[TPIN] Taps for Pay

[Glenn Bengry]

John,
 
     We've talked about this at length before.  For most players who play for money, most of the pay is for you to leave your house be warmed up, dressed up, and get to the jobsite.  
 
    Pay is one way to (most of the time) guarantee that you get a Taps that is good enough to show honor to the deceased.  In my mind, a lame taps is a dishonor, that the people didn't find it important enough to get a good player.
 
     I would donate my services for ony a few special people.  Others pay me for a service that I perform.  Others who choose to donate their services choose to do it.  It is altogether appropriate to charge a fee.  If it were me, I wouldn't leave the house for less than $100.  If a person's life is not worth $100, something is not quite right in my view(I'll probably get a few condemnations but that's ok)  How much does it cost for a funeral director?  A casket?  A priest?  Lunch for people?  $100 is a pittance.
 
    Your playing and participation is of immense value to everyone involved in honoring a deceased person.  In my mind, a reverent taps from the heart is priceless.it is worth more than a casket and a funeral director and flowers put together, but that is just me.  Mind you, I play Taps with every bit of myself.  When I play taps, there is a reverance, respect and awe of life itself. 
 
glenn
 
 
PS  If taps is played at my funeral, they had
better play it right.  I don't want to have to 
get up outa my pine box and play it myself.
 
X
 
x
 
> Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:30:31 -0500> From: johnkool at windstream.net> To: TPIN at tpin.okcu.edu> CC: > Subject: [TPIN] Taps for Pay> > I have volunteered to play taps at times, and I believe veterans deserve > a live bugler, even if they can't afford it.> > But I know the florist and funeral director and organist at the church > all get paid.> And I have been paid a few times in the past, also.> > When is it appropriate to charge/not charge for playing taps at a funeral?> > Also, is there a "going rate" to play taps?> > I don't currently have a day job and am thinking of contacting funeral > directors.> _______________________________________________> TPIN mailing list> TPIN at tpin.okcu.edu> http://tpin.okcu.edu/mailman/listinfo/tpin