“We’ve all seen the stereotyped image of the piano bar player dressed in a loud plaid jacket with frilly shirt and bow-tie, belting out a bourbon-breathed version of ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon’ to an audience of elderly ladies in heavy makeup and cat’s-eye glasses.”
On the lighter side it’s the subject of many cartoons and jokes while the darker side is eulogised in Billy Joel’s The Piano Man, which points out the company of losers associated with a piano bar. To a great many musicians, this is the symbol of a musical career on its last legs; the final option to be considered before admitting defeat in professional music. However, there are some points to consider before dismissing piano bars as a performing medium.
Piano Man Perks
- Economically attractive - you can make as much or more as Mr. Goodwrench.
- Offers artistic freedom - you can slip in your own material without Jimmy Hardrock Clubowner storming up and screaming, ” Cover tunes, I want only cover tunes!”
- The Piano Man was written thirty-five years ago.
Ask a lot of keyboard musicians what work they have to do both to live and support their artistic endeavors and a great many will tell you that they drive cab, wait tables, or do a hundred other nine to five (or not that regular)jobs. Not that this is a bad way to go but a lot of serious composers and recording musicians could use more of the forty-plus hours they spend working for someone else to put into music.
A lot of these musicians also supplement their incomes by dressing up in tuxedos and playing in party bands on the weekends. A good wage is $100 to $150 for sideman on a Friday or Saturday night, which is not bad for just bringing your axe.
Piano Bar Grows in a Shrinking Market
With the demand for live music in clubs diminishing both due to economic considerations and the instant gratification of video technology musicians are finding it harder to get full-time employment. On the other hand, piano bars, while not growing in traditional locations, such as urban hotels, continue to grow in foreign markets and cruise ships where demand has risen with the growth of the travel industry. The irony is that piano bar players have not kept up with the demand as either retirement culls their ranks or the need for younger musicians with a hipper repertoire are badly needed for the piano bar trade. Trade? Yes it would qualify as such because in most cases it takes a lot of time and practice to get to the point where you have a good act.
Piano Bar Music: No Limits
The piano bar player of today is not confined to one style of music. The contrasts in both musicianship and showmanship vary immensely. For example, in one club there may be a player who is in the middle of a set which includes Supertramp, Chicago, and Elton John while in another their maybe someone who is pounding out Monty Python and other comedy ditties.
The range of artistic freedom is not confined to the format ‘Top 40′ radio as it is in most clubs. That is partly due to the fact that the audience is not as focused on one form of music. Also, many piano bars and lounges are not opposed to the idea of synthesizers and sequencers so if this is your bag you can be feel a little more at home playing in your medium with your favourite axe.
The Star Clipper hires piano players