Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner - Non Classical No business cards when playing for a wedding??

I'm reading an interesting and helpful book called "The Musician's Guide to Brides" by Anne Roos. I wish I'd read it years ago!

She talked to many wedding coordinators who said they didn't like to work with live musicians.

What were their complaints?

The first was drinking on the job or showing up drunk or high. The second was being late and/or setting up equipment in front of guests. Others included not watching for cues, chatting or flirting with guests, talking during the ceremony ....

... And putting out business cards or brochures!

Really?? I always put out my cards and photo postcards. I never thought of that as being unprofessional or rude. I thought it was common and smart, actually!

Any thoughts on this?

I think Ms. Roos's next book should be "The Musician's Guide to Event Planners."

Business cards are smart and subtle. Anyone wants one, they'll take one. The event planner is worried that a client might, heaven help us, call a musician without going through the event planner, thereby cutting into her fee.

I have been leaving cards on the piano for decades and I've never had a complaint. So I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you do a lot of weddings for one particular agency/planner (doubtful, since they go out of business so quickly!), you might consider putting the name of the contact on your card.

LOL. I can't imagine anybody getting bent out of shape by a small display of business cards. It's better than the music being interrupted on numerous occasions by guests coming up and asking for your name/contact info.

I can't see the problem with displaying business cards on the piano. This is quite a dicreet way of offering wedding guests your contact information. I don't, however, believe in putting out business cards out on all the tables, unless the bride or bride groom have stated that you can do so.