Blowing his pipes

By Christopher Schobert
Moore
David A. Moore, performer/bagpiper extrodinaire.
David A. Moore plays everything from the bagpipes to the accordion and piano for South Buffalo’s ultra-popular Jackdaw. The band’s website (www.brokencans.com) describes its sound as “brick throwing Celtic rock,” but does it pay? Like the rest of the band, Moore, a Yale graduate, has a day job—he’s a freelance graphic designer and illustrator. But for Moore and his bandmates, music is a way of life. He’s even the official piper for the Buffalo Bandits. (*Moore charges a flat rate of $200 to play solo bagpipes at an event; Jackdaw’s pay rate varies.)

How much of the money the band makes goes back into band-related purchases, such as setting up your website?

All of it. Sometimes I wonder if people come to our shows and see the size of the crowd and all the CDs and merchandise and assume that we’re raking it in. Promotional materials, recording, rent on a rehearsal space, maintenance on the band bus, equipment repairs and upkeep, touring expenses—it all adds up.

What kind of money has the band made from its CDs?

I think if one were to add up all the royalty checks I’ve received over the past seven years, I’ve taken home—and this is at best an educated guess—approximately nothing. Right now, the goal is to get the music out there, to be heard.

Have you ever been paid with anything besides money, such as beer or food?

For some reason, couples who hire me to play the pipes at their wedding seem to feel the need to tip me with bottles of Jameson—not that I’m complaining, mind you. I’ve taken food as payment a number of times, too. I was paid with Hamentashen in exchange for a brief performance at a Bat Mitzvah.


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