Piano Bar

Hello,

For the second time I have been asked to play piano in a restaurant. The first experience was interesting at first, but I stopped it after six months because I *didnt know any more what to play*.

Since I'm new to this kind of 'showbiz' I would like some help from experienced 'bar-pianists'. Since I didnt find any suitable newsgroup I'm trying in this one.

What I would like exactly is this : I would like to know some 'tricks' from experienced people about *what exactly* is to keep in mind when playing for people who are actually *not listening*, like in a restaurant. Often, although I have many songs in my repertoire, I sit down and don't know what to play, with the result that I play something which 'doesn't fit' the *atmosphere*. I would like to know the 'tricks' of an expert bar pianist, how to 'capture' the attention of people, how to 'fit' to the ambience, etc.

Can anybody help find more information about this ??

Thanks.

Play really softly , it's the musical equivalent of whispering. Peoples ears 'prick up' and they pay more attention.

Play for yourself if they don't listen

Print a list of tunes you know and like to play. If you find yourself in a rut playing the same twenty tunes every night, refer to the list.

What fits depends on the venue. There's a difference between playing in a fine dining establishment and playing in a biker bar. Assuming a fine dining environment, what fits is anything that doesn't blow them out of their chairs, and not too many up tempo tunes. I do mostly ballads and medium tempo tunes. I toss in an occasional stride piece just to break the monotony.

Make eye contact, welcome them as they come in. If they are seated withing speaking distance or if you have a vocal microphone introduce yourself and solicit requests. If you don't get their attention, don't worry about it. You are organic Muzak.

Try to have the piano positioned where they have to walk past it on the way out. Put the tip jar in a prominent location. Put a couple bucks in it before you start. Bait.

Make sure to acknowledge special events such as birthdays and anniversaries. The waiters and waitresses usually know about such things. Ask them to tell you.

When a bartender or waiter/waitress helps you out, it's customary to give them a couple bucks from your tip jar at the end of the evening. If it's a steady gig, you'll be paid back a hundred fold in service and favors.

I keep a list of tunes sorted by the year they were on the pop charts. The list goes back to the mid-fifties and it sits unobtrusively on the piano. It's not all the tunes that were on the charts, only the romantic ones I know. When a couple is seated nearby and seem to be paying some attention, I ask them what year they first got together. Then I play (and sing, if it's a singing venue) a couple of tunes from that year mentioning the original artist so they are sure to recognize it. It's an old device that I first saw used by John Davidson, and it really works. Other people mention their years and it gets some audience participation going. This works well at a piano bar, too. It's very effective with senior citizens.

You can build your own list from the tunes listed at http://www.webfitz.com/lyrics/lyricsbb.html.

Al Stevens

Would it be too obvious to suggest that you casually mention to the audience / patrons that you'd love to take requests ?

Al,

thank you for your wonderful suggestions. They are as valuable as gold...

And also congratulations: I've heard your songs in your site. Too bad I am a little bit out of hand (Italy) to come and enjoy your music in person..

Ciao,

Thanks for the tip. It's true, I've experienced this myself. Unfortunately my piano (standpiano, Kawai) is very loud. I have to push down the 'soft pedal' if I want to 'whisper'. Perhaps its also a matter of exercise. I have to exercise to play more 'softly'.... Each piano has its own 'key strength' but I supose after a while one gets

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Marvellous tips. Thanks. I've saved this posting.

In fact I had thought of that....but I felt like 'begging'..... Then, I rather play 'for myself'..... but to tell you the truth, after I while I get bored... ((

Perhaps I think like this because I am different. Everytime I came in a piano-bar, also when I was young, I was the one who always went and sit near the pianist and submerge him with requests. I noticed also that he was pleased of this 'attention'.... More or less I was expecting the same ... ))))

Marvellous idea ! Thanks again. In fact, I had a similar experience last year. I was playing 'The way you look tonight', just the day after this tune was broadcasted on television on 'The father of the bride', where Steve Martin and Diane Keaton are dancing, when suddenly a senior couple stood up and started dancing near the table until the end. These are 'most rewarding' experiences for a pianist, I have to say.

I play in a fine italian restaurant, here in Darmstadt (Germany). I am italian myself. Yes, I know, people would expect me to play 'Torna a Surriento', 'O sole mio' all the time, or the latest of Eros Ramazzotti. But I am more for the 'classic' piano pieces, swing, type Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Halliday, Cole Porter, and the like.....

I just visited your website !! Man, you're a real *maestro*, Al !!! I'm very pleased to have met you !!! )))

I don't know what would work for you, but what I did was take about 150 of my more popular pieces and put them on both sides of a sheet of paper in a two-column checkbox format. I give them to people (depending on the gig) and let them check off their favorites. I then play from their request sheets all night. They are certainly listening for their hits to come up.

Even if they don't listen, it is what I do so they don't have to listen to awkward silence. That has value too.

Gary