More Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the questions I seem to get asked the most.
Annoying questions (not that I'm complaining...)
1. Performance based questions
What exactly do you do?
I play Hawaiian steel guitar to a pre-recorded accompaniment. The combination of the steel guitar and the accompaniment creates that wonderful tourist sound we all associate with the Hawaiian Islands.
My purpose is to provide ambience... background music... for your occasion.
Please describe this "accompaniment."
Think of it as my "band." It's a recording usually comprised of an upright bass, some form of guitar, drums, and oftentimes violins.
Where is this band? Why don't you bring them with you?
Consider the cost. You’d probably be surprised how much a full band can cost, even for just a couple hours. I work solo; thus, you get a very full sound for a quite economical price.
As for this "band," it’s actually music software that simulates the sound of these instruments. I program the song accompaniment into the software and record the result.
Please describe what you do when you arrive at my party.
First I’d look for an appropriate place to set up. My criteria are (1) a location where most guests will be able to hear me but (2) a location where I won’t be in the way, where people won’t bump into me, and where I won’t be intrusive.
Please note that at an indoor party that spills outdoors, or at an outdoor party that drifts partially indoors, it will be particularly hard for everyone to hear me. In that situation, please accept that only those guests in relative proximity to me will hear me.
Second, I’d run a quick sound check to make sure my equipment operates properly. That also includes tuning my guitar and checking the relative volume levels of the accompaniment and my guitar.
Finally I’d set up my little folding stool, have a seat, and play some touristy island music.
Is it necessary that you sit down when you play?
No, I can put my guitar on a stand.
How loud do you play?
My rule of thumb is that people should be able to comfortably talk above my volume level. That, I’m sure you realize, is not very loud. Yes, I can play louder and will if asked to, but I prefer not to.
If you feel your guests want loud entertainment please refer to the many booking agencies and other entertainment producers in your area. A web site may suffice or try the Yellow Pages.
Do you sing during any part of your music?
Sorry, but I do not sing. I simply play Hawaiian steel guitar.
My purpose is to provide ambience… background music… for your occasion. If you feel your guests require more aggressive entertaining please refer to the many booking agencies and other entertainment producers in your area.
I’m planning a party from roughly 8 o’clock to the wee hours of the morning. How late can you stay and how much would you charge for that?
I prefer to keep my jobs to a couple of hours. Beyond that, I think it’s realistic to say your guests will get bored with the tourist island sound. Probably it’d be best to use me as a pleasant background sound from, say, 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. After I’m done you might want to consider a dance band or a D.J. to entertain your guests.
Can people dance to your music?
Absolutely. I play tourist music that accommodates traditional dancing. You know, the sort of dancing your grandparents enjoyed.
For modern dancing… for modern music, for that matter… please refer to the many booking agencies and other entertainment producers in your area.
I’m not sure if you’d be right for my party… I’m looking for someone to sing and play and entertain my guests.
There are many such people available and I’m sure you’d be quite satisfied with them. Please refer to the many booking agencies and other entertainment producers in your area.
Anyway, I don’t think you’re modern enough for my taste.
I’m probably not.
How many different tunes do you play?
I add and subtract tunes from my set list all the time.
Overall, though, I have enough material to play a solid hour, take a 10 to 15-minute break to drink some bottled water, and then play for another 45 to 50 minutes. That serves nicely for a 2-hour job, which I feel is probably the realistic maximum for providing ambience to a party environment.
Beyond that, I think it’s realistic to say your guests will get bored with the tourist island sound.
What will you do if the job goes over 2 hours?
Lots of repeats. I'm being facetious... yes, I'd do lots of repeats but no, I don't your guests would tire of hearing them a second time.
How much do you charge?
I prefer not to publicly post prices at this juncture. That is because I am sometimes booked by agencies that prefer to keep their costs confidential. If you are interested in using me, please refer to the "Contact Me" page of this website and send me an email. I’ll send you a price quote.
Having said that, because I play solo I can guarantee I am one of the most economical options for getting that tourist island sound.
If I was willing to pay extra could you provide Polynesian dancers with your show?
First, what I do isn’t a "show." I play tourist island music as ambience – background music - for your occasion.
At this time I am unable to provide Polynesian dancers, torch dancers, conga players, or anyone else.
Do you take requests?
