Since the late 1890s, dueling pianos have been a source of entertainment. When this trend first started, it was essentially a race for the two performing artists, who would try to play faster than each other to win the duel.
In the modern day, there are bars and clubs that are known specifically for this kind of act, but the spirit of it has changed since its origins. Instead of being competitive, it is usually more collaborative. The pianists now work together to entertain the crowd and create an upbeat atmosphere, often going so far as to invite the audience to sing along and be part of the show.
In addition to a playing style that includes a lot of showy gestures and flourishes, there is often verbal banter as well. The musicians will tell jokes, sing humorous lyrics to the tunes of the songs they are playing, or have funny improvised exchanges. Some pairs of pianists will work together frequently, like a comedy duo, whereas other times two solo artists will be put together onstage in a random pairing and will have to create their act in the heat of the moment, discovering their unique chemistry in front of a live audience.
One of the features of this kind of show is that the patrons can usually ask the musicians to play specific songs. That means the pianists must be familiar with and able to play a greater number of pop and rock music pieces than it is likely for them to be able to memorize completely, even though most of the songs are popular and familiar tunes.
In order to be able to fulfill these requests, pianists who work in this line of entertainment usually bring a songbook with them to a performance. It contains sheet music for songs that may be requested, and which the artists has played before and knows but may not have learned completely by heart.
Although tipping is considered standard practice at almost any bar or club when you make a song request of the musicians, the method by which you ask for your tune changes from place to place. You may have to sign up on a list, or you may simply be able to yell your preferred song title at the performer. Other places will want you to write the song name on a napkin and pass it to the stage. Whatever the system, look for the tip receptacle where you can leave a bit of cash as a sign of gratitude.
Some piano players who work in this line have classical training, whereas others come from a rock background, but regardless of where they learned their trade, playing a dueling pianos show lets the artist share his or her abilities with a lively crowd, and help the patrons have a fun evening out. After more than a hundred years of delighting audiences, this kind of show seems like it is here to stay.
Looking to find the single source of helpful information on dueling pianos?