I was playing at a family friend’s Chistmas party when I was asked a number of the stupidest questions ever. One man, who had seen me playing the pipes for a couple minutes and to whom I had explained every part asked,
“So, do you have to clean the saliva out every once in a while?”
I really don’t understand how people can, after seeing and hearing the pipes, can think them the Highland pipes. One woman said,
“I bet you’d like to join a marching band.”
when it is quite obvious these are not the same pipes as they have seen before. Maybe I am just used to people who know the pipes and am being to harsh on these people, but I got a good laugh anyway. 
-Aidan
Don’t think of them as eejits or be harsh. Just be mindful of the opportunity to educate. Think back when you first hear of the pipes. Did you have it all figured out? What was your frame of reference?
I remember the first time I saw a set. It was Christy O’Leary and the boys of the Lough in concert. My thoughts were, I don’t know what the hell they are…but I like 'em …a lot. It wasn’t until after that I realized that I had several CD’s with UP’s… and all along I felt they were GHB’s!! a friend suggested I buy a CD that featured UP’s, NSP’s and GHB’s and then I was able to study differences.
Just tell her they aren’t loud enough to be heard over the marching cellos.
Well said Glands.
Once I later figured out what it was I was hearing, I thought it amusing that they are the principle pipes heard on the Braveheart sound track.
…you know, the story of WILLIAM WALLACE!
bwahahahaha
I knew before even seeing UP that they were fundamentally dissimilar to Highland pipes and decidedly superior. NSP, Swedish, Gaita, numerous other pipes did not confuse me for a second. Each sounded and looked uniquely distinct. Some people get it. Some people don’t. Don’t make excuses for them.
Don’t think of it as an opportunity to educate, look upon it as a curse of stupidity that will plague you for life and you’ll just have to learn to endure because those same morons are usually paying for the gig. Think of it in carnival barker terms: the rubes pay the bills.
For those of of us who have to worry about either bills or entertaining the punters for whatever other reasons that is.
And then just enjoy what you’re doing and ignore them.
Good point. The first time I heard the uilleann pipes was on the Riverdance CD (to my knowledge–I could have heard them before and not have known it), and I just couldn’t figure out what in the world was making that beautiful sound. When I saw the PBS special, I couldn’t figure out how Mr. Spillane was playing the darn things. I mean, if you think of it, uilleann pipes are an odd instrument when seen at first glance. Most people are used to seeing mouthblown woodwind instruments. But the story is funny nonetheless. I think it’s a great opportunity to soberly educate people of the Uilleann Pipes. I take every chance i get to explain my instrument when I begin playing it. Besides, it gives opportunity for some warm-up time, and chatting it up with folks. 