[CAUT] Fund raising piano question! ASAP!!

[Susan Kline]

Since funds are crucial, perhaps a local musician with connections to 
the Lied Center might lend a decent piano (being given mention in the 
program, and copious thanks just before the program). Then there'd 
just be the moving expense.

If they've got this hot-shot pianist, given a decent instrument, they 
should have their 15 minutes before the sit-down dinner, and then a 
casual hour or two with coffee and dessert afterwards. Bringing in a 
good pianist and then giving him or her just 15 minutes to play is an 
insult. The casual nature of the hour afterwards keeps people who 
just want the dinner and goodies from being trapped and formal and 
tight-laced. A Brazilian might also play them some Brazilian music, 
which could hold its own with chatter, etc.

Just MHO.

Susan Kline
OSU, Newport Arts Center

At 12:15 PM 4/11/2009, you wrote:

>Hi David and all.
>
>I just had the misfortune to tune a 1933 Whitney (Kimball) grand for 
>a huge fund raiser for our local Lied Center for the Fine and 
>Performing Arts in a very nice home here in town.  There is to be a 
>guest artist...a fine pianist from Brazil, who will be 
>playing.."something" for 15 minutes prior to dinner served at a 
>promenent home in town next Friday.  I went to tune it on 
>Tuesday...and it's a Whitney/Kimball 4"10" grand from 1933!!  I 
>tuned it only.....it holds a tune, but was refinished and "rebuilt" 
>by one of those people here who should never get near a 
>piano...new  nickle-plated tuning pins (for looks only) and the 
>paint-job on the plate that surely shows the overspray on the plate 
>ruining the strings....you've all seen that, Im' sure..The 
>regulation had never been done for probably more years than I can 
>count....(I'm a musician....so beyond 11...it's difficult! <G>  )
>
>Here's the question;  Should the Lied Center bring in another piano 
>for the event, or just tell the guest artist to just "grin and bear 
>it" for the 15 minutes he's going to play prior to the sit-down 
>dinner, fully catered, in order to fund lots of money for the Lied 
>Center to continue operating?  (This venue is in a lot of hurt, financially!!)
>
>Thanks for advise...
>
>Paul
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