CARLA BRAY - harpist

Spring is officially here…people are planning their upcoming weddings and events. With the great weather here in sunny Southern California, weddings and special events are often held outdoors. What could be better than harp music to go along with???

Harps are very sensitive and delicate instruments that require protection from the damaging outdoor elements; these elements can cause irreversible and permanent damage to the instrument. I know what you’re thinking; you’ve probably seen a beautiful photo on one of those wedding location directories of a harp in an outdoor garden setting, out in the sunlight with no overhead covering. Well, that makes for a good picture to help sell the venue, but completely unrealistic in terms of the actual needs of the harp and the harp player!

Harps can be easily damaged by the following outdoor elements:

• Direct sun - placing the harp in direct sunlight heats and dries out the wood, softens the glues in the harp, and can weaken or destroy the joints.

• Extreme heat or cold - the harp will expand and contract with temperature or climate changes, causing the drying and cracking of the wood, lacquer, and glues.

• Moisture - woods swell in high humidity, and can lead to future cracks in the harp.

Does this mean that any outdoor locations are out of the question for your event? Not necessarily - it just means that the location needs to have these features to keep the harp safe (and the harpist happy):

• Shade - can be provided by awnings, canopies, trees, umbrellas, etc. If your wedding or event is in the late afternoon, you may need two umbrellas to adequately shade the entire harp (the sunlight is at an angle at that time of day, and one umbrella is probably not enough)

• Protection from the elements - no direct sun, mist from fountains or waterfalls nearby, or high winds

• No extreme heat or cold - to protect the instrument, and the harpist! How can I perform my best for your event if it’s so cold that I can barely move my hands?

• Flat, stable surface - only pavement or wood will work. Lawns are NOT a flat or stable surface; the harp is top-heavy and can tip easily (I’ve heard horror stories from other harpists who have set up on lawns and had their instruments tip over)

• Level performance surface - as you know, pavement or brick is not always level, there are quite often slanted areas. After an hour of playing the harp sitting at an angle can be quite painful, I know from experience. So for the sake of my aching back, I appreciate being on as level a surface as possible!

Many hotels, restaurants, country clubs, and banquet venues that hold outdoor events on a regular basis will quite often be accustomed to having harpists perform there and will therefore be somewhat familiar with the harpists’ outdoor setup needs. Just ask the coordinator at your specific venue; they will be able to suggest the best setup…and to provide your event with umbrellas if needed!

Live music is such a beautiful addition to any wedding or special event. Feel free to contact me; I would be glad to answer any questions you may have about your specific outdoor venue in Los Angeles, Orange County, or San Gabriel Valley.

Photo by Jim Kennedy Photographers at the Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa

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