On another list someone said that they were in their local Nordstrom's a couple times and were shocked at how poor the pianists were.

Then another comment was made that someone "had heard in musical circles" that Nordstrom's makes a point of hiring pianists "who aren't that good" because they don't want customers to stop and listen too closely, they just want them to keep moving and shopping.

It made me think of how I had read that several Nordstrom stores had let their pianists go "because customers prefer canned music."

Do they prefer canned music because the Nordstrom pianists are awful?

Anyway, since I've recently started playing in a department store (not Nordstrom), and having never been in a Nordstrom, I found that all very interesting.

It sounds like a crazy idea to deliberately hire weak musicians in the hope that your customers will spend more money. It seems more like the opposite would be true.

Anyone know anything about this, or have an opinion?

That's normal. It seems like these people learned enough music to get by and focused on making connections and promotion. It's 100% business and they have no musical aspiration beyond that.

Where I live, most of the wedding gig are done by one man rhythm section. A lot of keyboard players learn how to press chords on the auto-accompaniment feature and that's pretty much their entire musical career. They can make $200-300 a night on wedding easily, just don't ask them to do anything beyond that. Some of them can't play the piano at all!

In the end, this is capitalism, and this is what people demand in places like Nordstrom/hotel lounge/wedding gigs. Musicians may have objections about the quality of music, but these people just want music to maximize profit . If you play so well that it takes attention away from the products you are selling, then you've failed as a businessman.

Even though these people might not have spent that much time working on their musical chops, chances are they worked hard to promote themselves, and IMO I don't think I'd be able to do those gigs because the music is so boring(especially auto-accompaniment stuff).. either way you look at it, they are just fulfilling what the market/people demand.

Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to play a CD?

The "not that good" comment came from someone who DIDN'T get the gig, I imagine? :-)

Never heard of Nordstrom, but I assume it's a chain of shops? Great that they hire live musicians at all!

I've done a few gigs where the requirement was "musical wallpaper". If I had to do one regularly, I'd buy a keyboard with auto-accompaniment. They do exactly what's required! And I'd try to find somewhere to prop up a book or magazine to keep my mind occupied :-)

>>Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to play a CD?
But not as classy

Las Vegas (where I go often) is the Mecca of marketing. In the hallways out of shows, they have beautiful expensive paintings, but London-metro like drafts that make it impossible to stay. They simply don't want you to stay. But it's classy.

Anyway, I have no idea about Nordstrom but thanks for sharing, those are interesting thoughts.

The Norstrom stores in San Diego have done away with their pianos[ I believe they always had Steinways]...probably a sign of the economy and also the expense of keeping the piano adjusted and tuned.

rada

This thread brings back memories of a Christmas season in Fairfax VA, circa 1990. Near Christmas, I entered a J C Penny store in the Fair Oaks Mall. I heard beautiful piano music, and following the sound found a white grand piano (I didn't note the size or make), decorated with a large red bow and greens on top. The piano sounded divine, and the player was wonderful too: simple, clear, well-known Christmas carols and other Christmas music.

I wasn't able to stay as long as I would have liked because the store was packed with moving shoppers, most of whom barely slowed to listen.

I went back to the store the following year, but they didn't have the piano. Same as the year following that. I haven't found much reason to go back to that store since.

Hop

Nordstroms IS a chain of stores (mostly apparel and jewelry), however, it is considered more high-end. Well, at least, in my neck of the woods...
I haven't seen a pianist there for a few years now, sadly- I'm thinking it's a cost issue. Have you noticed that even the inventory of goods stocked in stores is less than it used to be?

hmmmm that reminds me of a teacher I had Enos Payne masters degree in music from Aaron copland school of music
and could play his butt off

and he lost a gig to a guy who brought a rhythm band in a box with him this guy was Enos paynes's student

go figure

I've enjoyed hearing pianists at two different Nordstrom stores in Portland (OR) up until a few years ago. In my opinion, they were both good players. Shoppers seemed to appreciate them, too, but I don't see how the happy feeling they got from passing the live music would have affected their shopping. I think the stores stopped hiring piano players simply because they didn't think the music was encouraging enough shopping to justify the musician's pay. It's a shame, though. I hate shopping but I'd happily go into a department store if there were a piano and a player. Or even no player and a sign that says anyone can play!

I've seen that Nordstrom pianists are back again, at least for the holidays. Just note that these pianists play for a PIDDLY amount. And I haven't heard any substandard pianists play.

Glad to hear they're back. That would be a fun gig if you didn't mind the low pay.

I think Nordstrom is just trying to save a few bucks and is using the false, lame excuse that the public prefers canned music. From what I know, most of the Nordstrom piano players are very good but playing for peanuts. Apparently most of them have been let go now (except for holidays).

Here are some interesting articles I found on line:

Nordstrom:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004041287_nordstrom29.html

http://getsatisfaction.com/nordstrom/topics/nordstrom_benching_its_piano_players

http://getsatisfaction.com/nordstrom/topics/nordstrom_benching_its_piano_players

Nordstrom has announced it plans to discontinue the tradition of live piano music starting next year. The company claims most customers prefer the piped-in contemporary music to the classic jazzy tunes played live on a baby grand.

Story: http://www.oregonlive.com/business/or...

I, for one, am shocked that Nordstrom has decided to do this. For me, live piano playing is the hallmark of the Nordstrom brand. Without it, I might as well shop at Macy's.

I have questions for Nordstrom:

First, I would like to know where and how you received this customer "intelligence": Customer surveys? Focus groups? Video-surveilled customer tracking (another wonderful detail in the brave new world of offline shopping)?

Second, I wonder whether your best and most loyal in-store customers have been polled on the subject. I will bet that the vast majority will be disappointed, if not outright shocked.

Third, I wonder if your $15.00 per hour pianists are simply scapegoats for Nordstrom's less than stellar financial projections going forward. Benching your "piano men" is not going to help existing customer dissatisfaction. How much are you saving here in exchange for silencing a wonderful tradition?

This move signals the further decline of the department store as an experience to be savored and lingered over. Shopping becomes less of a social experience and just another chore to be gotten through, like flying coach.

Please rethink your new policy, which will throw many talented musicians out of work and end a unique tradition. Stop listening to your high-priced retail analysts and start listening to your customers (like me).

Nordstrums is on the "no-buy" list

I stopped into a Nordstrom's this month to inquire about their pianist policy. The salesperson said that some of the larger stores (e.g., South Coast Plaza in Orange County) continue to have pianists. The store I went to (Main Place Mall in Santa Ana) doesn't.