Hiring live music for a wedding, milestone party, or corporate evening is one of those decisions that quietly makes or breaks the night. As someone on the other side of the booking — Jon plays solo piano and performs with a full touring band — here's the short list worth running through before signing anything.
Match the act to the room
- Solo piano suits cocktail hours, dinners, ceremonies, and anywhere conversation matters.
- A full band suits dancing, a big reveal, or a crowd that wants a show.
- Some events want both across the night — ask whether the act can scale.
Questions worth asking up front
- Can they read the room? Volume and song choice should flex with the moment, not run a fixed setlist.
- What does the setup need? Power, space, and load-in access are easy to overlook until the day of.
- Do they take requests — and is there a window to send must-plays and do-not-plays in advance?
- What's the backup plan if gear fails? A pro has one.
What a professional brings beyond the playing
- A rig that's reliable, not just impressive.
- Appropriate dress and a low-drama presence.
- Clear communication before the date, so nothing's a surprise.
The right music disappears into the evening in the best way — it just feels like the night was always going to sound that good. Booking a date? Reach out.