Pianist: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What pianist is

A pianist plays live piano for ceremonies, receptions, restaurants and parties, performing classical, jazz and popular pieces. People hire a pianist when they want a warm, live sound that suits a quiet dinner, a ceremony or a gathering.

Signs you need it

  • You want live music for a ceremony, cocktail hour or dinner
  • Your venue has a piano or a keyboard that a pianist can use
  • You want background music that stays quiet while guests talk
  • You want classical or jazz pieces, or a mix of popular songs played on piano
  • You want a featured moment, such as a special song for a toast or a first dance
  • You want music that feels elegant without a full band

What the pro does

  • Asks about the setting, the moments that need music and the styles you like
  • Builds a repertoire of pieces that fits the event and the room
  • Checks the piano or keyboard, then tests the tuning and the volume in the room
  • Plays background pieces during arrival or dinner and featured songs at the times agreed
  • Takes requests that fit the repertoire and the moment
  • Leaves the instrument and clears the space when the event ends

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of the performance and the number of sets
  • Whether the venue has an acoustic piano or the pianist brings a keyboard
  • Whether the piano needs tuning before the event
  • Whether a keyboard must be brought in or a tuned piano is already at the venue
  • Special pieces or arrangements the pianist must learn
  • Whether the pianist covers a ceremony, a reception or both
  • Whether the pianist plays with a vocalist or another musician

What a written quote should spell out

  • Start and end time, and the number of sets
  • Whether the performance is background, featured or both, and the pieces for each part
  • Piano or keyboard details, including tuning needs and who arranges them
  • Equipment the pianist brings and what the venue must provide
  • Setup and teardown times
  • What happens if the pianist cannot attend

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you play an acoustic piano or a keyboard, and do you need the venue to provide one?
  • Who arranges piano tuning, and when should it happen before the event?
  • Can I hear a recording of you playing live on the same kind of instrument?
  • Can you play quietly for dinner, and then play featured pieces?
  • How far in advance do you need the song list?
  • What happens if the venue's piano is out of tune or unavailable?
  • Do you carry liability insurance that covers your performance and any equipment you bring?

Red flags

  • They do not ask what instrument the venue has or whether it is in tune
  • They only share recordings made on a different instrument than the one at your event
  • They say they will play any piece with no time to learn it
  • They will not confirm the setup time or the equipment in writing
  • They have no plan for playing quietly during a dinner

What you can do yourself

You can list the pieces and songs you want, the moments that need music and the volume you prefer. You can also check the venue for a piano, a power outlet if you need a keyboard and a clear spot for the instrument. Hire a pianist for the playing, the tuning check and the volume balance, since piano sound changes a lot with the room.

Licenses and permits

No state license is usually required for a pianist, so ask for proof of liability insurance and references from similar events instead. Venues often handle public performance licensing for recorded music, so confirm with the venue who covers it and check local noise rules with your state or local licensing agency.

Pianist questions

Does a pianist need a license?

Usually not a state license. Ask for insurance and references, and check with the venue about music licensing and noise rules.

Who arranges piano tuning?

Ask the venue whether the piano is maintained. If the event is important, arrange a tuning before the date, and confirm who pays for it in writing.

Can a pianist play a ceremony and a reception?

Many can. Ask whether the price covers both and whether the pianist has separate pieces for the ceremony and the reception.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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