Klarinet Archive - Posting 000282.txt from 2006/08
From: "Michael Norsworthy" <m.norsworthy@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] RE: $650 mouthpieces???
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 01:03:06 -0400
Bryan,
A few observations...
BRYAN CRUMPLER SAID:
>I wasn't asking *why* it costs so much at all. I was asking if anyone had
>tried the things and could give me their opinions of it from having tried
>them so as to possibly change my own opinion and maybe think about
>purchasing one. You must have missed that.
FOLLOWED BY YOUR ORIGINAL STATEMENT:
> ...but as it seems, they only expect to sell about 50 of them
> worldwide - ever. Why? Because they are $650 a piece... and
> to my knowledge, have no established reputation on the market.
> I'm having a really hard time trying to justify why this guy,
> and his company, expects anyone to pay $650 per mouthpiece,
> regardless of how good the mouthpieces may be. There is
> something to be said about labor... but the company's
> business model is a tad flawed, especially their sales policies.
So, in fact, you DID ask WHY and your original post was confrontational at
best.
Regarding your equipment and playing, I'm thrilled to death for you that you
found a mouthpiece that you like to paly on, be it a Vandoren, Behn or
something from any other maker. The important thing is that you sound the
way that YOU want to sound, regardless of the cost and effort involved.
It's a personal choice (and hopefully a business one from your many
statements about the grandure of your career) and I respect your right to
choose and do what is best for you. However, showering the boards with
comments on another's choice to charge what they feel is necessary for a
particular piece of equipment deliberately impedes their right to choose and
do business as they see fit. Noone here has questioned your right to do so
and I (or perhaps we as a whole) ask you not to do so with us.
The initial posting was confrontational at best, as I stated above. If you
had said, "does anyone have an opinion on these mouthpieces?", many here
would have gladly responded and given their honest opinion(s). You however,
decided to open with a statement about Brad's business, his business
practices and your feeling of ridiculosity (a new musical term, btw) toward
a piece of equipment that you admittedly knew nothing about.
And as for the statements of your rather busy life and exemplary career
being the reason for not having the opportunity to try equipment
<QUOTE> And for anyone who is as busy as I am, I
don't have the time to deal with custom mouthpieces anymore if something
goes wrong or breaks<END QUOTE>
I'm sorry you don't have the time to deal with some of these makers,
however, please don't try and "pull rank" on the rest of us. You'll be
surprised that there are a great many very busy professionals on this list
and the bulletin board. It seems, however, as if you have a large amount of
time on your hands however to do your website, self promotion and various
and sundry other things. Perhaps you can find time by easing down a little
bit on telling the rest of us how wonderful you are (I DID read your bio).
Personally, I'm glad you're succeedig and doing what you want to do, but as
you said, I don't need you to tell me about it.
As a professional soloist, recitalist and freelance player who teaches 20
students on top of 80+ yearly performances around the globe, I've made the
necessary time to work with those that I believe are of value to me, both
personally and professionally. (if you think finding time for mouthpieces
is bad, TRY MARRIAGE!) And hey, I still have time for vacations and
socializing :) If you are as interested as you claim to be, I'm sure you
can find the time to talk to and try Brad Behn or any other maker whose
products sincerely interest you. They would be more than happy to do so,
I'm quite certain of it.
WALTER GRABNER SAID:
>If a $600 mouthpiece offends you - don't buy one. It's that simple. But
>there is no point in getting outraged about it.
>We are VERY fortunate right now to have MANY excellent choices in
>mouthpieces. Those of you who are a little older remember that this was
not true 20 or
>25 years ago.
>What object to having many choices? Do we condemn the auto industry for
>having both Volkswagens and Porches?
Thanks Walter, you're quite right. Always good to hear from a voice of
reason that can be more succinct than I am :) GREAT to see you at ClarFest
and looking forward to the next one. My best to you and your lovely wife!
All the best,
Michael Norsworthy
www.michaelnorsworthy.com
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