Tomorrow night I am playing gratis at a charity function -- cocktail hour and dinner at the Ritz. Supposedly 300 guests.

I've never done anything like this, but would like to do it again, preferably being paid the next time!

Any tips or advice? Things to do or avoid? Things that might get me invited back at the Ritz and/or by some of the guests?

Thanks
Redhead1

Put out Business cards. One or more of the 300 guests might use you for another reception.

Do you have enough tunes memorized or can you use a fake book on the gig for the event? Do you have any info about the piano, is it in tune, or do you bring in your own keyboard? Dress the part to the max, is it formal or casual?

I'd say just relax, play background music and look like you are having fun and everything should go fine.

katt

Make yourself a rough set-list so you do not vapor lock on what to play next.

GET PAID.

Well, I just got back!

It was fun and a good experience for me, but unfortunately I doubt much will come of it. The piano was in a corner by the kitchen, so nobody even came near me, let alone take a card.

I enjoyed playing, but it was hard to tell if people enjoyed it or not. I didn't get any feedback.

When I left, I stopped by the front desk and dropped off a copy of my card and demo CD for the catering director there. Figured I might as well.

Thanks for the tips!
Redhead

Sorry to hear that it wasn't so great. I'll bet the piano was an upright or even a spinet, probably out of tune and not well regulated.

I've struggled with this issue too, although I'm not yet ready to do it. I'm wondering about the need to preview the venue, and perhaps even bring a digital piano to make sure that at least it's adequate.

Hope next time goes better,

Hop

Yes, many times the pianist is just playing background music for events and becomes as ignored as the wall paper. Just chalk it up for experience and move ahead to other events or sign with an event planner or management company and see if they can get you booked for gigs.

katt

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Someone once described cocktail piano music as providing a mood for those in need of the mood. I'm going to start playing in senior centers and nursing homes soon (along with a singer). I'm not sure if they pay anything at all.. Do they usually? Anyway, I'd do it for free just for fun.

Good luck next time, Redhead.. I'm sure a place like the Ritz can afford to pay you something!

I play in two, and it's volunteer work - I answered ads that specifically asked for volunteers. There are retirement communities, which is a little different, that I think pay, but nursing homes and senior centers are a different demographic, at least around Santa Fe. I'm also going to call the hospital rehab unit - they have a piano and would love to have someone play sometimes. Again, that's volunteer work.

The band I play with does some charity events, and we're not paid. I have worked for non-profits for years, and some of them are of the size that they can pay the entertainment, and some depend on volunteers. We cover the volunteer ones We do get paid for weddings, contra dances, and other usually-paid events.

There is a performer management non-profit here called Outside In that specifically provides entertainment for prisons, shut-ins, etc, and they do pay their performers, but probably fairly minimally. Again, it's a non-profit formed specifically to coordinate musicians and non-profit venues.

But the experience is good for those of us who are amateurs, and the crowds always love us

I don't, actually, think of it as lowballing the musicians. My brother is a professional musician, and they just finished a volunteer gig at an elementary school. There are volunteers doing a LOT of jobs that professionals get paid for in other circumstances, from accounting to putting out newsletters and more. It doesn't seem different to me for musicians. Just my view, of course.

Cathy

Don't forget the tip jar!

Thanks for the info, Cathy. Where were these ads that you found? I've played organ for local clubs (for free) and churches (for pay), and just now looking to play keyboards anywhere really, but especially senior centers. They probably can't afford to pay much if anything, which is fine. Do you have a portable keyboard, or usually depend on what they have there?

One ad was in the newspaper's Community Bulletin Board, and one was on Craig's List, in the volunteers section. But I'm sure if you just called and asked for the recreation director, or the events coordinator, or explained you'd like to play, they'd get you to the right place. One of the places has a very old, out-of-tune spinet that I play, and I'm talking to the other place next week so I'm not sure what they have. I do have a keyboard that I'd be glad to use, and have been comptemplating taking it in place of the spinet. One place I haven't played yet, but have danced at, has a grand. The rehab unit at the hospital has an old upright, but it was tuned, and I played it a little when I was visiting a friend. I'm sure if I'd get around to calling them they'd be happy to have me come and play semi-regularly. My mother's senior housing unit has a baby grand, but I think it's pretty out of tune. I thought if I wanted to play there (it's not in SF) I might call a tech and have it tuned, or just use my keyboard.

I think there's really a lot of opportunity of the volunteer kind, and one never knows when someone will be around who would be willing to hire you for a paying gig. I keep some business cards handy. I have gotten gigs for musician friends at non-profit charity events, some of which were volunteer and some of which were paid. So there's stuff out there for experience, and the rewards of entertaining shut-ins.

Cathy

No, didn't think to ask for food, and none was offered. Next time I'll know better!
Thankfully, someone on-line suggested I ask for parking validation beforehand, so I did take care of that. I wouldn't have thought of it otherwise, though.

Originally, it presented as "donate your services for our charity, in exchange for the exposure." Don't know how much that kind of exposure is worth (who knows, it could be quite a lot). My name and phone number was in the program, and they also put "a special thanks to me" on their Facebook page. It that lowballing/screwing? Don't know.

Even if nothing ever comes of it, I'm still glad I did it.

Redhead

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Nothing wrong with playing for Charity for free, especially if there is some free advertisement that may lead to paying jobs. You should at least break even, if there are any costs involved such as parking, etc. ask to be reimbursed for your expenses. If food is being served ask them to feed you. I do draw the line at playing for "for profit" entities for free. I recently quit a band because they wanted to do bar gigs for free to "Get their name out there". Too many people are playing those types of gigs for free now none of these establishments will pay local talent anymore.

I have played at for profit nursing homes that do have bugets for eentertainment (although it's not a highpaying gig by any means) and have been paid, but then I've played for church sponsored, and other not for profit nursing homes, senior centers,etc. for free. My take on that issue is if someone is personally making money off of my effort I want a cut, if it's for a worthy cause then I have no problem playing for free.

Thanks again, Cathy... Great ideas, especially the Craig's List/Volunteer section.

Just wondering, what do y'all play for senior centers, assisted living facilities, etc... any favorite requests?

I play anything I know how to play - I'm pretty limited so they don't get much choice

The first request I got was "You are My Sunshine." The second was "De Colores" - a Hispanic folk song.

After that - I play all my ABF recital pieces - The Entertainer, Black and White Rag, Angeline the Baker, etc, and a couple of oldies but goodies - It had to Be You, Irving Berlin, some jigs and reels from contra dancing, some waltzes, Autumn Leaves. I literally only know about 20 things by heart, and that's what they get. I could take lead sheets or some sheet music, but I don't. I do play some of the jigs and reels in waltz time sometimes and they don't know - expanded my repertoire pretty easily with that trick I will also play a tune sometimes as a fast reel, and sometimes in a honky-tonk style, so that gives me some variety, too.

But I'd guess whatever your repertoire is - Beethoven or Berlin - they'll love it. Your old standards should be ideal.

Cathy

Sounds like you have a great repertoire, Cathy! Twenty is plenty, I would think.

Just curious, how much is a typical pay for a gig of this type?

Senior centers $100- 150