Piano for the ceremony, the drinks and dinner
A pianist for hire is one player - on the venue's piano or their own stage keyboard, playing instrumental pieces or singing too - for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, dinners and hotel lounges. Hear them first, agree the music and sign one contract.
Updated 7 November 2026
A pianist is one player - on an acoustic piano where the venue has one, or a stage keyboard they bring - playing instrumental pieces, or singing as a singer-pianist. Piano suits a quiet, elegant room: the ceremony, the drinks, a long dinner, a hotel lounge. For other solo players see solo acts; for a dancefloor see wedding bands.
Weddings · Ceremonies · Drinks receptions · Dinners · Hotel lounges. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one. Each card covers one decision: when to book, what format works and the mistakes that cost bookers money.
| When to BookSummer Saturdays and December go first - book 6 to 12 months ahead for a summer wedding, 3 to 6 for a corporate event, a few weeks for a dinner or a weeknight. See how far ahead to book. |
| What Format WorksTypical shape: 2 or 3 sets of 30 to 45 minutes - the ceremony pieces, background sets through the drinks and dinner. Agree whether there is a tuned piano or the pianist brings a keyboard, the space and power, instrumental or vocals, and any requests. |
| Mistakes to Avoid1. No piano checked. Ask whether the venue's piano is tuned, or plan for a keyboard. 2. No music agreed. Send the ceremony and must-play pieces early. 3. No space or power. A keyboard needs a socket and a flat spot. 4. No breaks agreed. Agree the set times. 5. No contract. Every GigXchange booking has one. |
What each kind of pianist is, and what it suits. Fees for each line-up are in the live table below, so you can match the size of the act to your budget and your room.
| Instrumental pianistClassical, film and pop pieces with no vocals. Suits: Ceremonies, dinners and hotel lounges. |
| Singer-pianistSings and plays - a full set of songs from one performer. Suits: Drinks receptions and parties. |
| Jazz pianistStandards and swing at background volume. Suits: Drinks, dinners and lounge bars - see jazz bands. |
| Pianist with a stage keyboardBrings their own weighted keyboard and speaker. Suits: Marquees and rooms with no piano. |
Tell the act the room, the guest numbers and what the music is for - drinks, dinner or dancing - and they will suggest a line-up. Post your date free on GIGXCHANGE and pianists of every size can apply.
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree with the act before the day. Use it as the checklist for your first call with the act.
| Wedding ceremonyThe walk-in, a piece for the signing and the walk-out. Agree: The pieces, the timings and what the registrar allows. |
| Drinks and dinnerBackground sets between the ceremony and the speeches. Agree: The piano or keyboard, and the volume. |
| Hotel lounge or restaurantA regular background slot. Agree: A run of dates - see live music for hotels. |
| Corporate dinnerPiano on arrival and through dinner. Agree: The start time and the dress code. |
Whatever the occasion, agree the times, the sets and the fee in the chat - every booking on GIGXCHANGE comes with a contract you both sign.
Real UK fee ranges from 5,063 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Pub / barFull band · Solo £162–£330 · Duo £250–£500 | £275–£1,003 |
| WeddingFull band · Solo £271–£500 · Duo £463–£810 | £812–£2,206 |
| CorporateFull band · Solo £281–£474 · Duo £446–£1,275 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private partyFull band · Solo £250–£542 · Duo £250–£500 | £583–£1,353 |
| Festival (30–45 min)Full band · Solo TBC · Duo TBC | £200–£1,783 |
What this performer type actually delivers — by category, with real examples. Use it to check the act covers the moments that matter to you before you ask for a quote.
| Canon in D — Pachelbel |
| A Thousand Years — Christina Perri |
| River Flows in You — Yiruma |
| Perfect — Ed Sheeran |
| Can't Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley |
| Clair de Lune — Debussy |
| Gymnopédie No. 1 — Satie |
| Nuvole Bianche — Ludovico Einaudi |
| Comptine d'un autre été — Yann Tiersen |
| Experience — Ludovico Einaudi |
| Fly Me to the Moon — Frank Sinatra |
| The Way You Look Tonight — Frank Sinatra |
| Autumn Leaves — Joseph Kosma |
| Moon River — Henry Mancini |
| At Last — Etta James |
| Someone Like You — Adele |
| All of Me — John Legend |
| Clocks — Coldplay |
| Your Song — Elton John |
| Piano Man — Billy Joel |
Most acts will learn a request or two if you ask early - a first dance, a family favourite or a walk-on song. Ask in the chat on GIGXCHANGE before you book, so the act confirms it in writing, and listen to the tracks and setlists many acts publish on their profile first.
