Pianists can be hired for a wide variety of events from wedding receptions, ceremonies, breakfasts, christenings, birthday parties to corporate or black tie events.
A professional pianist can be relied upon to provide sophisticated background music allowing guests to make conversation, relax and enjoy the occasion.
There are many things that affect the cost of hiring a pianist, including how far the musician has to travel to the event & the length of the performance. In this blog we’ll give you a list of some things to consider when booking a piano player.
What sort of music will they play at your event?
The great thing about piano players is their versatility. You can find pianists that cover all sorts of styles, from Classical and Jazz to Pop/Rock and musical theatre.
Once you find a style of pianist you think will be suitable for your event, it will be much easier to narrow down the search.
As a general rule, classical or jazz pianists playing instrumental music will be brilliant for cocktail events or other situations where you’re looking for background music.
If you’re looking to make live music more of a feature, then a pop/rock piano player (perhaps with vocals) may prove more appropriate.
Things to consider before enquiring
Does the venue have a house piano?
Many pianists will bring their own electric keyboard to the venue and will therefore need their performance area to be within reach of a power source.
However, If the venue has its own piano, it’s best to allow the pianist to contact the venue directly in advance.
This will allow the musician to decide whether they want to use the in house equipment or bring an electric keyboard (although many will bring a back up, just in case).
I don’t want my pianist to play classical pieces, but more modern songs that my guests will recognise. Will this be okay?
The best way to make sure a piano player will cover the sort of material you’d like is to read their example repertoire, as well as watching any video and listening to audio.
Though many solo piano players stick predominantly to Classical or Jazz, it is not uncommon for pianists to perform a variety of contemporary hits from recent decades, sometimes accompanied with vocals.
Many pianists will also perform a few special requests if given enough time to learn them.
What’s your budget?
Professional musicians are not cheap to hire, but for good reason. Professionals will have advantages over cheaper amateurs in all sorts of ways, from experience and equipment to repertoire and professionalism.
If your budget is low, consider trying to find a local piano player to cut down on travel costs. Set times and lengths may also factor into your quote, so being flexible with those may also help.
Read the reviews
On sites like Last Minute Musicians, clients can leave reviews detailing their booking experience. Often, musicians will also have testimonials on their own sites. It’s worth reading all of these before entering into negotiations.
Things to ask about during the booking process
Ensure all musicians have suitable public liability insurance and their gear is PAT tested
Many wedding or events venues will require your piano player to have Public Liability Insurance (PLI), usually up to the value of between £8m – £10m. Whilst the majority of Last Minute Musicians pianists hold PLI insurance, it’s crucial that event organisers double-check their potential performers insurance.
While some piano players will perform solely acoustically, many will require some powered equipment. If this is the case, your venue may well require them to have their gear PAT tested for electrical safety.
More information on Public Liability Insurance
Dress code
Though most musicians will default to smart casual (at the very least), it is always best to have a conversation with your musician about the dress code for your event, especially if you would like them to dress a certain way.
What does the musician require whilst at the event?
Pianists bringing a keyboard will normally need a parking space close to the venue and appreciate the use of a suitable room where they can store valuables/other equipment and get changed etc.
Depending on the length of the performance, it may be appropriate to provide a hot meal for the performer. At the very least, soft drinks should be available.
Are you looking to book a piano player? Perhaps you’re a pianist with some advice to offer? Let us know in the comments below…
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