We recently connected with Steve Laureti and have shared our conversation below.

Steve, appreciate you joining us today. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.

I perform Piano Sing-Along and Dueling Piano Shows for many corporate events and fundraisers throughout the US and donate the song request tips back to different causes and organizations. It is a way we can help give back and also have a little fun in the process. We choose to donate to different causes that each event is supporting, from college scholarships to end of life care organizations.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a pianist, singer, and entertainer for events throughout the country. I started playing piano at the age of 5 and was born into a family full of musicians – cousins, uncles, parents, and grandparents. My grandfather, also a singer, would take me to piano lessons every week – by the time I was done, there was always a McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets meal waiting for me in the car. And for a kid growing up in the 90’s, how do you beat that?

I would practice what I learned (usually a Sinatra song) and we would go back to the piano at his family restaurant and work out the songs.

My clients call me to perform for their cocktail receptions, dinners, and corporate events. I believe there is truly nothing like the piano. The piano elevates the atmosphere for any event; and my upbeat repertoire of 500+ songs along with the audience engagement makes for a memorable evening.

I specialize in upscale events and work hard to be responsive, on time, reliable, and versatile. I am most proud of the relationships I have built over the span over the last 17+ years performing, which have allowed me to perform at events for The Masters, The US Open, and in places like New York City, Miami, all the way to Utah.

I strive to be the guy that event planners call when they want upscale piano entertainment at their events.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Early in my career, I was a one-man-band. I was lugging tons of equipment, multiple keyboards, drum beats, and was playing at bars and restaurants. I did that for several years and certainly learned a lot in the process. There were many times performing to an empty bar. Sometimes the gigs were cancelled the day of. The hours were long and the pay was stagnant and mediocre.

Over the years, I watched some prominent business people. I knew if I wanted to grow, it was important to pivot my business, for my own satisfaction, and also to increase revenue.

I went back to the basic “Less is More” theory. I wanted to be able to walk into a room and entertain a crowd with just a piano, without all the equipment, so I worked at improving both my piano skills and business acumen. I studied what the best in the business were doing, practiced hard, and (for a difficult one) learned how to say no. That meant turning down certain gigs to pave a path for what I really wanted to focus on.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Reliability, professionalism, versatility.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.TheNewYorkPianist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenewyorkpianist
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevelauretipiano/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevelaureti/
• Other: https://www.UpscaleDuelingPianos.com