AIBU to think this "wedding pianist" is unbelievably rude?

[Bamsmam]

We are getting married in April and have found a lovely venue which allows us to source music ourselves. I looked around options locally and they all charge a fortune for 5-6 hour packages which we don't really need - just someone to play a few tunes as guests arrive and during and after the ceremony, nice and quiet, nothing complicated.

A friend told me about a friend of hers who plays for weddings sometimes, not as a full time career because she does other music work too. So I got in touch with her, mentioned my friend's name, said what I wanted and asked for a quote. She came back to me with £220!! For a couple of hours piano playing! Surely this is money for old rope.

I wrote back and said I thought it was a little on the steep side and this is where the rudeness comes in. She actually messaged me back and said I should start taking lessons now myself and in ten years I'll be as good as her and can play for my next wedding! AIBU to think that this is extremely unprofessional and also a very unpleasant way to communicate with prospective customers?

My five year old is great at the ukelele. Sometimes she even holds it the right way up. And she still thinks that the bigger the coin is, the better. You could pay her a quid in 2p pieces and she would give you a great repertoire. She sings as well.* Just tell me where and when!
*can’t carry a tune in a bucket but I guess that’s why it’s money for old rope, eh?

I've got tears in my eyes reading this thread. It is a shame there isn't a laugh response. The comment about playing Aunt Nancy on a recorder was one of the best, but there have so many other classic replies.

I am absolutely cringing with embarrassment for you and I am so glad she told you where to go 😂

YABVVVVVU.

If there's one thing that makes me sick to my stomach, it's people who shit all over people with skills in the arts. I know a number of people who are actors, musicians, singers, and artists, and the like, and there is always SOMEone who wants to take the piss, and get their services/skills/talents on the cheap, or for free.

Would you expect a plumber or an electrician or a builder to pay a lot less 'becuz mates rates' @Bamsmam ???! They would tell you where to get off.

People like you boil my blood. And good on that pianist for telling you where to get off. I thought you were going to say £2000 for 2 hours or something. £250 is fuck-all for 2 hours for a wedding pianist! And as for you saying 'money for old rope!' How dare you, how actually DARE you dismiss her talent like this?! ARGH! I'm raging on her behalf! 😠

Your attitude is absolutely disgusting. I’m cringing for you.

If you don’t want to pay for a service, then don’t pay for a service and look/book elsewhere. There was absolutely no need for what you said to this pianist.

But from your other responses I can tell you’re an absolute nightmare. So hopefully this lady has warned other local musicians about you.

Jeez. I'm a bit of a cheapskate and often think a lot of things are overpriced. Especially wedding and funeral-related things. But 220? For a professional musician? And you think that's 'too steep'? You're deluded.

She was right, learn to play and do it yourself, see how easy it is. Or, I don't know, use spotify or CDs or something..

As for 'potential customer'. I work for myself and have my client base. And I'm as blunt as I want to be with such 'potential customers'. Guess why? Because I don't want to work with them. As they're far more trouble and ballache than they're worth. You seem to think every self-employed person is some sort of peasant with a shaking, outstretched hand, begging for your scraps. No, many of us don't lack work and customers and don't need to deal with people, who want to pay pennies, but expect the world for it.

Team pianist on this one. £220 is a bargain for several hours of live music! You wouldn’t go into a shop & haggle prices.

She's not being rude. £120 is cheap. She's a musician with a skill you don't have! They are notoriously underpaid. Your message to her was awful! A few tunes.. my hairdresser charges more for cutting ' a few hairs'

Stupid comment tbh. It was 220 for 2 hours of performance + prep hours + travel hours + set up time. Not 220 per hour.
events industry charge more because they have to cover for days/hours with no events.

so this price is crazy cheap.

I feel this could be a good business model. Charge a low fee upfront and then rake it in when they’re all desperate for you to stop.

Oooh……can yer play London’s Burning too??? That’s a cracking tune that is! And yer might get more cake! 🤣🤣

So is it £220 per hour or £220 for a couple of hours?

You seem to be confused.

Omg we paid way more than that for 2 hours of entertainment at our wedding. Way more. YABU!

Neither does she - she has travel costs, music scores, £1000’s on instruments and equipment, insurance, pat testing, giving up her weekend probably … I know this, one of my kids is a wedding musician and I work in the industry too.

What do you do OP?

Good luck getting anything cheaper.

Also, dear Bridezilla, can I suggest that the reason that you don’t get paid as much as she does is because you are, to put it politely, thick as mince?

You probably want “a couple of tunes” from Frozen.

i hope this thread has enlightened you to your rudeness OP!

She did give you mates rates, you couldn't get 2hrs karaoke for that price. A bit steep?! Oh lord 🙈

I'm about to die of second hand embarrassment on your behalf.

Sorry, your hairdresser charges £120? For a haircut? 10 - 15 minutes work?

Forget about the pianist... I think you are being ripped off by the person who cuts your hair.

But the £220 is for TWO hours. So it's £110 an hour. NOT £220 an hour.

And that doesn't include the travel time, plus other time consuming things already mentioned by previous posters. It will probably take up at least 4-5 hours of her day. I am guessing your precious wedding won't be 2 minutes walk from her house!!!

Like many others on here, I'm cringing for you. You're embarrassing yourself mate. 😬

If you think it’s expensive, find someone else (who’s decent) for less. Bet you can’t.

This isn’t £220 an hour. You are booking her for the day (getting there, setting up, hanging around for when you don’t want her playing) plus practice time of your chosen programme beforehand.

My guess each wedding probably takes 20-30 hours of work for a couple of hours playing.

She was basically charging you less than NMW. This was ‘mates rates’. You were just too dim to realise it.

The 'other things' that she does are all related to being a musician though, right? So she's a professional musician. You referred to her profession as 'money for old rope' (to us, at least). YABVU.

What about a tin whistle ? Even less melodious than a recorder when played badly but I’m happy to join in with the band that’s coming together.