No matter how much research I do beforehand, every now and then, I end up facing a flight of stairs alone. I don't know if all harpists dread stairs, but I do! Many harpists in NYC don't mind, because they have harp movers to move their harp, but what about those jobs you have where you don't have a mover?
I approach the top or bottom of a staircase and one of two things happen: An overly anxious man runs and insists on helping me. But it's not really help...they want to do it themselves but don't realize how cumbersome (not heavy) the harp actually is, and they don't know how to take directions. My heart starts racing and I start running my mouth insisting that they stop. I can't sit watching my harp being thrown in the air! If I had a limitless supply of harps, it would be fine, but I don't. So, it's either that, or nobody offers to help. People watch and ignore. Both are equally frustrating. What's the solution? I wish I could carry my little brother in my back pocket because he's a very well trained harp mover! After all these years, I'm STILL working it out...
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sound!
Sound...it's a lifetime journey. I have had sound issues for quite some time, because I mostly play an acoustic harp. After struggling with different mics and mic placements, I got a custom pickup made by a bass company. Actually, there were 3 pickups in the harp, not 1.
Fast forward to now: I use and endorse the Barcus Berry Piano & Harp Planar Wave System (4000). It's a powerful little pickup, and I use two of them. I can also switch them from harp to harp, which is fantastic!
Again, it's a lifetime journey! I'm happy now, because my main concern is being audible over powerful drummers.
If you're into electric harps, the Salvi has a new model out--the Echo. I've only tried 3 or 4 electric harps, but for me, this one takes the cake. It sounds very natural. I played the Echo for the Detroit Jazz Festival and everyone complimented the sound it produced!!!
Everyone has their personal preference when it comes to sound. It's a process of trial and error until you find what you like.
Fast forward to now: I use and endorse the Barcus Berry Piano & Harp Planar Wave System (4000). It's a powerful little pickup, and I use two of them. I can also switch them from harp to harp, which is fantastic!
Again, it's a lifetime journey! I'm happy now, because my main concern is being audible over powerful drummers.
If you're into electric harps, the Salvi has a new model out--the Echo. I've only tried 3 or 4 electric harps, but for me, this one takes the cake. It sounds very natural. I played the Echo for the Detroit Jazz Festival and everyone complimented the sound it produced!!!
Everyone has their personal preference when it comes to sound. It's a process of trial and error until you find what you like.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Web Design
Aesthecize Media designed both my general and wedding websites (www.brandeeyounger.com & www.wedding.brandeeyounger.com). It boasts a huge portfolio of both artist and business websites. Aside from amazing web designs, Aesthecize Media offers photography and print services.
Photographers
I have had the pleasure of working with some wonderful photographers over the past couple of years. They all knew exactly what they wanted, and all said the same thing: Don't Smile So Hard, Brandee!
Kyle Pompey, a photographer based in the Baltimore/DC area took this photo--you can view more from this shoot here. This was taken right in my parents livingroom.
Erin Patrice O' Brien took this wonderful photo. She is based in New York and brilliant!
Ryan Handt is responsible for a few photos, including the title picture of this blog. This one is the most common and was used for an article in the Ave Magazine.
Photographer Emra Islek works extensively with jazz musicians. She let me have a few digital photos, after shooting some old fashioned pictures for her upcoming project, "Jazz Obscura"
Frank Harrell , Ben Johnson and Marek Lazarski are three of the many photographers that covered the Detroit Jazz Festival this past August.
This photo was taken by Marek Lazarski.
Sarah Tew took this photo a few years back.
Some others I've worked with that have taken outstanding photos are Art Koch, Ed Marshall and Brian Atkins.
Kyle Pompey, a photographer based in the Baltimore/DC area took this photo--you can view more from this shoot here. This was taken right in my parents livingroom.
Erin Patrice O' Brien took this wonderful photo. She is based in New York and brilliant!
Ryan Handt is responsible for a few photos, including the title picture of this blog. This one is the most common and was used for an article in the Ave Magazine.
Photographer Emra Islek works extensively with jazz musicians. She let me have a few digital photos, after shooting some old fashioned pictures for her upcoming project, "Jazz Obscura"
Frank Harrell , Ben Johnson and Marek Lazarski are three of the many photographers that covered the Detroit Jazz Festival this past August.
This photo was taken by Marek Lazarski.
Sarah Tew took this photo a few years back.
Some others I've worked with that have taken outstanding photos are Art Koch, Ed Marshall and Brian Atkins.
Monday, November 3, 2008
New Blog
Thanks to Sole Yaya for creating this blog for me, and adding her special touches! You're greatly appreciated :-)
The purpose of this blog is to create sort of a resource page for other harpists (friends, musicians--whomever) that have inquired over the years about some of my practices, companies I use, etc. It will take me some time to build, but I'll include everything from the different photographers with whom I've worked and web designers all the way to the kinds of performance agreements I use, and what kinds of amplification. I'll try to update it regularly, but if you have any questions, feel free to email me. Thanks!!
~Brandee
XO XO XOXOX XOXOX
The purpose of this blog is to create sort of a resource page for other harpists (friends, musicians--whomever) that have inquired over the years about some of my practices, companies I use, etc. It will take me some time to build, but I'll include everything from the different photographers with whom I've worked and web designers all the way to the kinds of performance agreements I use, and what kinds of amplification. I'll try to update it regularly, but if you have any questions, feel free to email me. Thanks!!
~Brandee
XO XO XOXOX XOXOX
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