Here I am playing at a department store at the mall:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkkyB77xHsA

Two questions, if you care to answer:
1) On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this video?
2) If you didn't give it a 10, what could I do to make it a 10?

Thanks so much!
Redhead

Well I don't really like rating things like music on a technical level. To me there's really no such thing as "good" or "bad" playing, but just learning more and more as you go along

I can say I did enjoy your playing though!

I'd give you about an 8.5 or so. Judgments in music are are all a matter of taste, but I think I would have preferred it if your accompaniment were a bit softer, thus enabling the melody to sing out more. You might also try shaping the melody with dynamics to make it even more expressive. I think you do a good job of playing this type of music.

Steven

I also had trouble following the melodies, but it might have been the acoustics or the recording method, not necessarily your technique.
Looks like fun and I think you did very well.

If I was in the store I would have liked the live music. I wonder if you can play rag time at Von Maur

Variation is always good. Like this girl did with "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga. Just some change ups like she did on that one piece. Bosa nova changes are always good. Try that. And notice her left hand was "busy"!

Just an observation I noticed, is that you lacked some real movement played with your left hand. When you are playing with a band, you can back off of playing much with your left hand, but when you are playing piano solo, I think you need as much music from both hands as you can bring. Also, I thought your song choices were a bit too mild. You may need to bring some "drama" into the playing. As much simple to dramatic playing as you can. Music box dancer would be a choice and if you can, get that left hand filling in those spots that need to be filled with drama!

Just some thoughts!

You're doing an excellent job of providing exactly the right sound for a department store (and I mean that in a good way).

The three tunes I heard were a little on the corny side, and there was a sameness about them, but that's probably what the store wants.

Song choice is so important. There's a guy in my town who is light years ahead of me in playing piano, but he's SO BORING! He plays these esoteric cerebral jazz pieces that most people have never heard.

If you play someone's favorite tune, they are probably going to love it. Do some googling to find the most requested tunes.

I would make sure that I have a variety of tempos and styles. Can you post a list of tunes that you play?