You don’t need a traditional path to build a thriving music career! Just ask Cliff and Susan Prowse, who turned classical piano chops and play-by-ear instincts into a full-blown Lifestyle business. Whether you learned to read music first or figured out theory after the fact, what matters is training your ear to hear intervals, stacking up reps, and putting in the practice until harmony feels like second nature. Use your DAW to sharpen your pitch, but don’t psych yourself or your bandmates out: true tone deafness is rare, and confidence is currency on stage. The bottom line: making a real living in music is absolutely possible when you treat your craft like a skill you never stop sharpening.
Once you hit the stage, remember that the crowd is the star and you’re the emcee who just happens to sing and play. Take your audience on a journey: open at mid-energy, build it up, let it breathe, then hit them again. Mix genres, swap instruments, toss in some comedy, and never leave dead air between songs; keep every second purposeful. Think of your set like a video game where you’re always leveling up the room. Manage your breaks with music that matches the vibe so the party never stalls. Playing covers isn’t just a gig — it’s a masterclass in Entertainment, and entertainment is its own art form. Always Be Performing.
- 00:00:00 Gig Gab 529 – Monday, April 13th, 2026
- 00:03:02 The Ultimate Lifestyle Business
- 00:03:33 Starting with a Pure Mathematics Degree to Piano Bars
- Classical Piano at the base of it all
- 00:05:04 Bumble Boogie piqued Susan’s ears
- Make sure your kids see that inspiration
- 00:07:16 Cliff started with music from the day he was born
- Always treated instruments delicately, even as a toddler
- Learned to play by ear, but never learned to read
- 00:09:44 Reading vs. hearing and Music Theory
- School band director thought he was reading music, when Cliff was just playing by ear and remembering what the band director
- Susan learned to hear intervals
- Cliff decided to learn theory after-the-fact
- 00:14:28 Learning to play before you learn WHY the notes work
- 00:18:18 Breaking down vocal harmonies
- Both Susan and Cliff picks out harmony by ear
- Singing harmonies with the mixolydian scale with the flat 7
- Really, just practice. Repetition is the key to it all!
- 00:27:20 Using your DAW to help improve your singing
- Being actually tone deaf is rare
- Beware of shaking your bandmates’ confidence…or your own
- 00:33:21 Making a living in the music business is possible!
- 00:34:26 The science of the show: Piano Bar strategies
- Top 40, any genre, any decade
- Learning the skills of doing the singalong concept
- Susan and Cliff met on-stage at Willy D’s piano bar in Little Rock
- From piano bars in Little Rock to Los Angeles to Las Vegas and beyond
- 00:38:31 Taking the crowd on a journey
- When you’re there to entertain and throw the party
- The crowd is the star, you AREN’T
- You’re the emcee, the DJ, you just happen to know how to sing and play piano
- Keep it interesting by changing the genre, the groove, the style
- It’s like playing a video game!
- Mid energy, at first, then bring it up, then let it ease, then maybe repeat
- Add variety: different instruments, different singers, different styles
- Add a little comedy to give them a break from the music
- 00:45:44 Manage your breaks
- One school: NEVER stop playing
- Have good break music, make sure the energy matches
- 00:49:48 Managing your dead air
- Don’t allow breaks between songs. Always avoid dead air.
- “Purposeful Talking”
- 00:52:44 Entertainers Academy
- 00:56:44 Being in a cover band is a masterclass of learning entertainment skills
- Entertaining is an art in and of itself
- 01:00:17 Gig Gab 528 Outtro
- Follow Cliff & Susan
- Contact Gig Gab!
The post The Crowd Is the Star: Piano Bar Secrets for Entertaining Any Room – Gig Gab Podcast 529 with Cliff & Susan Prowse appeared first on Gig Gab.
Dave Hamilton, a seasoned tech enthusiast, podcaster, and publisher, has dedicated the past three decades to aiding computer users globally. Known for his insightful advice and valuable product recommendations on the Mac Geek Gab podcast, Dave also enjoys an esteemed reputation as the founder of BackBeat Media, a network of fiercely independent publishers. His online publishing journey took off with The Mac Observer, an acclaimed Apple news site he co-founded in 1998 and led to its successful acquisition in 2021.
Beyond his tech-savvy persona, Dave embraces a vibrant life filled with music and family in the New Hampshire seacoast. He passionately performs with bands Bitter Pill and Fling, among other musical projects, creating a harmonic balance between his love for technology and music. Alongside his wife, Lisa, he raised their two children amidst this symphony of innovation, passion, and independent spirit, showcasing the power of embracing one's interests and using them to make a meaningful impact in the world.
