Choosing a piper is a very personal thing and you are placing a big responsibility in their hands (in terms of making your event memorable). Here is my suggested checklist of what to consider.
How long have they been playing and do they play as part of a band? Pipers that play in a pipe band are under constant scrutiny, practice regularly and have to be up to scratch.
Check their social media. Do you like what you see? Can you see actual content of them playing? Are they getting paid work? Do they keep it up to date? It’s really important that you get a feel for who they are and the work they do.
Do they have a website? Is it kept up to date? Your website is essentially your shop window.
Do they offer a range of different piping dress? This is really important. Every event is different and a professional piper needs a range of attire to fit your booking.
Never, ever choose a piper, just because they are the cheapest. When I was first starting out (as a band player and then much later, commercially), I charged a nominal fee or sometimes did events for free. This was because I needed the experience and my charge was a reflection of this. I just wanted to play as much as possible and learn as much as I could. I made sure my clients understood this. Individual pipers price themselves very differently and it is often, no indication of quality. You should expect to pay more for an in-demand, well established or award-winning player. You’re buying confidences and trust. Equally, never choose a piper just because they have fancy pictures (there are piper’s out there using AI generated images). Take everything in this checklist into consideration and make your decision based upon that, and, most importantly, how you feel about the individual. Talk to them. Ask any questions you may have and find out everything you need to know, before making your decision.
I hope you find this helpful.