So, we're at the time of year where I'm getting lots of requests for accompanying. Some of them are for external exams, such as the AMEB exams, and some are for recitals at university. I don't even think I get that many requests (as one friend has said he is only going to say yes to 25 and then after that, he will just say no. I'm only playing for six uni ones and some AMEB ones and auditions and stuff!), but seriously, I could write a book even from this year's correspondence. I receive communication via email, phone calls, text messages.
Here are but a few highlights so far:
* The AMEB AMusA exam:
Mother calls me up for her daughter's exam. I'm about to walk out the door so ask if she can email me the details. She says she doesn't have the internet, much less email. I ask if she can send the repertoire through via text message. She doesn't have a mobile phone. I am stuck talking to her while she demands I check my diary to see if I'm even available ("Well, there's really no point telling you the repertoire if you're not even available to play for the exam." I'm not even kidding. I just don't want to talk business before 9am!). Reluctantly, I open my diary. I should have just said no. But stupid me didn't. I am free. She says the previous accompanist found the repertoire too difficult. She asks when we can rehearse, and I tell her that my schedule changes all the time because I freelance so I'll get back to her once I see the music so I can figure out how long I need to learn it. So then she asks where she can drop the music, which I tell her. Turns out she doesn't drop the music that day as promised, and she rings back and says I gave her the wrong address. I didn't, but she typed it into her GPS incorrectly (despite me giving lots of details, like the cross street, what the building looks like, not just the street address). We have a conversation where she is getting worried because there isn't enough time to rehearse (two weeks). I have to pull out the "Trust me, I'm a professional musician. I do this all the time on little rehearsal. Your daughter is probably very bright so we'll make it work." Music arrives a couple of days later. I'm super busy so don't get back to her about rehearsals yet because my schedule is so crazy. She rings and leaves multiple messages because I'm in rehearsals/working. She's frantic. I ring her back and leave a message for her. We play phone tag. I eventually get onto her at 9.15pm one night and say, "Obviously you didn't receive my message because you rang me again?" to which she replies, "No, I don't have the internet, email, mobile phone, and we don't get our voicemails." WHAT. I work; I don't even know when is an appropriate time to call her so that she picks up the phone. I work so that I can live and pay my rent. I don't know why I didn't get out of this sooner. I don't even know why the previous accompanist found this music hard (it's not that hard) - but was probably much smarter than I am. WHY.
* Text message received at 10.44pm on 28 October asking for accompanist for exam on 3 November. "I realise this is very late notice....the other accompanistsI have contacted have been unavailable or unresponsive."
I wonder why.
* Email received on 27 October asking for accompanist for exam on 4 November. Playing some of the Reinecke "Undine" flute sonata. That I don't already play.
* Email received within two weeks notice to play first movement of Mendelssohn 2nd cello sonata. Pretty sure I have about three times as many notes as him, and many more other rehearsals to fit in that time.
* An email probably from an international student, based on the extreme politeness and slightly awkward English: "So would u like to help me out?....So would u like to help me please?"
And that his teacher would like to hear the first rehearsal next week. I don't think so.
I don't have a problem with teachers listening to rehearsals, but seriously, let me do my work first.
* So many requests that only list the day. No time. Just the day. Like I'll be free the whole day for them. Details, people, details!
* After asking an individual to give me as much information as possible, I get a list of the songs she's singing. But she's forgotten to include the time and date of her exam because there is no way I remember the details from our phone conversation (one of many on any given day) and that's why I asked her to email me.
* I paraphrase here, but effectively this:
"Hi, I'm so-and-so. Are you free for my recital on this day at this time?"
No what instrument, nor what repertoire. Details, people!
* Request from uni student for accompanist within a very specific location, so she doesn't have to travel very far.
* Request from mother for son's AMEB exam with only the date (not the time). When I ask for the time, she tells me, and then tells me that we will have to be there half an hour before for the warm-up (like I don't consider this). And that the first rehearsal will be in two days time at his teacher's studio at specific time "so he can give some feedback on my son's performance". Because my schedule and availability is not important. Nor is preparation.
I wonder why nobody replied to him...
* So many that say, "I know this is very late notice." Sometimes with no apology. I really wonder if they know how this music thing works and that late notice is usually very terrible, particularly if you want somebody worth paying.
WHY ARE THEY SO DISORGANISED?? I'm a human being too, and a professional musician, not just some support act ready to drop everything in my schedule to make yours work. This making music together is entirely about a relationship. Last time I checked, relationships went both ways.
There have been some really great people though.
My favourite so far was the student who was so organised that she asked me well before the exam dates were even out, and I said I honestly couldn't commit unless I had a date and time (and her repertoire was totally no trouble). And she said she understood and thanked me for my honesty.
Ah, there is some hope left still!
