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?

I am not knowledgeable on this by any means but I imagine that not a lot of musicians solely do weddings? I mean, you'd have to be very popular to get booked at local enough weddings every weekend (when they usually happen unless they're smaller and rarely requiring a musician) and musicians are not booked for every wedding anyway. Plus it would be hard work as a lot of venues aren't the easiest of places to get to, a lot of travel required even if relatively local, you'd have to give up a lot if not most of your weekends which most people would not like doing, and weddings being quite seasonal means your work would dry up during the winter months. Not the same but I know a performer/singer who does gigs in pubs/clubs/weddings and at events and he performs at all manner of events and situations-he's very good and very popular but if he chose to just do ONE particular type of event I doubt he'd make a good enough wage from it.

Say she is solely a wedding musician, she's still having to give up her whole day to perform at yours, it isn't as if it could likely be practicable for her to do a couple of hours at yours and then perform all day at another one, if one happened to be happening within a reasonable distance.

If there was an additional zero youd have a point! I think £220 is a bloody bargain!!!!

Cheapskate. You thought she'd do it for £50 and a prosecco and be honoured.

You wanted to hire a pianist for your wedding for £100 ‘mates rates.’ Fucking hell

Might want to pop down the chemist to get something for that burn.

Are you booking a church organist for the wedding?
Just wondering - round us the standard rate is £120 plus, and it's doubled if the ceremony is recorded...

Wow! Your rudeness and entitlement is beyond the pale. You think £220 for a pianist is expensive!

😅Favourite comment so far!!

Sounds like you have champagne tastes on a lemonade budget OP. Maybe find a less nice venue so you can afford to pay the going rate for things. 😂

I don’t think she would be able to plan much on that day and she will need to practice songs a bit beforehand so no way it’s just 2 hours.
You were rude in your response OP and she gave you taste of your own medicine.

P.S Maybe your plumber can offer some practical demonstrations to occupy your guests on arrival?

Yes exactly, she was very rude. She knows nothing about me or DF, it was a low blow.

You’re not paying for 2 hours, you’re paying for the thousands of hours she’s had to practice.

If you’re nice ppl then speak nicely! Lol.

iys not just 2 hours, it’s the practice and arrangement beforehand, travel, and set up is a lot of work.

If you want to pay £25, you get a £25 piano player. Call your local primary school. I’m sure there’s a kid there looking to supplement their babysitting money.

£220 for a pianist for a couple of hours isn’t expensive. You’re paying for live music - years of craft and musicianship, and you questioning her price was awfully rude.
she (rightly) put you in your place, and good for her.

I can play for you for £125.

<heads off to find out how many times Chopsticks can be played in 2-3 hours>

I’m embarrassed for you, op! You were terribly rude and
are a cheapskate!

£220 is extremely reasonable for someone’s time and skill.

Maybe you can give a passing child half a crown to whistle a few tunes instead!

Neck!

Ha ha that was quite funny. Maybe she has a point.

That was a really good price.

It doesn't matter where she plays she has qualifications and experience .

😂😂😂
Love it!

You’re one of life’s CFs aren’t you op? Grabby, entitled, thick skinned. Want everyone to bend over backwards at little cost to you. You’ll probably go far in life because for some reason those types always do but it’s no less immoral and twisted. YABU.

Why does she need to know anything about you? You were out of order

I think you were really rude in the scenario to be honest.

We can all picture you though. "40 quid and help yourself to the hog roast"