CARLA BRAY - harpist

If you are looking for a harpist for your wedding or event, then you’ll definitely want to do your homework…

If you are price-shopping for the cheapest harpist available on your event date, you are taking a huge risk with the outcome and quality of your event. Remember, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. There are so many people out there calling themselves “professional harpists”. But not all harpists are created equal; they all have different levels of musical ability, training, and experience.

If your event requires an experienced musician, and the quality of the musical performance is important to you, then the selection of a harpist becomes a very important decision. If you’re simply looking for the visual ambiance created by a harp in the room and cost is the most important consideration, then you will have no problem finding a harpist from the large pool of “professional harpists” out there.

Here are some important questions to keep in mind when looking for a harpist:

• What kind of performance experience does the harpist have?
• Has the harpist performed for many events similar to your event? How often does he/she perform for this type of event?
• What styles of music do you want for your event? Does the harpist perform those styles of music?
• What education or training has the harpist received? Does he/she have a college degree in music?

Why is it important to find an experienced, seasoned harpist? A true professional harpist will have many advantages over hiring a student or a harpist with limited experience. Here’s what you can expect from a true professional harpist:

• Experience with performing all different types and styles of wedding ceremonies
• Assistance in making musical selections for the wedding ceremony
• Experience and ability to make instant decisions to accommodate any unexpected changes or delays in the wedding ceremony or party
• An extensive and varied musical repertoire that will include many different styles of music
• A professional harpist will arrive at your event prepared, on time, and ready to perform at their best!

Please contact me; I would be glad to answer any questions you may have about my experience as a professional harpist in Los Angeles, Orange County, or San Gabriel Valley in Southern California.

Photo: Christopher Lee Photography

So…you would like to book me to play harp music for a special event, party, or wedding! Fantastic!

What is the next step?

First of all, you can contact me to find out my availability and pricing. So that I can be completely sure of my availability, please be sure to include all the details possible about your wedding or special event. Here’s what I need to know:

• Date
• Times (beginning and end)
• City
• Specific location name (hotel, private home, etc.)
• Outdoor or indoor location

If I am available for your event and you decide to proceed with the booking, I will mail or fax you a contract. I require a $50 deposit to hold the date. Along with the contract I will also send you a questionnaire about your wedding or event. This way, I have all your contact information and all the other important details I need to help make your day a success! Be sure to fill out every section; every question is there because it is crucial for me to have that information, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

Also, don’t forget to return the contract, questionnaire, and deposit check to me! I know it can be easy to let it sit around, especially if the wedding or event is many months away. Please remember, I do not consider your event officially reserved and booked until I receive the signed contract and deposit.

The contract balance is to be paid on the day of the event before the event starts. That way, the business stuff is out of the way ahead of time!

I am a harp player in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Interested in booking an event? Have any questions? Please do not hesitate to contact me. I’m always happy to help!

Photo: Becky Spencer Photography

Weddings, receptions, corporate parties, bridal showers, baby showers, graduations, anniversaries, birthdays…all kinds of special events occur all throughout the year. Some months of the year tend to be much busier than other months. As a special event and wedding harpist in Los Angeles and Orange County, I have seen these regular trends throughout the past several years.

People are often shocked when I tell them that May and September are always two of my busiest months for weddings! June always comes to everyone’s mind when it comes to weddings, but many are going outside of that trend. Plus, being a harpist in Southern California, there is never a shortage of outdoor events throughout the year because of the weather!

Here are the busiest ‘peak’ months - these months book up early and fast, Saturdays and Sundays go first! If your event falls in one of these months, I would suggest booking as soon as it is possible.

Peak Months

• April
• May
• June
• September
• October
• December

Peak Dates/Holidays

• Valentine’s Day
• Easter Brunch
• first Saturday/first week in December (start of the holiday rush)
• Christmas eve

I usually book 6-8 months in advance or as last minute as the day before (in some unusual cases). In general, it is best to book an event as far in advance as possible, especially if your wedding or event is during a ‘peak’ month!

Live music is such a beautiful addition to any wedding or special event. Feel free to contact me if you need any further information for booking me as a harp player in Los Angeles or Orange County!

Photo: Becky Spencer Photography - from The Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa, CA

The contract has been signed, the music has been selected, the plans have been made…so what happens on the event day? How does it all work?

Arrival

I generally arrive to the event location and rolling the harp into the performance spot 30-45 minutes prior to my scheduled performance start time so I’ll have plenty of time to set up. If I’m bringing amplification or if I’m not familiar with the location, chances are I’ll be arriving a bit earlier than that.

Attire

For weddings, I tend to wear formal black so that I will fit in with/blend in with any color scheme. For other events I will be either wearing dressy black or other suitable attire/colors.

Change of Location

Ocassionally there may be a location change midway through an event (i.e., from one room to another, from wedding ceremony site to reception site, etc.). Since I have a lot of equipment to move (music stand, bench, and the harp itself), this will require a break in performance in order to pack up and move everything to the new location.

Assigning a designated helper ahead of time to give me assistance moving from one spot to another can allow for a much smoother and faster transition.

Outdoor Locations

The harp (and its player) needs to be on a solid, flat surface and in a shaded location. We most likely have previously discussed the needs for the specific location. Is an umbrella needed? Hotels and banquet venues will already have umbrellas for use. If an umbrella is required, please be sure it is set up and ready before my arrival; that way, we can avoid any unexpected delays. Is it especially cold? A heat lamp may be needed; hotels and banquet venues quite often have these available for use as well.

For further information, please read my blog article on outdoor location requirements. And, of course, feel free to ask any questions you may have about your specific venue.

Payment

Please arrange to have payment handed to me before I start the performance. This makes life easier for both of us; you won’t have to worry about writing a check or gathering the cash in the middle of your event, and I won’t have to hunt around for the person with my payment after I’m finished! It’s easier for both of us to take care of business beforehand.

Interested in booking an event? Have any questions? Please do not hesitate to contact me. I’m always happy to help!

Photo by Scott Robert Photography - wedding at the Hyatt Huntington Beach