The Piano Bar, Rules and Guidelines

In my limited experience within piano bars I have come up with this advice on how to enjoy them. This is not really for anyone other than foreign kids and younglings but hopefully it is useful.

1. Get there early. You might think it is cool to not show up anywhere on a Saturday night until after 10, but that doesn't fly when there is limited seating and people who are already too drunk to want to get up in the bar. You want to show up around 7 and get a table near the stage. This way you are able to more easily talk to the players.


2. Don't expect the piano players to play your song unless you tip them properly. Ona a slow night this might be a dollar. On a busy night it will be at least a twenty.


3. Don't expect the players to know your song. I have requested so many b-ranked Abba and Queen songs at piano bars only to get the response, "I know Dancing Queen." These people know hundreds of pop standards though so just request another song.


4. Unless you are the DD, never stop having a drink in your hands. No one at a piano bar likes to think that they are with anyone who wants to actually sing well. The singing is just an easy way to replace that awkward conversation that you have to make at most other bars.


5. Don't be the d-bag that requests Piano Man.