It really is an honor to be a part of a couple's special day. |
Andy |
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Volcano
Akahai
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2010 : 04:23:23 AM
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| When I was in my teens, my best friends asked me to play Greensleeves as they walked down the aisle during a beautiful oudoor wedding. I was so nervous I sped up the tempo and watched in horror as the speed walked to the altar. |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2010 : 09:09:05 AM
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There is no greater honor as a musician than to participate in the ancient traditions of our craft. From day one, it has been our job to provide music for vital events down life's long journey.
That includes baby parties, coming of age parties, teen age parties, holidays, weddings, anniversaries, playing at hospitals, schools and nursing homes, playing while the rich folks do whatever it is rich folks do, playing for the poor folks to ease the trials for just an hour, playing for a loved one--or a stranger--in hospice, playing at wakes and playing at funerals.
Welcome to the guild, Chunk!
Don't forget to enter and leave through the kitchen. 
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2010 : 09:21:52 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark
Don't forget to enter and leave through the kitchen.
LOL! BTW, I have become a big fan of the Magna Cart and Rock N Roller Cart. Haven't actually used the RockNRoller yet but it is ready to go. |
Andy |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2010 : 11:02:46 AM
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I played a wedding, once. Sort of. The bride was a member of the Dulcimer club I'm in. The groom played folk music with her, and also was in a rock band & a country band. Most of the guests were musicians, so instead of a band, they had an open mic at the reception. Was good fun!
Unko Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2010 : 11:55:09 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark
There is no greater honor as a musician than to participate in the ancient traditions of our craft. From day one, it has been our job to provide music for vital events down life's long journey.
That includes baby parties, coming of age parties, teen age parties, holidays, weddings, anniversaries, playing at hospitals, schools and nursing homes, playing while the rich folks do whatever it is rich folks do, playing for the poor folks to ease the trials for just an hour, playing for a loved one--or a stranger--in hospice, playing at wakes and playing at funerals.
Like da list, brah! Second commandment (remember, first is "don't give up your day job"): "Remember - if you get paid, it's a gig". |
keaka |
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chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2010 : 4:06:02 PM
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| Thanks for the encouragement; I don't have any gigs yet. I also got some input from Paul Togioka on Kauai. He's got to be the master of this. At one time he told me he was doing 20 a month; and he has a regular day job too! Those are some chops. |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2010 : 10:48:58 AM
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Chunky,
I played for my daughter's best friend's wedding about two years ago. She had one specific request which I was able to learn in standard tuning. The rest she said could be nice fingerstyle. I brought two guitars (nylon in standard tuning) that I switched back and forth on. I used my nylon string in standard tuning for her specific request (which she walked the aisle). The other was my koa steel string in Drop C and C Wahine tunings. I played a few slack key songs (He Punahele No Oe, Akaka falls, etc. while the guests were being seated. I then played Kanaka Wai Wai in Drop C for the wedding party to walk in and take their places. I switched over to the nylon for the bride and her song. When the couple was taking communion, I played a different contemporary Christian song on the nylon string. I played the older traditional Hawaiian wedding song (Awaiaulu - Wai Ulu) for the wedding party exit but it was drowned out by the applause and cheers. I kept it going for several repeats until the guests had left their seats for the reception area. I did not play the reception!
I received several nice comments from guests and the wedding party (Allison was one of the Bride's Maids). The most important, to me was the kiss and thanks from the bride. The wedding photographer was fantastic and took a few pictures of me when I was playing (I never saw him) The bride later gave me her favorite, framed in Koa, as a gift for playing -- it hangs in my music room. It really was a special treat -- just to be asked to play. Even more memorable as the bride has always been an "adopted" daughter to us.
I think that many slack key tunes can be great musical background during the wedding. The "kicker" is the bride's march. I don't know of a slack key version of "Here Comes The Bride" and most bride's are very specific what they want played when they walk the aisle. Almost everything else can be what you suggest. At that point you are just "mood music" or "Background". |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2010 : 1:52:59 PM
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quote:
"Remember - if you get paid, it's a gig".
Actually--doesn't matter if you get paid or not... it's still a gig.
Always play your best, always act like a pro, and always respect your audience.
The money part is just numbers on paper.... |
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Playing Weddings
