Although they might seem like a real "fringe item," bagpipes are sometimes higher on the list for a business arrangement than you might expect. Bagpipes and bagpipe supplies, as well as players and training, roll out to many U.S. locations at the call of business leaders and managers for a variety of performance-based or other similar business ventures.

If you're hosting an event, ramping up a music-related business, or acting as a "fixer" for a busy executive, you can find bagpipes and piper solutions online to speed up your job a little. Business operators might look for pipers or pipes in situations like these:

1. In setting up an important corporate or client event where bagpipes provide needed ambiance.

2. To arrange for training for staff who need to become proficient at the bagpipes to regularly attend events.

3. For any kind of performance related business including theater, educational facilities, or concert halls where bagpipes may be a needed prop or instrument.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a bagpipe player for hire

A professional bagpiper is much in demand these days. From weddings and funerals to parades, community events and political or diplomatic functions, a piper acts as a catalyst for making an event more regal or to enhance its impact on an audience. You can find highly trained pipers able to attend your events across the country.

I recommend: In Chicago, book a bagpipe player through Bagpipers for Hire, a company that routinely dispatches its professionals throughout the metro area. Outfit your high-powered New York City event in any of the five boroughs and beyond with the Gigmasters Royal Piper service. In other U.S. locations, use the GigSalad piper page to find a piper for your event.

Look for bagpipes and bagpipe accessories from online vendors

If you want a set of pipes for a prop, for use in concerts or parades, or in other performances, check out bagpipes for sale in online catalogs from top vendors of pipes and pipe-related gear to make quick and efficient purchases online.

I recommend: Get bagpipe models and more from Boulder Early Music through their online catalog for a full stock of wind instruments. For advanced bagpipe buys, look at the full collection available from Highland Reeds, a respected bagpipe maker. You can find even more, from bagpipes models for sale to bagpipe information and music, at the MusicMoz directory.

Arrange bagpipe lessons from online musical groups

It's a stretch, but if you're on the hunt for pipes, you may want to sign staff up for bagpipes lessons to get in-house piper solutions. If that's your goal, top musical groups offer training to get your personnel good at the old Scottish March and other bagpipe melodies.

I recommend: Get a full range of solutions, from face to face lessons to webcam bagpipe lessons, and music, bagpipe accessories, bagpipe songs and more at the comprehensive Bagpipe Lessons site. The Quabog Highlanders, a regional band, offer annual training seminars on the pipes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Attempt to keep it local. Use resources like the GigSalad page and the Bagpipe Lessons webcam option to keep from arranging bagpipes solutions that stretch your travel budget. Leverage tele-training and buying options to keep your bottom line for bagpipe music under control.