Rate-performance as 'cocktail' pianist in london?

Question

What is the going rate? I'm a graduate with my nice jazz degree. Cocktail stuff is something i have a bit of an aptitude at...

My demo is almost complete, when i go handing it round... what do i ask for? Obviously it depends on where, but can somebody throw some figures at me please?

Thankyou

Joel Ison

Answer 1

here it would be about $50 to $70 per performance hour. depending on how you decide on tips The idea of a pianist is to attract and keep customers.  If you can prove yourself to be a draw, you might get more.

Don't be afraid to ask other cocktail pianist what there rate is.

Good luck

Answer 2

All venue owners will complain about how EXPENSIVE music is - no matter how little you charge!  So - why would they HIRE live music?  Because there is not so much money to be made on the entree at dinner - but if you can convince your customers to COME EARLY (and drink and eat appetizers) and STAY LATE ( and have dessert, coffee, another drink or two or three) then that is how the venue makes money.  So, for you to only quietly play in the background, unless the venue is so secure and upper-class that they can afford you, is not going to MAKE work for you.  You must offer something that ATTRACTS people, so that the owner can see that business is better when you are there, than when you are NOT.  

Do you sing?  Do you have the personality to work a piano bar, where customers sing, or you can take requests?  Do you have ethnic sets, so that if you were hired in an Italian, or French of Greek restaurant, you could play to suit?  NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS did I think I was going to be playing so much Viennese waltz music - but we made a niche in a supply/demand situation - go figure!  

See if there are singers (actual possibilities of WORKING ones, not wannabes) who are looking for an accompanist.  Clearly, network with other compatible players, and hang out around bands until you are comfortable approaching them about subbing.  People change personnel for the oddest reasons - and being known and available beats being lucky.  You are going to have to really hustle to FIND the work.  We always joke that a lot of gigs are fun, and we would play for FREE - but we earned the big money LANDING the job.

I wish you luck.  I have NEVER had to take a "day job" - always worked full-time in music - it CAN be done.