Harry Farrar

[Administrator]

Pipe Major Harry Farrar and the Bagpipe Players have been performing for parties weddings and memorials in Southern California since 1981.

This Bagpiper has top notch skills and is rated as one of the best entertainers from Los Angeles and Woodland Hills.

The group has the most experienced, professional and reliable musicians in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and Southern California.

Customers have a wide choice of options including Drummers and Dancers. Contact Pipe Major Harry Farrar for a Bagpiper For Hire.

https://bagpipeplayers.com/

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[BagpiperHarry]

Glad to be part of Bagpiper.com Looking forward to questions and seeing feedback from other posts. I am easily reached at bagpipeplayers.com This latest picture was from yesterday at the famous Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

 

[Administrator]

Welcome to the Site !

 

[BagpiperHarry]

Looking forward to contributing!

 

[BagpiperHarry]

As the year winds down, now the end of October, I see a slow down in the future bookings for Weddings in 2025. Compared to pre-Covid days. I wonder if there are new pipers that are now getting more events based on a lower fee. With all of these decades in this market, it is hard to measure. I do remember the 80's and Reagan days. The enthusiasm for bagpipes at all kinds of events was dramatic. This was before web marketing. Now I see that ads online are prevelant and new names join in with new webpages all the time. I would like to think that the quality and professionalism of the tradition is maintained. By insisting on the highest traditional standards, the old fashion reputation of a good piper will be preserved.

 

[Administrator]

From the 80’s onwards, the growth of the bagpipe and Pipeband community has grown considerably especially compared to the previous century. I am glad to see how many pipers, drummers and bands that have grown in the last 50 years. There are now more piping events, parades, competitions, movies, culture, weekend workshops, piping schools, bagpipe makers, and highland wear shops then ever before.

As far as wedding bookings, the slowdown could be from a saturation of pipers in certain areas. Having a lot pipers in one area does not necessarily equate to more available players, because not everyone can or wants to be a solo musician. Being a great piper is difficult enough, but being a great entertainer is harder.

The other reason for a slowdown could be the economy and that is cyclical.

If wedding budgets are under more strain, then I think the inclusion of a piper playing live at a wedding ceremony or reception is a way to have live music inexpensively compared to hiring a band.

 

[BagpiperHarry]

Well said. You seem to have all the possibilities covered! One observation now that I am a senior. I have seen that there are generational trends. As a younger piper, I would play for a family wedding. Later, I would play for a Christening. Then a grandparent funeral. Like the oldies song Jimmy Brown-Little Chapel (1959). One thing is now is different in that it easier to take three seconds to find a piper on the phone, wrather than look through papers for a business card!

This also is related to repeat annual gigs. The decision makers at restaurants, or golf clubs for example, eventually leave, get fired, or retire. In some cases, another bapiper becomes friends with a past account decision person and your account ends. Since 1981, there is a change in business culture, it seems. Passing down information about trusted vendors to new people at the organization is not as prevelant now. It is only a keyword away on your cell phone and you have a piper.

Meanwhile, will continue on and look to provide top notch services to clients as they make a request for a bagpiper. I have included a picture of my bagpiper son, chasing down a potential client at the golf course!