As I mentioned in another thread, I just got hired to be one of the pianists at a new department store opening soon at a local mall.

Never done anything like that before!

Just wondering if anyone has ever played in that setting, and if so, what it was like, and if you have any advice.

Thanks!
Redhead

Well I have; I'm not going to paint a pretty picture for you ... it kind of sucks.

You will be in a hostile setting, with a majority of shoppers that don't give a [censored], or look at you like "WTF, a pianist, what'll they come up with next time".
Some parents think it's a good idea to send the kids to you because it'll keep them occupied (and it's cheaper than Toys R Us).

Then you have some kind of intermediate mall manager who's trying to earn his salary by giving you instructions re. what/how you should play.

But the worst part is the shoppers that do give a [censored], because they think they know something about music and make obnoxious requests and stupid comments, and you sort of have to talk to them since they're the only ones interested in you.

At the end of the day you're exhausted from smiling all the time and pretending you're enjoying all this crap.

Be prepared ! Good luck ! Let us know how it went !

(I hope at least they give you food).

PS I was in the mall in a big alley, not in a specific store. If you're inside a store it might or might not be different...
Maybe it depends on what the store sells. Furniture, clothing, or sex toys ?

LOL at the auto censored [censored]

You should have a great time. Smile and have fun!

I'd never heard of Von Maur, so I gooled them and pianist - what a great gig! Hope you find that it's fun (from Hidden's post it sounds like you'll need a sense of humor, too ) Let us know how it goes!

Cathy

Oops, I forgot to warn you about those horrible kids who will often start banging on the piano while you're playing, and the parents think it's so cute.

I think you have all the info you need now !

I've done it. It was great money, but it took a couple of days to get used to performing roughly 8 hour days - decent # of breaks though. Bring plenty of water in spill proof containers.

When the crowds thinned, I used the time to practice unfamiliar songs.

I made some great contacts for parties - be sure to have plenty of business cards.

The company actually sent me to other locations for openings, put me up in hotels until a company executive-type slimeball thought that I looked too 'cutting edge' for the store's image.
(This was 20 years ago, I was 32 and wearing a tux. How cutting edge can that be?)