Bagpiper: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering bagpiper
You offer bagpipe performances for ceremonies, memorials, weddings and public events. This guide covers what customers ask, how to win the booking and what to show on your profile.
What customers ask
- Which tunes do you play for a memorial or a wedding?
- Can you lead a procession, or do you play from a fixed spot?
- What do you wear, and do you bring your own pipes?
- How do you handle outdoor weather and uneven ground?
- Can I hear a recording of you playing at a similar event?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask about the event type, the moments that need piping, the site and whether a procession is planned
- Send a recording of you playing at a similar event, labeled with the type of moment
- Put the tunes for each moment, the length, the dress and the arrival time in the written quote
- Share a sample list of tunes by moment, so the family or host can choose the pieces they want
- Confirm the procession route, the site access and any permit needed with the site owner or local office
- Coordinate with the officiant or funeral director on the start and stop cues in writing
- Say what you do in rain or wind, since the bag and reeds react to damp conditions, and who substitutes if you are ill
What to put on your profile
- Recordings of your piping at ceremonies, memorials and celebrations, labeled by event type
- Photos of you in traditional dress at real events
- A list of the tune types you play for each moment
- Your insurance status and the event types where you have played
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a short call with the family or host to confirm the tunes and the cues
- Suggest a site walk-through for outdoor events so the procession route and the standing spot are clear
- Recommend a plan for weather, such as a covered spot or an alternate route, and confirm it in writing
Licenses and permits
No state license is usually required for bagpiping. Carry general liability insurance, any local business license that applies and a written note of permits for public or procession routes, and check state and local requirements with your licensing agency before taking jobs.
Questions
Do I need a permit for a procession?
Often yes for public roads or parks. Ask the site owner or local office what applies and confirm the answer in writing before the event.
How do I coordinate the piping with a service?
Agree on the start and stop cues with the officiant or funeral director before the day. Confirm the order of the service and the moment the piping begins.
What should I check before an outdoor booking?
Ask about the ground, the wind, the route length and the weather plan. Confirm the standing spot and the access with the site.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
More music and entertainment guides for pros
Start here
About this guide
Get bagpiper requests
Customers pick you by name. Signup is free, and you pay only for leads you accept.
Join as a pro