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It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!
I was just let go from a restaurant job tonight because the manager said I didn't have enough "energy" and didn't "play in a way that makes everyone want to have a good time."
I'm not sure what that means, but it does sound like I need to add some more "upbeat" pieces to my repertoire list.
Pieces that I did play included:
When I'm Sixty-Four Desperado Misty Stairway to Heaven Just the Way You Are and several Vince Guaraldi pieces
any ideas? What are some sure-fire pieces "with energy"?
Waiting for the Robert E. Lee Tico Tico no Fuba Alexander's Ragtime Band Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera and Ragtime provide good selections Rage over a Lost Penny (Rondo a capriccio in G Major) Beethoven "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise" "California Here I Come" Oklahoma! "There's No Business Like Show Business"
Have you considered that maybe the repertoire isn't the issue? How are YOU approaching the repertoire? Are you throwing yourself into the music or just going through the motions? I've seen guys play upbeat stuff that sounds tired and monotonous. I've also heard guys play a simple ballad with the focus of a laserbeam and couldn't help but be drawn in as a listener. I get that some gigs require a certain type of repertoire but all I'm saying is to look at yourself first. When you are playing, who are you 'being'? What are you trying to say or express through the music? My 2 cents, thanks for reading.....
Jazz/Improvising Pianist, Composer, University Prof. At home: C. Bechstein Concert 8, Roland RD88 At work: Kawai GX2, Dave Smith Prophet Rev2 16-voice
Sorry to hear about that, Redhead. These managers and people in general don't seem to know how difficult it all is. Hmmm.. How about "I Could Have Danced All Night" and other "show tunes", ragtime (I play my own version of "The Entertainer"), a bouncy stride tune like "As Time Goes By", Ain't Misbehavin', Piano Man, Those Were the Days, All of Me, You Are the Sunshine of my Life, Take the A Train.. I'm just going through my song list now and trying to pick out some of the "peppy" tunes that I play. Of course, you can take a ballad like "Autumn Leaves" and play it in a quick jazzy style. Will try to think of some more. How about some boogie?
As someone who only aspires to to what you're doing I'm not really qualified to give definitive advice. However, to follow on from what AJF has advised...
If you mostly play verbatim from sheet music, then perhaps - just perhaps! - this could be part of the problem. I respectfully suggest that you may need to 'spice up', embellish or 'fill-out' the pieces you're playing. My observation is that, as written, transcripted music can often - though not always - be somewhat over-simplistic, wooden or, dare I say it, a little 'boring' (at least for public performance).
As one who admires your playing, I wish you every success!
Have you considered that maybe the repertoire isn't the issue? How are YOU approaching the repertoire? Are you throwing yourself into the music or just going through the motions? I've seen guys play upbeat stuff that sounds tired and monotonous. I've also heard guys play a simple ballad with the focus of a laserbeam and couldn't help but be drawn in as a listener.
Thanks for the feedback. I need all the help I can get.
Well, I certainly didn't FEEL like I was going through the motions, at least. I personally didn't feel bored or tired as I was playing. I liked what I was playing. I was happy to be there.
What's funny is that at least two people gave me tips in the hour before they sent me home. So I thought, "Wow, I'm doing great!" and that kinda got me kinda jazzed and I THOUGHT it made me play even better.
Hey, I just had a look at your repertoire above. And, yes, nice songs but all slow and safe.
I'd think about your audience's age range and tastes more too. Can you get someone to hear out some new songs?
I'd offer for any place:
Route 66 - Nat King Cole Makin Whoopie - Nat King Cole In the Mood - Glenn Miller Want You Back - Jackson 5 Jump - Van Halen Light My Fire - Doors For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Et Cetera.
However, you need to be secure as a musician. Do you agree with this? By the way, I love that repertoire you posted. I think you can get a much better venue. Anyone who doesn't love those songs is weird.
Red, it seems like the dueling piano concept has set into the mind of the club owner/manager. At Universal City in Los Angeles there is a fireball club with two high energy dueling pianos who really keep the energy flowing and the crowd in a high energetic mood.
Some pianists in bars/restaurants are playing just background music. Other, more lively places want the piano to really cut through the crowd and establish a high energy vibe, possibly audience sing a longs. Sometimes a piano player is more of an entertainer than a dedicated fine pianist and their style just doesn't fit the room.
What I would advise for you to do, is go on youtube and find cocktail and cruise ship pianists and see what they are playing and how the crowd is reacting to what tunes they are doing.
Also more lively and up tunes like "S'Wonderful", "I Got Rhythm," "A Foggy Day," "Speak Low," "One Note Samba," will always liven up the joint. Give it a shot.
I don't necessarily think the problem is with you. Although, I'm glad you are not too arrogant to not look inward briefly to double check you are doing all the right things.
But remember, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... and not all people can see"
(or "hear" in this case).
In other words don't take the opinion of just 1 mortal as the Gospel.
Heres some standards I play that are bouncy and fun:
-Honeysuckle Rose -After You've Gone -Tangerine -All of Me -Have you met Miss Jones? -Lullaby of Birdland -At Last -Don't Get Around Much Anymore -Sweet Georgia Brown
Just give them an oom-pah left hand and they're full of energy!
I do all these very upbeat songs: Born This Way (Lady Gaga), Dynamite (Taio Cruz) , Don't Stop believing, Gangnam Style, Don't Stop The Party (Pitbull), Scream and Shout (wil.I.am) Scream (Usher), Titanium (Sia), Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae),Clarity (Foxes), Just Give Me A Reason, Good Tinme (Carly Rae), Poker Face, Paparazzi (gaga), DJ Got Us Fallin In Love Again (Usher), Whistle (Flo Rida), Feel THis Moment (Pitbull 7 Christina), What Makes You Beautiful (1 Direction), Teenage Dream (Katy Perry), Firework (Katy Perry.), Hot n Cold (Katy Perry), The One That Got Away (Katy Perry), Sweet Child Of Mine (Guns Roses) Sweet Home Alabama, It's A Beautiful Day (U2)
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