I know I don't blog much but a trend as been rising and I thought I would clarify how I come up with my cost for my specialized service.

I figured a general breakdown might help some:
​   -I pay about a 30% tax as a small business owner (no I don't do under the table, just too honest for that lie)
​   -1 chanter reed is $16-$20 and I have to have backups (with as much as I play I burn 1-2 a month)
​   -A set of drone reeeds are about $100
​   -My uniform is about $800 without the jacket or bagpipes
​   -General maintence every month
​   -website, cell phone, insurance, membership fees for booking sites

​Let's not forget the hours of practice weekly and travel time. In a nut shell that is why I start at $160 for my services within a couplr miles from me and I know not everyone can afford it and I work with poeple best I can. Also a reason why I don't charge for fallen soldiers or first responders who gave their life in the line of duty, as the last thing that family needs to deal with is paying the piper. ​I don't mean to sound rude or anything just I wanted to explain the cost. It's not as simple as just 1 tune when it take 20 minutes to get dressed, 30 minutes to drive there, tune, wait, tune again, and play 45 minutes after I've arrived and then reverse. 

So when it comes time to pay the piper I hope you understand why I charge what I do and that you'll see the value in my performance! I never take any event lightly and always do the best I can if it's a $200 gig or $2,000 gig, every time regardless of the situation, tempurature or issues that arrise.

​I look forward to serving you soon and Merry Chirstmas and Happy Hogmanay!

Military services are some of if not the most important events I pipe at for many reasons. I have had the unfortunate honor to pipe for too many fallen soldier and first responder services and with that comes a great understand of how the military runs their services. A side effect of hiring a pipe with little or no experience doing military services and ceremonies is that they can gum up the works fast. All branches have a very specific way of doing things and not every branch does it exactly the same way. Everyone needs to get experience some way but that piper needs to go in with an understanding of military procedures and different denominations laws. There are some denominations where I cannot play inside the sanctuary, some only can play hymns and some I cannot even play inside the building.

If you have a need for a bagpiper I would be honored to perform for your service or ceremony and I promise it will be done with the greatest amount of respect and honor. As I have on the home page I do not ask for payment playing for fallen soldier or fallen first responders memorial services. I am available for last minute gigs as not many pipers are and have done gigs with just hours notice on a Monday. So please consider me for your next bagpiper. 

Do you wonder what would make a birthday party something to be remembered for years? I have your answer... a surprise bagpiper!

I have done many events and every single birthday party I've piped has always been a surprise for the birthday guy or gal. Bagpipes are without question heard before they are seen and can throw off then the most savvy surprise snooper. You may ask, "can you play the happy birthday song?" and the answer is yes!

You don't have to be of Celtic decent to have bagpipes for your birthday party because just like on St. Patrick's Day when everyone is Irish, on your birthday you can be Celtic. Most under estimate how sneaky you need to be as a bagpiper when showing up because the kilt and instrument gives us a way real fast. I've done a lot of surprise parties and even surprise proposals and I have learned to keys to not be seen or if seen how to play it off.

Hiring Joyful Noise Bagpiping is always a safe bet to make sure you get exactly what you want and more!