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works, and what each kind of room tends to put on. Use it to see where your kind of booking fits.
| Ceremony rooms with a piano — the walk-in, the signing and the walk-out |
| Country house hotels — piano through the drinks reception |
| Marquees — a pianist with a stage keyboard and small PA |
| Restaurants and hotel lounges — background sets (see live music for hotels) |
| Afternoon teas and private dining — a quiet solo set |
| Drinks receptions and awards dinners — piano on arrival and through dinner |
Every room is different. Tell the act the venue, the room size, the power and the load-in time, and agree the finish - then put it all in the contract you both sign on GIGXCHANGE.
Three steps, about five minutes from signup to your first booking: post the date and budget, compare the acts who reply or invite one you like, then confirm with a contract and a held deposit.
| 01 | FindFind acts or post your gigBrowse acts by sound, line-up and area, or post your date free - date, venue, genre, budget and set length - and acts apply. The listing is live immediately, visible to every artist in the GigXchange network. |
| 02 | ShortlistReview applicationsArtists apply with profile, tracks, reviews and availability all visible. Start a direct chat with shortlisted acts to confirm details before committing. |
| 03 | BookingBook and pay securelyOnce the fee's signed off, a digital contract is auto-generated for both parties. Funds are held securely via Stripe until the gig is complete. |
Booking for a private party rather than a venue? Start with GigXchange for organisers.
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Hire Pianists
A pianist for hire is one player - on the venue's piano or their own stage keyboard, playing instrumental pieces or singing too - for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, dinners and hotel lounges. Hear them first, agree the music and sign one contract.
Last updated: 7 November 2026
Where to Book Pianists
GIGXCHANGE is where you book pianists direct in the UK. 4 pianists are on the platform, booked for weddings, ceremonies, drinks receptions, dinners and hotel lounges. Listen to each act on their profile, message them before you commit, and every booking comes with a contract you both sign. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee, and the booking fee is 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
A pianist is one player - on an acoustic piano where the venue has one, or a stage keyboard they bring - playing instrumental pieces, or singing as a singer-pianist. Piano suits a quiet, elegant room: the ceremony, the drinks, a long dinner, a hotel lounge. For other solo players see solo acts; for a dancefloor see wedding bands.
Meet the Acts
Real member profiles you can listen to, message and book direct. Each card shows the act's line-up, where they are based and how to start a conversation.
Browse Pianists
All 4 pianists on GigXchange. Filter by line-up and region, then open a profile to listen and message. Every profile has a message button, and most carry music to play and a fee range.
Pick Your Pianist
What each kind of pianist is, and what it suits. Fees for each line-up are in the live table below, so you can match the size of the act to your budget and your room.
- Instrumental pianistClassical, film and pop pieces with no vocals.Suits: Ceremonies, dinners and hotel lounges.
- Singer-pianistSings and plays - a full set of songs from one performer.Suits: Drinks receptions and parties.
- Jazz pianistStandards and swing at background volume.Suits: Drinks, dinners and lounge bars - see jazz bands.
- Pianist with a stage keyboardBrings their own weighted keyboard and speaker.Suits: Marquees and rooms with no piano.
Not sure which to pick?
Tell the act the room, the guest numbers and what the music is for - drinks, dinner or dancing - and they will suggest a line-up. Post your date free on GIGXCHANGE and pianists of every size can apply.
Pianists by Occasion
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree with the act before the day. Use it as the checklist for your first call with the act.
- Wedding ceremonyThe walk-in, a piece for the signing and the walk-out.Agree: The pieces, the timings and what the registrar allows.
- Drinks and dinnerBackground sets between the ceremony and the speeches.Agree: The piano or keyboard, and the volume.
- Hotel lounge or restaurantA regular background slot.Agree: A run of dates - see live music for hotels.
- Corporate dinnerPiano on arrival and through dinner.Agree: The start time and the dress code.
Put it in writing
Whatever the occasion, agree the times, the sets and the fee in the chat - every booking on GIGXCHANGE comes with a contract you both sign.