Only if I have a pre-recorded accompaniment to the request. Otherwise, I’m very sorry but I’m not set up to perform it.
You keep referring to "booking agencies and entertainment producers" to provide those things you don't do. Can you give me a list of such people?
I certainly can. Please email me at craig@craigprior.com and I'll provide you the names of those people I'm familiar with. At some future point after I have secured their permission I will list them on the Links page of my site.
Do you require an electrical outlet when you perform? Please describe what equipment you use.
I do not require an electrical outlet because I have a battery operated sound system. However, if you prefer a bit better sound quality and an outlet is available such that people won’t trip over the electrical cord, I can use a small amp that plugs in.
Battery-operated sound system? That means you could play a job at the beach? Or in the park?
Absolutely. I can play anywhere. Imagine a lovely beach wedding. Instead of "Here Comes the Bride" you’d hear "Hawaiian Wedding March" on the steel guitar. Nice, eh?
But please understand that battery-powered amplifiers are still in their infancy development-wise. I've never met one that could get very loud without creating a lot of noise and distortion. As with everything technological, there are plusses and minuses to battery-powered amps. Please request battery power for quiet occasions... if your event is the least bit noisy, there's going to be a problem in hearing the music.
Tell me a little about this Hawaiian guitar. How is that different from a regular guitar?
A Hawaiian is a regular guitar in many respects. Mine have six strings, just like a regular guitar. They use a pickup and are played through an amplifier… just like a regular electric guitar that you may be familiar with.
The main difference between Hawaiian guitar and regular guitar is that the Hawaiian guitar is played with a steel… literally, a smooth piece of steel… and by sliding this over the strings it produces that languid, graceful sound that we’ve come to associate with Hawaii.
Another difference between Hawaiian guitar and regular guitar is that the Hawaiian guitar has the strings adjusted so there is a lot of space between them and the top of the guitar (this allows the strings to vibrate freely) and thus you couldn’t finger chords or solos on the Hawaiian guitar the way you could on a regular guitar. Also, the Hawaiian guitar is generally tuned to some form of open tuning so that the straight bar has access to more chord notes.
You keep using this phrase "tourist island music." What do you mean by that?
That’s the sound we all associate with being in the Hawaiian Islands. For examples, please refer to the "Music" page of this website.
You might be aware that these days there is a modern Hawaiian sound that can be very similar to hip-hop. I do not play in that style… not in any shape, manner, or form.
Rather, my material might be considered "old fogey" Hawaiian music. That’s what I mean by tourist island music.
Explain to me what you mean by "Hawaiian steel guitar." What is that?
As I explained above, the Hawaiian steel guitar is a guitar, either acoustic or electric – in my case I’d use an electric instrument – played with a steel bar. By sliding this steel across the strings, you get that languid, tropical sound we’re all so familiar with.
Hawaiian steel guitar creates the sound you automatically associate with being in the Hawaiian Islands. Please listen to my "Music" page to hear some examples.
Are you an expert player of the Hawaiian guitar?
Hardly. I do a good, competent job of playing tourist music and I’ll lend a nice ambience to your event. This is what I enjoy doing. But I’m not an esoteric player of pure Hawaiian music… I wouldn’t even know where to begin. If you are interested in exploring this wonderful music I suggest you take a look at either [Mele.com] or [Cord.com]. Here you can purchase CDs of some of the truly great players in this incredible genre.
Are you Hawaiian?
I am not. I’ve visited on a few occasions but I’ve never spent any significant time there.
So how can you call yourself a "Hawaiian guitarist?"
By Hawaiian guitarist, I mean that I play the type of music a tourist would both expect and enjoy. Some folks call it hapa hoele music. As it happens, this is some of my favorite music.
I dunno. I think my guests would prefer real Hawaiians.
Then by all means refer to the many booking agencies and other entertainment producers in your area. A web search will suffice or you can try the Yellow Pages.
All right! Steel guitar! Do you do any country tunes?
I play commercial Hawaiian tunes… the real tourist-y stuff. I don’t play any country tunes.
How about blues? Do you play any blues on that slide guitar?
Again, I play commercial Hawaiian tunes.
How many tunes do you do by Izzy?
Currently I don’t do any tunes by Izzy.
Bruddah, c’mon, ken you play fer da cuzzins..?
You are really, really not going to like what I play. Let’s leave it that.