Piano music is well loved and a popular choice when choosing an instrumentalist for background ambiance or performances. It can be both magical, haunting, romantic and is very adaptable across many types of event. Piano music can insight various moods and can be both soft or dramatic and many pianists spend years mastering their art. Here at www.EntertainersWorldwide.com, we have put together this little guide to give you all of the hints and advice you need before you book a pianist or keyboardist for your next event!
Want to know more about hiring a pianist/keyboardist? … Keep reading!
Aurelius Sciuka, Pianist / Keyboardist from EntertainersWorldwide.com
What events are pianists or keyboardists suitable for?
Due to the versatility in the sound that a piano can offer, pianists or keyboardists can be booked for many different types of event. Book a pianist / keyboardist for:
- Wedding Ceremony and Wedding Drinks Reception Entertainment
- Wedding Breakfast Entertainment
- Cocktail Party Entertainment
- Sit-Down Dinner Entertainment
- Drinks Reception Entertainment
- Award Ceremony Entertainment
- Corporate Event Entertainment
What is the difference between a pianist / keyboardist?
Although the same skills are involved, a pianist will perform on a piano which is either already situated at your venue, or they will provide their own baby grand piano and set it up in a central location. A keyboardist simply uses an electronic keyboard to perform a similar performance. The sound that comes from both of these instruments does sound slightly different and a keyboard will offer more flexibility when it comes to various settings and sounds available.
David Kofi, Keyboardist from EntertainersWorldwide.com
What does a pianist / keyboardist actually do?
A pianist / keyboardist is a very trained musician who can play a piano or keyboard in a very seamless way. A pianist or keyboardist provides background ambiance for many events and this can be either in a relaxed Jazz type setting, or something more dramatic. They are usually very good at providing the right kind of music for your event, so simply tell a pianist what occasion you are celebrating and the type of mood you wish to create and they will come up with unique ideas for you! Pianists and keyboardists can provide either classical music from many great musicians, instrumental versions of modern songs or their own eclectic jazz sets.
Nóra Tóth-Fekete, Pianist / Keyboardist from EntertainersWorldwide.com
When does a pianist / keyboardist perform?
Depending on your occasion, a pianist or keyboardist will perform at different parts of the celebration. For example, during a wedding a pianist will perform live instrumental music for when your wedding guests are seated, while you walk down the aisle, during the signing of the register and the recessional (walking back down the aisle as a married couple!). If you are hosting a drinks reception or a sit-down dinner, a pianist will perform during the event while guests are chatting among themselves and enjoying the food and drink.
How long with a pianist / keyboardist perform for?
Each musician will have their own dedicated set times; however, it is not unusual for a pianist/keyboardist to perform both short sets of 15 minutes up to longer sets of a couple of hours with breaks in-between. The best thing to do is to ask your chosen performer to see exactly what they have to offer, especially if you need background ambiance for a very long event.
How much does a pianist / keyboardist cost?
Each individual pianist or keyboardist will have their own set costs for booking and this will greatly vary depending on the length of performance, location and distance needed to travel. A keyboardist may also need a PA System depending on the size of your venue and this could incur additional costs. As a general rule of thumb, if a musician doesn’t offer both types of instrument, pianists are usually more expensive to hire than keyboardists. Click here to view all of our pianists and keyboardists available to book near you today!
What should I ask a pianist / keyboardist?
There are many different questions you might wish to ask a pianist or keyboardist before you decide to book, so we have put together this little checklist to give you inspiration and make sure that you don’t forget any of those all-important questions…
- Are you available to play on the date of my event?
- How long can you perform for?
- What musical pieces can you play / What is your repertoire?
- Can you learn new songs if they aren’t in your repertoire?
- Do you have public liability insurance?
- Will you provide your own piano if one isn’t available at the venue?
- How much space will you need to set up for your performance?
- How much will it cost to book you for our event?
- What deposit is needed to secure my date?
- Do you have a contingency plan if you are ill on the date of my event?
How do I choose a pianist / keyboardist?
There are no set rules on choosing a pianist or keyboardist, but we make it really easy to view many different musicians at once. Personal taste is a big factor when selecting the right instrumentalist for your event, but using our entertainment directory, www.EntertainersWorldwide.com you can browse through all of the pianists or keyboardists based near you.
Each musician has their own profile which usually includes their biography, previous experience and customer testimonials. Many of our pianists and keyboardists also offer audio and video clips so that you can listen to and watch their performance. Once you have found a shortlist of pianists / keyboardists that you would like to enquire about, simply click on the green “Request a Quote via Email”. This will provide a drop down form that you fill in and once submitted, gets sent directly to the performer!
We highly recommend either meeting with or speaking over the telephone/FaceTime/Skype before you book a pianist/keyboardist so that you can make sure that they are the perfect fit for your upcoming event. Don’t forget, if you are still undecided in choosing your entertainment, we not only offer a number of different types of instrumentalist, but also other types of entertainment too such as magic and illusion acts, comedy and many more!
Want to Save Time When Booking Your Entertainment? Sit back, relax and have your Entertainment contact you! By adding a post to our website e.g. ‘Pianist for Wedding Ceremony and Drinks Reception on August 23rd’, our available acts will contact you by email. Look at the Entertainer’s publicity, decide which is your favourite and contact them directly! The entire service is completely free of charge. Tell us what entertainment you are looking for now and we will do the rest! Contact us. Or view all of our entertainers, bands, tributes, singers, dancers, musicians, magicians, speciality acts, DJs & other artists worldwide here: www.EntertainersWorldwide.com ———————————————————-
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