I plan for this page to offer ideas and inspiration to Grinders who want to perform, but need some direction in finding opportunities. This is also the page where you can find what other Grinders are wearing to performances and other attention getting ideas they use.
From Ted Guillaum:
The first thing you need to do is decide how much money you intend to ask for a performance. I talked to someone at the rally in Marietta last July who was trying to charge for a performance. He suggested $75.00 and a mileage fee for anything over 20 miles. That sounded pretty good to me. Another participant that I talked to said they would not take less than $50.00 even if it was a short event of say an hour or two. It really depends on how bad you want to be a part of a particular event. The Christmas Market was one that I really wanted to do to get the exposure so I gave them a real good deal for a two day performance. It seems to have paid off because when I contacted another community in the same county for a Christmas street festival the person already had heard of my upcoming performance and they agreed immediately to my proposal. The hard part of booking any event is finding the contact information months in advance. This search can be made easier if your state department of tourism publishes a book listing all the festivals for the year. A phone contact is usually listed with each event. I got some experience doing this several years ago when I had a little business cooking pork rinds at festivals in Tennessee and Kentucky. Craft festivals are a really good place to look. I have already discovered that with organ grinding they sometimes want a promotional package with pictures and other information before they make a decision. Street organs are so rare in Tennessee they just don't have a concept of what you are trying to explain over the phone. I am still working on a promo package. Also, as you may know, an appropriate costume is usually expected. I have put together two different looks. I have a German outfit with Trachten jacket and Lederhosen that go below the knee. The other is a lot less expensive and simpler that I have been calling my "Good Ole Summertime" outfit. It involves a straw "Skimmer" or "Boater" hat with red vest, sleeve garters and ribbon tie. This can be used for just about any event. E-bay has been helpful in finding the necessary German clothing. The straw "Skimmer" hat I purchased over the Internet from Miller Hats in Houston, Texas.
From Terry Bender
I have been taking the Raffins out to perform for about 10 years. This coming
weekend I will be performing 3 days at a local fair: 1 day strolling with the
mini. I actually get to see the fair that way. The other two days I will be
stationary with the larger organ and animals. I have learned several "lessons":
The Organ and music alone will not sell themselves, except to a few. In order
to get more than just a passing glance, you need to consider yourself an entertainer
and dress the part. (Shorts and baseball cap just do not entice people or children
to come over. These are "demonstrators" and not "performers."
This might work for larger band organs, but even there I think you can get more
attention by actually dressing up. We are trying to determine how we can recreate
the "intimacy" with our custom made calliope that we have with the
Raffins.) You can see the costumes I use on my website: http://homepage.mac.com/tabender/Menu2.html.
I first had the German Lederhosen outfit and then developed a modified "1890's
version" with the tall coachman's hat. That hat has turned out to be a
very good attention getter. (Winfield Cover Co. San Francisco has a wide variety)
Additional visuals include some kind of animals and not just cute little monkeys
sitting on the edge of the organ. As you can see from the website, I have a
handmade German monkey that can do a number of things, including stick out his
tongue. I also use two mechanical parrots that can repeat messages. They are
particularly good with the under 5 crowd. If you get the small ones, you will
get the parents.
Some people react to the costumes, some to the animals, some to the music. Something
for everyone. It is fascinating to see the small ones just stand/plop down in
front of the organ to listen or to see their parents bring them back numerous
times over the course of a day.
From Carl Cavitt
Costumes: I've got several tuxedos. I stop at thriftshops and end of year
sales at tux rental places. My best tuxedos are a gray tux and a black tux,
both with tail and top hat. I Just got a deal on a collapsible top hat at a
Halloween store for $17.50 (they usually go for over $100). The tuxes are worn
(My wife dresses Victorian style) when we take out our Raffin for a Victorian
look. (I've seen pictures of organ grinder with this look). When I take out
the Jaeger and Brommer (very colorful red/blue/gold-looks like a circus), we
may wear red or blue pants and red or blue vest. I always wear a collarless
or banded collar shirt with full button front. Long sleeves would be more authentic,
however it's usually too hot for me to wear long sleeve. I usually wear a derby
hat (blue or black). If I'm cranking in Holland, Mi or Pella, Iowa, I'll wear
a Dutch fishing type hat ($10 at Holland Village-they have a web site). I've
thought about the German outfit (and yes the lederhosen), however, the cost
is prohibitive. With few exceptions, my outfits are very cheap. I've paid $5-$35
for my tux (total outfits minus the shoes). Spats are hard to find and I had
to buy them on E-bay for $25.
Crowd pleaser's: Bubbles are by far the best crowd pleaser. Now Target has
a high quality AC/DC bubble machine for sell under $14(they are about $50 plus
elsewhere) I've convinced a few grinders to go to Target before they're sold
out. Also the bubbles are very important. Don't buy Wal-mart cheap bubbles.
They are messy and stain cloths and organs. Again, Target had BUBBLE-JUICE.
This stuff if under $5/gal. It lasts a long time (maybe a season). It is non
toxic and shouldn't hurt cloths, organs, kids, etc. Be sure to "assure"
your fellow grinder that this stuff is safe. If the bubbles get out of control,
turn off the machine verses ticking off another grinder. You just cannot control
the direction of the wind. Only use bubbles outside. Can make floors slick and
dangerous.
The spitting monkey is much fun and most everyone enjoys getting "spit"
on. However old ladies get very ticked and might complain. My policy is to never
squirt anyone bigger that me. Only use water outside on a warm day. There is
usually at least one kid who either "hog" the spitting monkey or wants
to hit the monkey. One of my neatness props is Uncle Sam. Just after the 4th
of July, I purchase a "broken" Uncle Sam full size mannequin from
K-Mart. He is motion, sound, and light activated. Before his surgery, he sang
Yankee Doodle Dandy and "waved" a flag in his right hand. I clipped
his music wire and soldered in a off/on switch and replaced his flag with a
band directors baton. Now when I start playing the organ, Uncle Sam will direct
the band. He is life size and a real crowd pleaser. I have a "dancing coke
can". Can get from e-bay for about $10. The can looks like a real coke
can. It is make out of a pliable soft plastic and is sound activated. Upon "hearing"
the organ music, it sways back and forth in time with the music. Everyone loves
the dancing can. I have a sound/motion activated monkey. I got it from one of
the KayBee toy stores at the mall for $12. (a real good buy) When he's activated,
his legs kick back and forth. Every one always ask if we have a real monkey.
I tell them yes, but he's at home, however I do have a picture of him in my
drawer. If you want to see my monkey come closer. I the reach in the drawer
and pull out a picture frame. I hold up the picture frame with the picture facing
me. I turn the picture around to reveal a mirror. I make sure only the person
sees the monkey. They usually laugh and call their friend over to see the monkey.
It's a good cheap gag.
From Bob West
Here in the UK the vast majority go for the old tyme look. Bowler hat, fancy waistcoat and neckerchief plus a monkey of some description.I play my organ at steam rallies, garden fetes and city centres so I always like to look smart.Its no good spending a small fortune on an organ then taking it out in a dirty tee shirt and jeans.