This post might seem counter-intuitive when we're striving to have you book us for your event, but these are great ideas to consider when booking entertainment. Dueling pianos can be a fantastic choice for a unique experience, and they fit well with so many different types of events, as you can see from the multiple services we offer. There are certain situations where they might not be the best fit, though:
1. Formal or Quiet Events
Dueling pianos tend to create an energetic, loud, and thrive on audience interation, which may not be suitable for more formal or quiet events. If the tone of the event is intended to be quiet, introspective, or elegant, dueling pianos may feel out of place. While we can definitely provide instrumental services for a wedding ceremony, dueling pianos fit way better during the reception when there's going to be dancing and singing.
2. Small, Intimate Gatherings
While dueling pianos are excellent for larger events, they may not be ideal for small, intimate gatherings where the focus is on personal conversations. The high-energy, interactive nature of the performance could overshadow quieter moments or be distracting in a space where guests may prefer a more subtle ambiance.
3. Audience Preferences
If your guests have a very specific music preference or if the event has a particular theme (e.g., classical, jazz, or contemporary), dueling pianos may not align with the desired style. Dueling pianos typically focus on crowd-pleasing pop and classic hits, so if your event demands a different genre, it may not be the right fit. While we can certainly bust out some Sinatra, Bobby Darin, and a few other classic jazz standards that fit well within our style, requests for Chopin, Bach, Beethoven, and old jazz standards are primarily instrumental are not really what we focus on.
4. Small Venues or Limited Space
Dueling pianos require significant space for the musicians to perform and for the audience to enjoy the show. Our minimum stage area is typically 8' x 10', and that's not if a drum set is included. In smaller venues or places with limited space, the setup might be too cramped, making it difficult for both the performers and the audience to enjoy the experience fully.
5. Events Focused on Specific Activities
For events where guests are expected to participate in specific activities (e.g., a business seminar, a workshop, or a retreat), dueling pianos can be a distraction. If the event’s agenda requires focus and productivity, the lively nature of a dueling piano show might interfere with the flow of the program.
We have had some great experiences, though, when our style of show is incorporated into the event. In one such situation, smaller teams were created out of a large group of employees, and the teams chose from a list of 10 popular songs to create their own parody lyrics of things that were discussed at the workshop. It helped them to remember the topics and come up with creative ways to include them in the lyrics. Each team, then performed their new version of the song, and it was a lot of fun for everyone involved.
6. Quiet Dining Experiences
In situations where guests are focused on enjoying a meal or having quiet conversations (such as fine dining, or an upscale restaurant experience), the loud and sometimes rowdy nature of dueling pianos might disrupt the atmosphere.
7. Highly Diverse or Niche Audiences
If the audience is highly diverse or has specific musical tastes that don’t align with popular music, dueling pianos could miss the mark. The performers typically cater to a wide range of genres, but they may not be able to meet niche musical preferences or cultural sensitivities.
8. Limited Budgets
The starting price for our dueling pianos package starts at $2,000, which I know can seem expensive. Dueling piano entertainers have a very cultivated skill set, and we're very particular about the entertainers we use at Lo-Fi Jukebox, which means they're worth the money. We won't put someone with little to no experience on a gig simply to book an event. All of our performers have a minimum of 8 years of experience. If you're working with a limited budget, there may be more cost-effective entertainment options that could provide a similar atmosphere without the need for multiple performers and equipment. One of the possibilities to consider is hiring a solo performer with us instead of dueling pianos.
9. Networking Events
I saved the most important one for last. Dueling pianos are simply not a great choice for networking events. We understand that you want to provide entertainment, but we love being the center of attention (at first) so that we can include the audience as much as possible and have you become the focus. If people are trying to network, they're more interested in having conversations to make connections. We did perform at one event where almost everyone in the room left to go to the lobby so that they could talk to each other. Despite our volume being extremely low (and still being told to turn it down), this was a chance for people to interact with other colleagues and possible business partners and was not a good choice for dueling pianos. Definitely consider us for your holiday party or employee appreciation event, but for networking opportunities, something like a jazz trio will probably work better.
In general, the key is to consider the tone, audience, and objectives of your event when deciding whether dueling pianos will be an appropriate entertainment choice.
Comments