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?

@Bamsmam I have a request. Would it be possible for you to post about the other aspects of your wedding in due course. I think it’s just what mumsnet needs to bring nearly all of us together in unity and fun. There are so many aspects you could update us on: the flowers, the dress, the food, the bridesmaids, the hen party, the guests, the gifts …. It could be wonderful.

I think some of us might be asking gentle questions of brides whose wedding we are invited to in the coming future if they are at the more zilla end of the spectrum. So [potential bridezilla] hows it going with planning the entertainment?

Went to bed late last night and this thread was trending, up this morning and it's still the most replied to. I wonder if the OP has got it yet that she was in the wrong?!

This comment is just so ignorant. You may not be paid this rate per hour but you do realise that as employees, people receive benefits including holiday and sick pay, pension contributions and employee insurance? A self employed person has to cover all of that themselves plus all the extra costs mentioned by other posters (an employee would have all those covered by their employer).

Anyway the OP is doubling down on her attitude and isn't taking anyone's feedback on board. She is right and that's that, so she can stay ignorant. Ignorance is something that might be addressed, but arrogance can't be.

I'd like to hear about the bell ringers. Now that really is money for old rope (attached to old bells).

Yup, CD for you Pianozilla. And Lord help the other professionals who have to deal with you.
Have you told the photographer you'll only want a few snaps?

So for 2 hours playing that’s £110 per hour. If she has to travel then that may mean she can’t take any other jobs that day. It’s a pretty decent rate I think (in fact, I’d say it’s on the low side!). The fact that she does ‘other jobs’ is neither here nor there, nor is it any of your business.
(If I’d had live music at my wedding I’d have snapped a pianist up for that rate and probably thrown a bit extra in a thank you card!!)

When I was reading your OP and you said "she quoted £220!" I honestly thought you were going to say you couldn't believe how cheap it was. To then go on to tell her it's a "little steep" was very insulting to her, but it sounds like she brushed you off good & proper

Oh lawks, can you imagine the flowers? ‘I’m not paying a skilled and qualified florist £700 for flowers when I can get them in Lidl for £2.50. I offered her a tenner and a Werther’s Original but she told me to fuck off. How rude!’

we are nice people

You are not a nice person.

😆 I think I actually love you a little bit @Bamsmam This thread is comedy gold. Most hilarious thread for ages. 😂

Thanks to all the funny and witty posters for adding to the humour too. 😃

Good on the pianist for standing up to herself.

People who work in the creative arts are completely undervalued. OP took the absolute piss and the pianist responded in kind.

Neither does she. You don't need her for an hour do you?

£220 is incredibly cheap. You seem to think it's just a matter of bashing out a few tunes. If that's what you want, ask a relative who has had piano lessons..
You are asking someone to do a professional job. They will have to find the music, practise, travel, etcera.
You're not going to find a professional for less.
Just have a recording if you don't want to pay.

I think thats a reasonable price to be honest.

because she 'does other things too' and plays in all sorts of places, doesnt make her less of a professional.

Many professional musicians do have other work, or spread their creative work across several spheres, because its an art, and there are very few self employed jobs, bar hitting the big time, where you can focus on one thing as your forte.

And its not just turning up and playing - Im sure you wouldnt want that - she will need to have, no doubt, numerous discissions as to the pieces you want. She will need to practice those pieces. Possibly on the piano in question - which may or may not be in tune.

You want live music, you pay a decent wage for it. Having the talent to be a musician isnt something that can just be learned, like any other trade, and Im sick to death of people trying to undercut artists all the time, or thinking that its no big deal.

Anyone else wondering what the OP actually said to the pianist to get this response? Bearing in mind her version of events has changed when she didn’t get the response she wanted (from £220 total to £220 an hour), she has demonstrated that to her, facts are what make her look good and can be edited accordingly.

I still think the £220 was mates rates, by the way.

I really REALLY hope the pianist has seen this thread, and posts a thread of her own about the angry, entitled, rude bridezilla that she has recently had to deal with. 😬

Exactly. The price the pianist gave the OP is really low ... Maybe the OP is posting from 1990. 😆

I’m getting shades of Father Ted when he shouts at Dougal on the keyboard, “Just play the f*cking note” 😂 Song for Europe episode.

Can you imagine how mortified the person is who recommended the pianist? OP used their name.... I would be so embarrassed if someone I gave a name and rec to acted like the OP.

Maybe she thinks it's like those people in pubs, bashing out a bit of Chaz and Dave?
(Still a talent and not knocking C&D...)

What music will you have at your next wedding, OP? I’d book it now if I were you.

Naughty! 😉

I still think the £220 was mates rates, by the way

Me too.

Maybe the OP can get her neighbours dog to play the stylophone.