"Lounge" pianist

[pianoist]

I have a possible gig playing at a country club this summer. It sounds like it would be just for a couple of hours during brunch, something like that.

Has anyone done this type of thing before?

What kind of music  should I go for and what I should avoid?
I'm thinking that some popular tunes, like Gershwin, and "light" classics, Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, Clair de Lune, and the like, are in order.

[Bob]

Sounds like it to me.  I haven't done a lot of it, but that's on par.

There are some other threads about this.

I'm interested in knowing your materials -- What books you use?  Like a collection of Gershwin songs, that type of thing.  Anthologies.  Esp for pop stuff too. 

Once in awhile I've done background music things.  The toughest part is picking appropriate music.  Just knowing what's right and then knowing where the music is.  Then if you can play that.

[retrouvailles]

Richard Rodney Bennett has written a lot of lounge music, for in addition to him being a composer he has quite a history of being a lounge pianist. But yes, some Gershwin and lighter classical pieces would work fine.

[gyzzzmo]

If its a country club, i would play the lighter classic pieces like chopin nocturnes/preludes, the famous schubert pieces, debussy (claire the lune, gymnopedies).... Depending on the atmosphere/noise level there you could even play the what 'noisier' classical music.

Have fun,
gyzzzmo

[timothy42b]

One thing you have to do is change your mindset.  You are no longer an artist, solely responsible for creating high standards of musical expression, and the sole arbiter of what is good. 

Now you are an employee, dedicated to pleasing your customer.  They decide what is good, and they are right.  Especially treat the wait staff like equals, because they are.  And they appreciate it, and will take care of you. 

If you can't make that switch, and many can't, don't do it at all. 

Secondly, play well within your ability.  Nobody is impressed with difficult pieces played almost perfectly.  Everybody is impressed with easy pieces done very, very well. 

[gyzzzmo]

One thing you have to do is change your mindset.  You are no longer an artist, solely responsible for creating high standards of musical expression, and the sole arbiter of what is good. 

Now you are an employee, dedicated to pleasing your customer.  They decide what is good, and they are right.  Especially treat the wait staff like equals, because they are.  And they appreciate it, and will take care of you. 

If you can't make that switch, and many can't, don't do it at all. 

Secondly, play well within your ability.  Nobody is impressed with difficult pieces played almost perfectly.  Everybody is impressed with easy pieces done very, very well. 

I dont agree, at least its not the way i play.
If i want to earn some extra money by playing at these sort of occasions, i just play what i like to play. Ofcourse you addept your repetoire abit to the situation, but unless they pay a shitload of money, i play what i want to play and if they dont like it i go away.
Maybe that sounds harsh, but im a selfrespecting pianist, and when you play pieces you like yourself, you'll play better and that's what people want to hear.

PS, i never had to leave because people didnt like it :p

[mattgreenecomposer]

No timothy is right, well....if you want more jobs in the future like this one he's right.  You are an employee for what people want to hear.  In truth make sure you make the person who is actually paying you happy and you'll be fine, however, I am not a "selfrespecting" pianist as he put it.  I am a "working" pianist who has to pay my mortgage and bills on time.

I do these kinds of gigs quite often.  I think Gershwin is definately on the right track and Cole Porter as well.  I would avoid most classical altogether.    These kinds of gigs require lengthy sessions, which means refrains and playing with tempos is crucial.  So classical is much harder to "cheat" time with.  Don't forget alot of slower pop songs are good too.  Like "Georgia on My Mind" or Eric Clapton's "Change the World" song, or Stings Fields of Gold etc.  Basically, easy listening tunes that everyone knows.  Good luck.
  And dont be afraid to repeat songs.  After an hour, noone remembers anyways. 

[Bob]

I'm leaning toward going with what the people want.  And cheating and using as much of what you want for your own needs.

The person who controls the money is the one who is right though. 

From the little I've done, the easier the better.  No one ever said a word to me about pieces being too easy.  Just that it sounded good.

The tempo thing is true too.  Freer means more mental room.  After an hour of sight-reading the tempo can really become a pain, pushing you on.

I can see easy classical stuff working though.   At a country club?  Sure.  They just want pleasant sounding background music.  They probably wouldn't even really want something virtuosic. 

Plus, who knows what the piano will be like? 

Make it sound good, get invited back, and then you'll know what they're looking for more each time.

[gerry]

I also agree with Timothy. Keep in mind that if you enjoy this type of gig, a country club is a great place to make contacts as many/most of the members throw private parties themselves as well as are often in charge of community/fundraising events requiring entertainment; and you are in the catbird seat as a known quantity. It can be a great opportunity to make money and contacts. It won't hurt to try it out for a while. It's difficult enough to make a living as a musician; it beats waiting tables.

[gyzzzmo]

It probably also depends how you got playing there in the first place. If you got there because people heard you playing somewhere else (in my case), people expect you to do what you did in that other place.
If you're the one who asked if you could play in that country club, i would agree with timothy.

[remy]

I think that you can't go wrong by playing some music that's as charming as possible, like Mischa Levitzki's  Valse d'Amour, Gypsy Waltz, The Enchanted Nymph, and Arabesque Valsante.

You don't want to be too obtrusive.

In other words, no final scene from Salome.


remy