Interesting question from current Layer Method Student Billy:
His words:
“Hi Tim, I have a question. I play the piano mainly for enjoyment. But as I get better, I could see having fun making a little money playing the piano as well. What are realistic ways someone can get gigs to play the piano as a side hustle? Thanks!”
There are lots of ways to earn a few extra dollars from playing the piano. Of course it all depends on how good you are. And two ways stick out to me (mainly from my own experience) that I will share with you.
1) Background dinner music at fancy, but not too fancy restaurants.
My first paying gig was playing 2 or 3 hours of background music at this local restaurant. I was pretty nervous because at the time I knew only what we teach in Module 1 of the Layer Method.
But to my surprise with only those skills I was able to pull it off and have people come up and tell me how great it was (even a real piano teacher said something!) I think I got like $50 for that.
The other place that is dying for people to come and play for them are local retirement homes. Great way to cut your teeth in the gig department. Not sure how much they pay or if anything but it’s not much. What you will get is a very forgiving, appreciative, and attentive (minus some sleeping) audience.
They always ask you back. 😉
So those are a couple ways. Now as you get better you could start doing some private parties as background, singing, type of music. And if you get really good you could find a store in the mall that has a piano just waiting to be played.
Anyhoo…
Before you get to this level you have to learn just a few things on the piano.
And like Billy who is now playing piano and getting better you could be doing the same thing and heading down the path of getting paid to play.
You will need your playing credentials first, which you can get by joining the Layer Method Of Piano Program here:
