October 21, 2008

It’s with a feeling a great privilege and enthusiasm that I recommend James Steven’s performance as an addition to an upcoming special event or ceremony. While planning my father’s 80th birthday celebration, it became clear that I wanted to have “something special” to really cement the happy memory of the event for him, as well as for the family and friends attending the party. I researched many different options - musical and otherwise. Many performers were out of my budget, and furthermore required a minimum booking time of more than an hour and a half - which was too long in this case.

I came across James Steven’s website and learned about his Fiddle Gram service - perfect! He responded quickly to my email and was so accommodating and fun to work with. I was able to request some specific music that I knew my father would enjoy. James Steven also did a wonderful job of interpreting my needs when I said, “I just want some fun fiddle music that will make my dad happy.”

The day of the party, James Steven arrived quietly through the back gate and surprised my father and the guests with a bouquet of balloons, a message he had obtained from me ahead of time - and the promise of music in honor of my father. My dad was floored!

James Steven played a variety of music to suit my father’s pallet including Irish, Scottish and Appalachian songs, as well as a number of special requests from my father. We laughed, cried, clapped and danced - everything that should happen at an 80th birthday party! My children and their friends arrived home from a soccer game during the performance and joined in with their version of a jig. I should add that James Steven did a wonderful job of involving the children in his performance, which pleased my father immensely!

James Steven is a wonderful person and a talented fiddler and performer. His sensitivity to his audience sets him apart and no doubt takes a tremendous amount of impromptu effort on his part. I will absolutely call James Steven again to add a little magic to another event!

With kind regards,
Diane Hayward