Bart’s original training was as a classical guitarist. His playing now includes a diversity of genres to suit any occasion, with enough variety in style and overall sound to keep things always fresh. The music generally works best in small-to-medium-sized gatherings (anywhere from a few people to, say, 200), or in larger gatherings in which the music isn’t expected to fill the entire space. It works well indoors or out. It can function as a central focus or as background music. It can be lively without being obtrusive, or it can be quiet and lovely and still engaging. And you can count on Bart to be responsible, dependable, personable and punctual.

Bart has played extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years and can provide references. A sampler CD is available free of charge. Read on for more detailed information -- or just be in touch by phone or email.

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC WOULD YOU LIKE?

I can play solo or as a duo, trio or quartet with other musicians.

 Solo Guitar

My original training was as a classical guitarist, and I primarily play an acoustic guitar. In addition to classical guitar music (transcriptions from renaissance and baroque lute music, early guitar music, pieces from the Spanish classical guitar repertoire, and so forth), I play lots of folk and pop music, bossa nova, jazz standards, Caribbean music, and the like. You can tell me to emphasize a particular mood or genre, or you can leave it to me to come up with a suitable mix. People often comment with pleasure on the diversity of my repertoire. If your event is a wedding or other formal occasion, I can suggest ceremonial music like the well known processionals and recessionals, or new and different but equally suitable pieces.

I also often play an electric guitar, but not in the rock style usually associated with the instrument. I've developed a sound and style which works best with classical music or arrangements of folk melodies. The fine, glittery quality of my electric guitar provides an effective contrast with the fuller, warmer sound of the classical guitar.

With help from some electronic gadgetry, I have the capability to add percussive grooves to my solo playing, for times that call for a particularly lively sound.

If you're considering hiring me and you'd like to get a sampler CD of my solo guitar music, call or send an email with your mailing address, and I'll get one out to you free of charge. The sampler CD includes short excerpts of my playing in several different styles.

Duo

I regularly work with the clarinetist Dale Polissar. The two instruments together create a fuller and more room-filling sound than the guitar alone, and the two tone qualities complement one another beautifully. Dale is a truly wonderful clarinetist. His phrasings are both tasty and tasteful and his sound is mellifluous and warm, whether he's playing something bouncy and rhythmic or something slow and lovely. Our repertoire includes standards, folk melodies, pop tunes, jazz, classical pieces and so forth.

The guitar music sampler CD mentioned above also includes samples of my playing with Dale. If you'd like a copy at no charge, call or send an email with your mailing address.

Larger Ensembles

You can also hire me as a trio including clarinet and upright bass player, and for a still fuller sound, we can bring a drummer into the ensemble.

WHAT SORTS OF EVENTS IS THIS MUSIC SUITABLE FOR?

  My solo guitar music generally works best in small-to-medium-sized gatherings. In general, this music is more understated and less dominating than that of a regular band (not to mention more affordable and less demanding in terms of space and logistics).

Like solo guitar, the duo or trio can work well in a small setting, but with the duo, trio, or quartet we can also create a bigger sound, fill a bigger room, and create more of a danceable atmosphere.

REQUIREMENTS

For solo guitar, I need an unimpeded space of about four feet by five feet. For the duo, make that four by eight or ten feet. There should be reasonable access to an electrical outlet, unless you're confident that amplification won't be needed. If possible, the space shouldn't be too hard to transport equipment to.

 
FEES

The standard rate for each musician is $140 for the first hour plus $70 for each additional hour.

If the job is more than about 45 minutes' drive from the musicians' home base, there will be a driving fee added, at $30 per hour of driving time. (Example: if the job is an hour and a quarter away, that's an extra half hour each way, totaling an hour of extra driving, so there'll be a driving fee of $30.)

If any rehearsal, music-copying or arranging, or other special preparations are required prior to the engagement, they will be billed at a rate to be negotiated.

If there are any special demands or equipment required a special fee will be negotiated.

If the job runs beyond the agreed-upon time, overtime will be billed at the rate of $70 per hour per musician. I cannot guarantee that the musicians will be available for unscheduled overtime.

I will arrive at the job a half-hour or more before the starting time to prepare for playing, and it will typically take me about fifteen minutes to break down after. This will not be considered part of the playing time and will not be billed. If there are periods of time in the midst of the job during which I don't play (for instance, if there are speeches to be given), this will be considered part of the playing time, since I'll need to be present during that time just as if I were playing. For jobs lasting longer than about an hour and a half, the musicians will take a short break about once each hour.

Payment will be due at the time of the engagement. Many clients like to have a contract signed in advance of the job, and this can easily be arranged. On the other hand, a verbal agreement is often sufficient.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION I'LL NEED

Dress: We'll need to know whether the musicians should dress formally, informally, or somewhere in between.

Directions to the venue, and a phone number there. I'll also need the name of my contact person there, if it's not the same person with whom I've made the original arrangements.

Any other special requirements or requests?

FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE CLIENT

Is amplification needed?

It can be very nice to hear the acoustic guitar unamplified, and going without amplification makes the set-up easier and less cluttered. But it's surprising just how quiet an acoustic guitar turns out to be in a room with a few people in it: just a bit of normal conversation is enough to bury the guitar. So in most cases amplification will be needed. When in doubt, it's generally better to set the amplifier up in advance even if it might not be used, since it's awkward to stop and set it up if it turns out to be needed in the middle of the job. You can count on me to keep the volume at a suitable level and not to blast away in an obtrusive manner. My sound set-up is not too big and electronic-looking.

 
Will you need a microphone for people giving speeches or toasts?

You can use my sound system for this purpose if need be. That'll save you both trouble and money compared to renting one. Let me know in advance if you might want to do this.

 
Where to put the musician?

I play sitting down. I'm pretty flexible about where I'm located when I play, but there are a couple of things you can take into consideration. One is traffic flow. Sometimes a spot that seems suitable for placing the musician would actually be better kept open for people passing from one area to another. Another consideration is: where will people want to be; where will they tend to congregate? You might not get the full value of a musician, for instance, if he or she is playing indoors when the weather makes people want to be indoors, or vice verse.