Make a Living as a Piano Man? : )
That’s impossible! That’s what I always was led to believe growing up!
Man, am I glad I was wrong – or they were wrong!
First off, I just have always loved to play music and to play music for others. There is something about the joy it brings that is transcendent!
I didn’t want to do anything else for a living not matter how socially or economically unacceptable it was going to be.
So how is it all working out 45 years later?
Well, somewhere in the late 70s I met a pianist name Alan Kelbanoff who was playing at Lilly’s in Boston.
He wasn’t rich like Elton John! But, he would go out and play at make 75 bucks for 3 or 4 hours! And, one crazy thing…he made tips! And, by the time he made $75-100 or more in tips for the night! He would come home with 150-200 a night.
And back in the late 70s that was crazy. And to my mind 50-60/hour sounded fantastic.
My first “legit” gig with a band we were making 200 a week playing 6 nights a week for 5-6 hours a night. And that was ok money in those days, especially for a band. ( and it was fun as the dickens)
And just the fact that tons of musicians will play for next to no money is just a testament to how epic it is to play music.
But, make 150 a night?? What?! Wow, if you could do that 7 nights a week you could make 1050 a week and voila you/I now had a 50K a year job getting paid to do what I have always loved.
So my basic concept was just find gigs every night and go for it.
So, How to Make a Living as a Piano Man?
But then one day I booked two gigs in a day and then three and then one wild day I booked 5 gigs in a day and just start doing the math. If a gig is 100 and you do 5 a day and then you do that 7 days a week well…Well, you can practically afford to buy a car.
The wildest thing about music is that really just playing music is pay enough. It’s really fun.
On top of that if you can make a little $, wow, life can be pretty fun.
Play a ton of gigs and book 5 every day or 6 even…so that’s why I’m always promoting how many gigs I do.
Last week I played for 2 Choir Rehearsals, A church service on Sunday. I also played for two groups of veterans on Monday. I played for fourdifferent very excellent Restaurants from Santa Clarita to Pomona.
Additionally, I created a piano track for a singer who wanted something that sounded like Elton John, whom I love which was fun and pretty easy for me.
I also played for some seniors that I sing for for an hour every Saturday morning ( I have been playing for them for about 4 years now-every Saturday. It’s near where I live )
And I performed for the community where my mother in law stays. This one is a blast too there’s a very excellent sax player who lives there who often will go grab his sax and jam out with me.
All of these gigs are super fun and always a treat.
One thing I’ll say for my “job” it doesn’t get boring.
And Finally How to Make a Living as a Piano Man : Booking!!
Booking …it’s easy, Even if all you want to do is just inquire. Reach out!
Or, Book me here. https://www.marcbosserman.com/contact or even text me 818-269-0988! : )
Additionally, you can check out the reviews on Yelp! https://www.yelp.com/biz/marc-bosserman-pianist-and-vocalist-beverly-hills
Get the Schedule?
Get the details on gigs at https://marcbosserman.com/gigs
And I’m forever looking for new venues, new people to entertain. New songs that people might love!
Additionally, as long as I’m not playing a private event you can hang out and hear me live at Red Restaurant at the Pacific Palms Resort in City of Industry most Fridays, or The Parkway Grill – in Pasadena on Thursdays Sundays at Larsen’s Steakhouse in Valencia. But, always check the schedule. And text me if you want to be sure. I often book private events and can’t always update my schedule.
Here’s a song list too https://marcbosserman.com/song-list