Booking Playbook
Weddings · Ceremonies · Drinks receptions · Dinners · Hotel lounges. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one. Each card covers one decision: when to book, what format works and the mistakes that cost bookers money.
When to Book
Summer Saturdays and December go first - book 6 to 12 months ahead for a summer wedding, 3 to 6 for a corporate event, a few weeks for a dinner or a weeknight. See how far ahead to book.
What Format Works
Typical shape: 2 or 3 sets of 30 to 45 minutes - the ceremony pieces, background sets through the drinks and dinner. Agree whether there is a tuned piano or the pianist brings a keyboard, the space and power, instrumental or vocals, and any requests.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. No piano checked. Ask whether the venue's piano is tuned, or plan for a keyboard. 2. No music agreed. Send the ceremony and must-play pieces early. 3. No space or power. A keyboard needs a socket and a flat spot. 4. No breaks agreed. Agree the set times. 5. No contract. Every GigXchange booking has one.
What Do UK Gigs Actually Pay?
Real UK fee ranges from 5,063 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Solo | Duo | Full Band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pub / bar | £162–£330 | £250–£500 | £275–£1,003 |
| Wedding | £271–£500 | £463–£810 | £812–£2,206 |
| Corporate | £281–£474 | £446–£1,275 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private party | £250–£542 | £250–£500 | £583–£1,353 |
| Festival (30–45 min) | TBC | TBC | £200–£1,783 |
Repertoire & Format
What this performer type actually delivers — by category, with real examples. Use it to check the act covers the moments that matter to you before you ask for a quote.
Wedding ceremony
- Canon in DPachelbel
- A Thousand YearsChristina Perri
- River Flows in YouYiruma
- PerfectEd Sheeran
- Can't Help Falling in LoveElvis Presley
Classical and film
- Clair de LuneDebussy
- Gymnopédie No. 1Satie
- Nuvole BiancheLudovico Einaudi
- Comptine d'un autre étéYann Tiersen
- ExperienceLudovico Einaudi
Drinks and dinner (jazz and standards)
- Fly Me to the MoonFrank Sinatra
- The Way You Look TonightFrank Sinatra
- Autumn LeavesJoseph Kosma
- Moon RiverHenry Mancini
- At LastEtta James
Pop on piano
- Someone Like YouAdele
- All of MeJohn Legend
- ClocksColdplay
- Your SongElton John
- Piano ManBilly Joel
Requests, first dances and setlists
Most acts will learn a request or two if you ask early - a first dance, a family favourite or a walk-on song. Ask in the chat on GIGXCHANGE before you book, so the act confirms it in writing, and listen to the tracks and setlists many acts publish on their profile first.
Where Pianists Get Booked
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works, and what each kind of room tends to put on. Use it to see where your kind of booking fits.
Weddings
- Ceremony rooms with a pianothe walk-in, the signing and the walk-out
- Country house hotelspiano through the drinks reception
- Marqueesa pianist with a stage keyboard and small PA
Dining and hospitality
- Restaurants and hotel loungesbackground sets (see live music for hotels)
- Afternoon teas and private dininga quiet solo set
Corporate
- Drinks receptions and awards dinnerspiano on arrival and through dinner
Booking for one of these rooms?
Every room is different. Tell the act the venue, the room size, the power and the load-in time, and agree the finish - then put it all in the contract you both sign on GIGXCHANGE.
How to Book on GIGXCHANGE
Three steps, about five minutes from signup to your first booking: post the date and budget, compare the acts who reply or invite one you like, then confirm with a contract and a held deposit.
Find acts or post your gig
Browse acts by sound, line-up and area, or post your date free - date, venue, genre, budget and set length - and acts apply. The listing is live immediately, visible to every artist in the GigXchange network.
Review applications
Artists apply with profile, tracks, reviews and availability all visible. Start a direct chat with shortlisted acts to confirm details before committing.
Book and pay securely
Once the fee's signed off, a digital contract is auto-generated for both parties. Funds are held securely via Stripe until the gig is complete.
Booking for a private party rather than a venue? Start with GigXchange for organisers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 9 questions answered below run from “How much does it cost to hire a pianist in the UK (2026)?” to “We book pianists regularly. How do venues find new ones?”.
Ready to Book a pianist?
Post a gig for free, no card on file. Membership is free, and we are keeping it free permanently for the first 250 sign-ups. Acts reply in the app, and you choose who to book.