I think the real issue is that if they let Monica continue to play the piano, the next thing you know the guests would be feeding her.

Word would get out to the ducks who pass the "do not play the piano" sign every day, and don't get fed by the guests ever.

One saavy Duck would organize his minions and then they would only march for food.

Instead, the hotel only has to give the employee who spotted Monica, the employee of the month award. That employee of the month will beam with pride as he parks in the prime "employee of the month" parking spot and the ducks continue to march like lemmings blissfully unaware.

Monica,

Your problem is obvious. You forgot your ID card. Don't let it happen again

I need an ID card too!

Monica, why did you forget the card?!

That card is a ticket to hotel lobby paradise.

Oh well, Why do I always forget that one (or more) note in a piece I've tried to record 100 times that keeps it from being clean?

You shouldn't have needed the card anyway. If they'd heard the first note you'd have gathered a crowd and played for hours. There would have been singing and dancing and drinking and rooms let for the night.

This hotel made a big mistake.

The hotel might be dismembered from its Hotel non-piano playing union!

Matt

Actually, the answer to this situation is very simple, if you just give it a bit of thought.

Good judgement should be used on BOTH sides of the bench!.

From the players side:[/b]

.Have respect for things that don't belong to you.

I too was kicked off a grand piano at a local indian casino last year (of course I did NOT ask permission to play it!), as I was told that the piano actually was owned and belonged to the band that performed for the casino several nights per week.

I, unfortunaltely just ASSumed that the casino owned it and was fair game for anyone competent enough to be willing to play it in public.

Later I realized that I would be really upset if I were the owner of the piano only to come in one night and see total strangers banging away at it. I would be really ticked off!.


From the piano owners side;[/b]:

. Don't "tease" people!

Having a piano of any kind in public without any form of rules posted is just asking for trouble.

In my situation, had a sign been placed on the piano saying something like..."PLEASE do NOT touch or play piano" as it is privately owned or anything to that nature, even the dopiest of people should get the hint!!

The solution[/b]:

Why not just have a lesser expensive piano thats kept in descent shape available for use by people who can actually play or at least respect the instrument!

Rather than discourage or tell people what they can't do, possibly make it a standard feature in business class hotels to have a piano somewhere that its guests can play.

They have aerobic and weightlifting equipment in hotel gyms as well as swimming pools, sauna's, game rooms, even convienient in room mini-bars to get liquored-up!!, how much could it possibly cost to keep at least a descent upright on hand some place on the premises for guests use?.

I would even suggest keeping it in a locked room so the kiddies don't destroy it but have a key available at the front desk for adults (or repectful children) who request it.

This would be very nice, but in the hotels defense, what about the avid drummer or tuba player on vacation?. How about the guy who can't bring his bagpipes on the plane?.... should the hotel have a set of bagpipes on hand for them too??

We all may look at this through the eyes of piano players but in reality, we may have to take a few days off once in a while!

I think that's a great idea... who needs a "ten minute manicure"? But I'd pay real money to play the piano while waiting for a plane. Heck, just stock the kiosk with digitals.

C7 player, I absolutely LOVED my new ID card, even if the "trained professional" comment was stretching the truth more than a bit. But I am going to carry it in my wallet and will whip it out at every hotel I stay in, just to see the look on the management's face.

I am sympathetic to hotels wanting to deal with, and prevent, the kids playing chopsticks factor. I think the best solution is to keep keyboards locked, with a sign posted saying that guests who want to play should request a key from the front desk. There wouldn't be any need to do a talent screen, as I'm willing to guess that the casual "heart and soul" player isn't going to take the effort to ask for a key.

p.s. to super-hunky: the ducks are INSIDE the hotel; they swim around in the fountain in the lobby. That's what makes it a fun place. But there's duck poop everywhere.

Monica, I'm late coming to this conversation, but I'm still incensed that AFTER YOU ASKED, they still came to you in a tizzy about it. In a nice hotel like that, it seems like that would be the ultimate sin. Maybe we should all call the hotel tonight and ask if their practice Kawai has been tuned & regulated recently. Maybe they would be send over a technician before you left!

Have a lovely time indoors.

Nancy

I love the piano player ID card.

As you can see by this picture (Cape Cod Piano Party), the Piano World logo is the key.
Piano World, It's Everywhere You Want To Play.



Also, notice Roberta (LilyLady) is wearing her official Piano World Forums badge, and is therefore allowed to play this piano...

Hey, I want a Piano World certification card too. Do I have to take a test or something like that to get it?

Monica, a new twist... since they allow a PROFESSIONAL[/b] to play it, inform them that you are willing to have your room compensated for services rendered . You could practi...I mean play for an hour or so, in return get room and board for the remainder of your stay...sound good??

You should also get one of those PW ID card too...

It's obvious that they have TOO much $$, 2 pianos in one building and one of them is in the basement?? come on... do they want to sell it??

Frank, where's the application for our PW cards??

Really, you people are just hilarious!

Happy new year and happy birthday to everyone that had birthday

Patty

OMG you guys had me rolling, thanks for the laughs.

I think if you want to play a public piano that has a warning sign, you are supposed to take it and donate it to The Secret International Conspiracy To Liberate Do-Not-Touch-The-Piano Signs. On their website you can get free "Please Play Me" signs to replace them with.

Talk about a conflict of interest... they break your hand for playing that piano and then they treat broken hand for XXX dollars.

It doesn't sound like a nice hospital to me... with a sign like that on the piano. They could find a nicer way to tell people they don't want anyone playing their pretty little piano.

I understand why they wouldn't want children messing it up, but why not allow people to ask for permission. If someone came in who could play the piano decently and not dirty it up or mess it up--- why not excercise it a bit.

I'd stay away from that hospital though... threats to cause bodily damage to a piano lover is a red flag in my book, especially when such threats are made by hospital staff. LOL

I want to print one of those cards up for myself also.

Frank... I think you are on to something about piano playing kiosks. I'd love to be able rent a nice grand piano I could never in my lifetime be able to afford by the hour just to play on for a treat once in awhile.

Hi Monica, sorry for what happened. I was at the Hilton in El Monte california and they had a grand piano in the bar/Lobby that was locked. It was used at night by a paid pianist. I was also thinking about asking for the key at the front dest, but then I decided not to bother. If they refused the key to me, then I would feel not to bad, if I got the key and started playing some Jobim tune or something and was told to stop by a customer that was talking at table next the piano, I would feel really bad. I love to play the piano, but sometimes playing a piano in a hotel lobby is asking for trouble one way or another, in my opinion that is! But on the other hand, if one feels brave and the situation feels right, then go for it and play it! You might also get a gig right on the spot.

QUOTE

Also, notice Roberta (LilyLady) is wearing her official Piano World Forums badge, and is therefore allowed to play this piano...

[/QB][/QUOTE]


Actually, its the PEARLS that helped let me at it!

LOL!

Next time, Monica, wear the badge AND THE PEARLS!

We look totally official with the badge and totally innocent with the pearls! ;-)

It confuses the heck out of hotel personnel.

LL

No need - just ask which room the Bosie is in... (!)

Monica, coming in late to this thread, but I love your story and all the comments!

I also can't bear to see a piano and not be able to play it! I always want to play every piano I see.

I think a lot of us would love the "piano kiosk" thing, it also occurred to me that places that have pianos (hotels and the like) might make a rule that you can play the piano for a small fee. That would discourage the keyboard-bangers and so on, and then the hotel could use that money to keep the piano tuned and regulated.

Imagine you are a young man and think of the piano as a pretty girl and

No never mind.