Now, you are ready to take your kits around to the lounges. If you have an agency with the band you are with ask them about the solo market. With the downturn in band venues a lot of previously band-only agents are working the lounge beat too. The best agent to see is the one that has been doing the lounges for a long time and has built up a reputation at it.
Play For Experience
The best approach to launch your act is to contact a lounge or restaurant and play for a nominal amount to gain experience. A lot of places would love to have live entertainment but cannot afford the cost. You would probably have to bring in your own digital piano, or rent one, but this way you get the experience and some knocking around money and, if it really goes over, you can negotiate a larger sum or percentage. Besides, you have a track record and a place to get the managers of the bigger places with piano bars to come and see you. (Check with your union local to work out the details as the price you agree on may be less than scale.)
It’s The People That Count
When you do start playing in piano bars it is the people that really count. They usually sit not five feet away watching you perform and, in some cases, singing along. This can be very intimidating at first but remember that people who sit up at a piano bar are there to see you and have fun with your music. Sometimes you become a ringmaster trying to keep up with requests and coming up with tunes to satisfy those requests you don’t know yet.( This is a time to note how many times certain songs get requested) Once you become comfortable with playing in this medium you can take the audience along with your show. Your perception of what the crowd wants will start to become second nature and you can veritably lead the audience where you want them to go, almost.
Longevity
Whether you just play requests or lead the show piano bars can be a viable way to keep your interest in playing alive because one of the biggest benefits is: If you keep up a maintenance schedule of learning new songs you can peform until you yourself want to quit.