MY FIRST LOUNGE PIANO GIG

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:19 pm

First, props to Paul W for the idea I stole to put thread titles I start in all CAPS.

Got home from my first real "lounge piano" gig. Played three hours of contemp pop tunes on solo piano at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse here in town. Sweet gig. Wished it was a Rickenbacker bar though.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:56 pm

Nice going, Jdog! You know, of course, that what comes to mind are the Bill Murray 'lounge singer' routines on SNL way back when ... ("Star wars, nothing but star wars ...")

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 5:35 am

When I saw the title, JDog, I knew it was you, after that great snippet you posted a month or so back...

In Toluca Lake (LA) there was a REAL piano bar (is it still there? I wonder) called Alfonso's...it's full of regulars--older folks, many show bizzers--who get up and sing. The bar is a actually built right up to the piano in places. It is a very entertaining evening if you like old standards performed by old standards.

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:11 am

Ha!

Last night rubbed me the wrong way a little. One of the company founders was in with some friends and partied all night. I was "encouraged" by restaurant management (a former TB Bucs linebacker to boot) not to take any breaks, and stay after the restaurant closed to keep playing for them.

This was most surprising because it's very out of character for the company, which is usually very good with their people, even (especially, actually) in situations like this. This guy is notorious for being a good customer and tipping huge. Did I get anything? Nope, just a LOT of back pain today from sitting at a piano that's not made for a 6'4" individual such as myself.

Humbug. If I wasn't buying a house, and/or working for the parent company...

Disclaimer: Please understand this is not a representative story and does NOT properly paint a picture of the company, it's just a weird little thing that happened. They really are much better than this 99.9% of the time or I wouldn't have been there 3 1/2 years now. I have the resume to prove it!

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:12 am

Oh I forgot, since I ran out of material, I learned on the fly that "Enter Sandman" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" actually work very well on solo piano! Who knew?

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:24 pm

How were "Smoke On The Water" and "Stairway To Heaven"?

lyle_from_minneapolis · Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:59 pm

Sometimes those forgotten tips come back in spades a few days later, when their hangovers wear off...

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:49 pm

Even a "thank you" would be better than nothing!

A long time ago (not in a galaxy far far away), I went into Alphonsos East restaurant on Balboa in San Diego to pick up a carry out order. In the bar area there was a woman playing acoustic guitar and singing. At the end of her song, I applauded - which then helped to jar the other patrons into applauding. She thanked us, and I wondered whether anyone would have applauded had I not been there. I always applaud anyone performing, even if it's not great, because it takes guts to get up there!

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:39 am

Piano gig is going great. I love it! Some samples from my song list are:

1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
Enter Sandman - Metallica
Teen Spirit - Nirvana

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:33 pm

Oh, so this is an ongoing thing! Glad its still working out for ya.

What else do you play in a typical set?

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 5:06 am

Current song list (for this gig):

Only Wanna Be With You (Hootie & the B.)
Girl (Beck)
Misery (Soul Asylum)
Boss of Me (TMBG)
Low (Cracker)
Laid (James)
Fly (Sugar Ray)
Toxic (Britney)
Buddy Holly (Weezer)
All I Want (Toad the Wet Sprocket)
Time of Your Life (Green Day)
In My Place (Coldplay)
Missing (Beck)
I'm Gonna Burn One Down (Ben Harper)
Don't Know Why (Norah Jones)
Learning To Fly (TP)
Man on the Moon (REM)
You & I Both (Jason Mraz)
Life is a Highway (Tom Cochrane)
You Get What You Give (New Radicals)
Eurotrash Girl (Cracker)
Enter Sandman (Metallica)
You Were Meant For Me (Jewel)
Into the Great Wide Open (TP)
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)
1979 (Smashing Pumpkins)
There She Goes (Sixpence n t r)
Crying Like a Church on Monday (New Radicals)
Is She Really Going Out With Him? (Joe Jackson)
Impression That I Get (Bosstones)
Stacy's Mom (Fountains of Wayne)
Everything (Alanis)
Boyfriendship (Noise Addict)
Landed (Ben Folds)
Standby (Grandaddy)
Flirting with Time (TP)
Trials (Jackopierce)
The Scientist (Coldplay)
Swwet Child o Mine (GNR)
Comfortably Numb (Floyd)
How Deep is Your Love (BG's)
I Wanna Be Sedated (Ramones)
In My Life (with the solo) Beatles
Solsbury Hill (Peter Gabriel)
Somebody's Baby (Jackson Browne)
plus a bunch of less interesting 70s-90s pop tunes

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 6:38 am

So do you sing? Or just play the melodies on piano?

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:26 am

I'd like to request "Breathe Me" by Sia.
Thanks.

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:12 am

just playin'

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 5:22 pm

An impressive list, very diverse.

Sounds like a winner!