Frequently Asked Questions / Behind the Scenes!
All Events: Set-Up
“What do you need for set-up? When do you arrive?”
Yes! Let’s talk set-up! These are the core requirements for all events, plus some background harp info for those who are curious! :
A safe venue with an adjacent parking lot or valet, and an unobstructed route to get to the Performance Area. This means a reasonable walking distance from parking, flat pathways, and ADA-compliant means of navigating floor changes, ramps, & hills.
I’m the only one permitted by insurance to handle moving my harp, and I cannot leave it unattended, so an easy entrance keeps everything running according to plan!
Harp Fact #1: My harp is 90 lbs uncovered. When combined with my other equipment and transport covers, the total transportation set-up is well-over 100 pounds.
Harpist Arrival/Access to the Performance Area 30 minutes before the performance starts
Temperatures must be 55-90 degrees (according to NOAA weather data). (More below for Outdoor Events).
This temperature requirement is both to protect my harp according to the Manufacturer’s Directions, and to enable me to provide a performance at my true skill abilities!
Harp Fact #2: The golden zone of temperatures for harp performances is 70-80 degrees.
Performance Area:
6-foot by 6-foot area, away from foot traffic/walkways and photo-taking stations. This keeps everyone safe from tripping hazards and bumping into my instrument.
Well-lit area, with minimal spot-light use in my direct line of sight. — So I can see my strings and sheet music!
Not in the direct flow path of heat-vents/air-conditioners and external doors
Clean, solid, engineered surface - eg, not grass, dirt, gravel, mulch
Harp transport equipment and cart near the Performance Area — This keeps everything simple as far as efficient set-up/pack-up, and helps your event flow smoothly. It also is practical if I need to move the harp mid-performance (planned or otherwise!).
Performance “End Time” should be at least 15 minutes before the next “event” (eg, first dances, grand entrances) that requires either the Performance Area or the exit. This gives me enough time to pack up and depart without interrupting any photos/videos or special moments of your event!
Outdoor Events
“I’d love to have a gorgeous performance outdoors! Is there anything I should know to make this happen?”
Playing the harp outdoors can be SOO beautiful and ethereal! I love when everything comes together to make this happen! It’s so dreamy!
That said, a most people don’t know much about harps (totally understandable!), and I never want any of my clients to be startled by the outdoor policies needed to protect harps - especially if the weather is iffy. To this effect, please allow me to explain some context about care for harps when outdoors!
Concert grand pedal harps aren’t designed to be robust to outside conditions. They’re very sensitive to humidity/precipitation, temperature, and direct sunlight.
I tell my harp students: “Think of the harp as a newborn baby. If you wouldn’t expose a newborn baby to this weather, the harp DEFINITELY shouldn’t be!”
Therefore, I must protect my instrument & equipment by adhering to the Manufacturer’s Directions and set-up parameters for outdoor performances:
Temperatures must be 55-90 degrees (according to NOAA weather data).
Please note that as temperatures approach either extreme, the harp will go out of tune, which increases chances of bursting strings mid-performance. In cool temperatures, my finger agility will also be impacted, which affects repertoire viability.
Approved Performance Area (See Performance Area specifications above)
Dependable, reliable shade from direct sunlight. (I can offer a platform and canopy as package upgrades to enable MOST outdoor performances!)
High humidity/precipitation will preclude outdoor performances. (See below)
Plan B Site (indoors & climate-controlled) required.
Harp Fact #3: My gold Salvi “Iris” is one of a limited edition of six harps, making it truly irreplaceable. If I were looking to purchase a similar model, the price at the time of writing (06/2025) would be $70,000 (plus extra costs including specialized, climate-controlled delivery & musical instrument transit insurance). Once comissioned, I would then need to wait more than a year for the Salvi Harp company to build it by hand in Italy, and then ship it to me in the United States.
Structural and gilding harp repairs begin in the THOUSANDS of dollars, often costing greater than $20,000 for significant repairs.
The nearest location to repair concert grand harps is in Chicago @ the “Lyon & Healy Harp Factory.” The time required for repairs usually involves at least one week, and potentially up to several months, depending on the repair.
In light of all this, I’m very protective of my “baby!”
Given the fragility of the harp to the outdoor elements, this means that I need to be extremely cautious when weather is predicted that conflicts with the above conditions.
Should inclement weather be predicted/occur - eg, intense humidity, rain/thunderstorms, wind-gusts - even with a canopy coverage or/and open-aired covered pavilions, I am required to stop playing immediately and move the harp to an indoor, climate-controlled location, or else cancel the remainder of the performance.
To this end, I HIGHLY recommend we work together before your event to ensure there is a feasible Plan-B Site. We all want a lovely musical experience for your event! Having a pre-approved Plan B site will help ensure that weather won’t stand in the way of the performance, and keeps your event going smoothly!
If you have any questions about an outdoor venue, the feasibility of a potential Plan B site, etc,
please feel free to explore your ideas with me prior to booking!
I’m happy to get creative if possible!
SOUND & Amplification
"I’m worried that the harp might be too quiet by itself- can it be amplified?"
Harp Fact #4: An acoustic, concert pedal harp is a little quieter, but broadly comparable, to a piano in volume.
So to answer your question:
Short answer: Yes! I have:
Battery-powered harp amplifier (~300 or fewer people & great for outdoor events)
Wireless amplification connectivity to a DJ/House Amplification system (more than 300 guests & for wireless aesthetics)!
For indoor, bespoke solo-harp recitals, the harp generally can be heard in gatherings of up to about 100 people without amplification.
If you’re planning an outdoor event, or for social gatherings where people would be conversing (guest arrival at weddings, cocktails, dinners, parties, etc) larger than 50 people, amplification is recommended for the ideal experience.
Between my various amplification options and collaborations with DJ’s or House systems, I have been able to perform for events of over 1,000 people with luscious sound coverage!
Music Requests
"I don't know anything about harp music! What should I pick? How should I choose?!"
No worries! You’ve come to the right person! :-)
The harp repertoire is quite vast and has a LOT of phenominal music! If you’re envisioning instrumental music but are at a loss for WHAT to select, please ask me!
I also LOVE working with clients’ themes, whether that’s specific (“Red Valentine’s Romance”) or even just a mood (“Fun and fresh, upbeat”)!
Thinking of something a little more on the sophisticated/classical side of the spectrum? While the harp is versatile across many genres, I can also recommend some wonderful pieces that were composed & specifically intended to showcase the harp at its most brilliant!
Whether you're looking for a genre or a specific style of piece (or even a musical piece that "sounds like ___, but not actually that specific song”) - please consider me your “smart” harp library!
Creativity piqued? Visit my Repertoire Page
"Do you take music requests?"
Included in all of my quotes is a “Preferred Song List” from within my repertoire — think of this like creating a musical “pinterest” board that helps me to get a feel for your style and theme!
I’m very happy to explore custom songs not in my repertoire! I require at least one month prior to the performance date to guarantee custom songs, so let’s start brainstorming early on if you have a special song in mind! When creating a custom song, I will need to evaluate:
If there is harp/piano sheet music available for purchase
It would “translate” tastefully to playability on the harp - ie, not screamer death metal or rap!
Workability in the time before the performance
If you (or your guests) have a special request in mind at the performance, if I have it with me & if I can perform it to quality standards, then yes! Taking requests that make people happy brings an extra sparkle to the performance, and it keeps me on my toes! :-)
Please feel free to let me know if there are any songs/genres you wish for me to not play/decline to play upon request!
Attire
“Can you match my theme or color for my event? Can I request an outfit I’ve seen you wear before?”
I LOVE trying to match with my clients’ themes/colors! It’s an extra touch that I think is really fun and makes everything cohesive!
Specific gowns/attire will depend on a variety of factors:
Event itself (eg, indoors/outdoors? Temperature? How far do I have to walk with my equipment?).
If I have another commitment immediately before/after your event but won’t have time for an outfit change, is it appropriate for both?
Is there is a modesty or formality dress code (covered shoulders, floor-length skirt, etc)?
Performance feasibility: Harpists must consider their attire not only from an aesthetic standpoint, but also for practicality! Some examples of what I look for in a performance gown are:
Non-restrictive sleeves
Non-corset/lace-up back
Able to crouch down to the floor with ease for set-up/pack-up
Front hem no longer than floor-length (no alterations required)
Can sit with knees apart at the harp (skirt slits or restraint concerns)
Skirt train able to be carried while I set-up/pack-up
Smooth fabric (no sequins, rhinestones, or bare skin) on right-shoulder/chest - else formal jacket/similar are needed to protect the harp from scratches and perspiration moisture.
Resistance to wrinkles
Bonus: Overall resistance to perspiration! We may look angelic, but we’re only human, after all!
Some of my gowns, like the red one on my main page, are suitable only for solo concerts where I am able to have my husband or a friend help me with attire and harp set-up/tear-down.
