Hi

I have applied for a part time job playing the piano as 'back ground' music in a hotel. It is a very up market, small boutique hotel. They have this 'all inclusive' evening meal where the guests first gather in the lounge for pre dinner drinks and cocktails - mix and mingling the guests (only about 30 people) before they go through to the meal.

Obviously I'll play whatever the manager asks if I get the job - I imagine they'll guide me BUT my question is this ...

I've been asked to go and play for the owner and the manager and I have no idea what to play.
I've a reasonable repertoire of both easy listening and classical music ( encompasses musical theatre, music from films, well known artistes such as Billy Joel, Beatles, Elton John etc, love songs)
- essentially I have prepared the type of music that is enjoyable back ground music.

but what would be your best suggestion for just 1 or 2 pieces at this job evaluation?

what do you like to hear at a resturant / what do you think guests would like??

Thanks in advance for your ideas

For this kind of thing I would usually go for cocktail/lounge type music - something like Round Midnight

Tea for Two.

Misty.
Bev

As Time Goes By

I love sloopy jazz music in restaurants. Gently played on a piano would be bliss....

Soft jazzy bluesy music. Georgia?

At a local tearoom a young man sometimes plays the piano in the afternoon and he plays a mixture of film/musical songs and some gentle jazz and I've also heard him play Tea for Two and some other more 20s things like Bye Bye Blackbird. It's lovely.

I can only think of one hotel that fits the description...from when I worked in travel, guests are probably (but ask if you get the chance, because it's important):

1) corporate sponsors plus invited guests - the sponsor is basically buying the guests' time by providing the cultural bait unobtainable elsewhere - this is your most sophisticated audience, and the sponsors will expect you to be urbane and reliable as well as talented. You may not get this kind of chance, as sponsors will look for a known name.

2)rising businessmen on training seminars - they don't have clients with them, so they are in a bit more of an upbeat rah-rah mood than 1).

3) overseas visitors, mostly couples, from 30s on up. They will expect and appreciate the extra mile from you, but they generally won't want to hear lots of detail from you, just a nod, a smile, and the music.

4) young couples. Probably best to fit the music to the venue (after all, that's the mood they've come for), than specifically to their ages.

For the hoteliers, you are not only a musician, but also part of the decor, and part of the staff - they want to be convinced that if somebody asked you for an ashtray, or made inappropriate comments or impossible requests, you could deal with the matter without major interruptions, or making the guest feel as stupid as s/he deserves to!

As a young man, you already have an advantage in the decor department, so make sure you have a photo or two in your portfolio showing that you can dress appropriately - contemporary downbeat elegant, escaped-from-my-own-wedding, etc. etc.

If you get the job, you may find that they are willing to keep a small stock of your business cards for enquiries.

Musically, I dunno, but if you have experience in accompanying singers or instrumentalists, make sure it's written clearly in your portfolio. If you sightread a treat, or can pick up tunes by ear and arrange on the fly, put that in your portfolio too.

Jazz is evergreen in Japan, but "Latin" piano has been hot here for a while too - malambo, salsa, merengue, tango, or even Cuban...

For quiet, how about something modern and open-sounding like Brian Eno?

P.S. I strongly recommend that you ask if you can audition with a prepared piano piece.... .

Good luck!

Allears

Does the boutique hotel you are thinking of start with M and is a girls name

I have read all your advice with interest. The owner is a pianist of some repute so I am hoping she'll like a nice bit of Rach. to see what I can do and then maybe something bluesy.

I will prepare a specfic CV as suggested Allears - thanks for that idea

Musicman

I think you've answered your own question...

Mmmmmmmm.....sounds about right!

Best of luck!

My only requirements of music in a restaurant is that is should be live and that it should not interfere with my meal, including any conversation that may be going on between me and my dining partner(s). This is in contrast to my normal attitude that it is rude to talk over live music. However, the diners are there to eat - the music is incidental, so be prepared for no-one to listen. Bearing this in mind, provided you don't intrude on their conversations and meals they won't care what you play so please yourself!

There was a very funny sketch on TV many years ago (?? the Kelly Montieth show??) about a singer with the same problem. I seem to remember that later in the evenings a lyric along the lines of " I've lost the feeling in my toes, I want to blow my nose, why don't you decompose . . . ", beautifully sung, went down as well as anything else had!

Good luck!