Availability: all clothes wear-and-tear! Sometimes the chiffon or lace of a dress will get caught in the velcro/zipper of my transport cover, or a mysterious stain will appear on the hem of my dress that I can’t scrub out, or beading will fall off during laundering despite delicate care
…. or a garment simply doesn’t fit me the way it once did. Again, we’re all only human!!!
If you have a super-specific theme, I’m happy to explore purchasing an outfit and adding it to the final quote, with your approval, of course!
Some of the themes I’ve done are:
Lord of the Rings
Medieval Bard
Winter / Angel
Gold & Glitter
Rainbow & Color
Pink Romance
If you are able to let me know prior to booking, we can discuss options and costs, and make sure it will work with your budget.
Otherwise, most of the time, I am able to dress in a similar color or formality level to what you’re envisioning.
I love “mood boards”/”pinterest boards,” so please show me all of your decor ideas!!!
Breaks & Meals
"Will you need to take any breaks?"
Due to the physically demanding nature of harp-playing, I will need to rest for five minutes per fifty-five minutes of constant performance, with a 10-15-minute break after 2 hours, and again after 3 hours, and again after 4 hours. This does count into the total performance time.
Requests for blocks of more than five hours of playing will be taken on a case-by-case basis.
“Will you need a meal during the performance?”
I always come to performances “pre-fed,” or with quick snacks handy! I want to give you and your guests as much music time as possible, so I try to keep “nibble breaks” to a minimum.
That said, I never turn down a To-Go box, if you’re so inclined! :-) But please don’t feel any obligation!!!!
Pricing
“What do you charge?”
You can request an event quote by filling out the form HERE!
I wish that I could be more general, but I believe that each event is specific to the client, and must take into account any themes, repertoire requests/genre styles, travel location, venue specifics, and performance duration.
My quotes carefully combine all these details, and in my quotes, I do my best clearly to explain how my pricing works for each unique component of your event. Clear, up-front, transparent communication is key to my relationships with my clients, and I always want to do my best to create exactly what they’re looking for!
“Can you price-match what another musician quoted? Can you tell me what pricing another harpist charges?”
No two musicians’ - or even two harpists’ - rates will be the same for the same event!
Each musician has unique pricing structures in order to provide the best services we can offer, and to celebrate our niche specializations.
In the event that I’m unable to quote performing for your event or provide what you’re looking for, I am of course more than happy to recommend some fabulous colleagues in the area. They each have amazing reviews and recommendations, and I happily want to support the Michigan’s flourishing musical community however I can!
"How do you figure out how much to charge?"
Good question!
I am a full-time, professional musician; the entirety of my career revolves is oriented around performing and teaching harp! In order to be able to be able to do this to the best of my abilities, here are some of the factors that go into my pricing:
Harp & tool/vehicle upkeep:
I want to keep my instrument in peak performance quality for your event! This means yearly harp regulations, string replacements (a full set costs $600+), equipment insurance, repairs for regular wear-and-tear, and other structural, lifespan-related considerations of the instrument.
Amplification in various scenarios, and this electronic equipment/cartage also requires upkeep/upgrades.
Gas/Travel — harp transport requires a large vehicle, which of course has its own cost “galaxy.”
Advertising/Marketing:
We’ve found each other! That probably means that GoogleSearch, or my membership profile one of several platforms (eg, WeddingWire/TheKnot, GigSalad, TheBash, and more!), or a business card has been the bridge to making this connection to my website! — In order to maintain a significant presence online, all of these advertising platforms require membership and booking fees.
YouTube and Instagram! I love being able to offer a visual/aural “Taste Test” of who I am as a musician and what I can bring to your event! My video recordings include arranging music for harp, writing it down, practicing it, recording it with professional equipment, editing the recording with elite software, and then posting it online! PHEW! :-)
Background work: A lot goes into providing a stellar performance at your event! This of course includes prompt communication as you plan your event, 3-4 hours of practicing per day to maintain my vast repertoire, time spent traveling and setting up for your event, and other special requests!
Quality & Length of time: When you book me to play for your event, you are hiring a Master of Music. You are receiving not only consistent quality and playing endurance, but the ability to have your cherished song brought to life on the harp, adaptability to the circumstances, and, of course, all the skill of having played for over 18 years and studying at some of the best music schools in the nation.
My quotes account for all of this.
I pride myself on being able to offer clients a fair and - above all - consistent price
while being able to maintain the level of professional quality I offer.
Ready to start planning your event with harp performance?
Click here: Receive a Free Quote
