HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a pianist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A pianist for hire in Ireland costs €300–€800 per booking, typically around €500. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a pianist in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers pianist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — repertoire and customisation — pianists often have a repertoire of songs they can perform, but many are open to learning specific pieces requested by clients.
- How does their experience change the price?An expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does event type change the price?What you pick at the start sets most of the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does length of the performance change the price?A half day and a full day are not twice the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Performance Duration — typically, pianists perform in sets ranging from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the event's schedule — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a pianist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Public liability insurance at the level YOUR VENUE requires — ask the venue first, then the supplier, because the venue sets the number; For anything with a structure or a ride, the inspection or test certificate; A written contract with the date, the hours, the set-up time and the overtime rate; What happens if they are ill — a named arrangement, not reassurance; Whether they have played your venue before, and what the power and access are like; PAT testing on their equipment, which many venues ask to see.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers pianist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — repertoire and customisation — pianists often have a repertoire of songs they can perform, but many are open to learning specific pieces requested by clients.
A good answer: An expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: What you pick at the start sets most of the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A half day and a full day are not twice the price. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Performance Duration — typically, pianists perform in sets ranging from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the event's schedule — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a pianist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew — equipment and Setup — many pianists bring their own instruments, but some may require access to a piano at the venue.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the pianist starts, and an itemised invoice after — event Type specialisation — pianists for hire can cater to various events, such as weddings, corporate functions, or private parties.
Getting the quote right
- Their experience — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour.
- Event type — what you pick at the start sets most of the price.
- Length of the performance — a half day and a full day are not twice the price.
- Complexity of the music — it is agreed before the work starts, not after.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: their experience — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour
- They will not talk about it: event type — what you pick at the start sets most of the price
- They will not talk about it: length of the performance — a half day and a full day are not twice the price
- A price for the pianist before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the pianist has begun
What a pianist costs: €300–€800 per booking
The figures are for the job, per booking, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Wedding pianist and Corporate event pianist each carry their own band. Pianist for Hire price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Pianists near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstTheir experience — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour — that is what the pianist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneEvent type — what you pick at the start sets most of the price — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfLength of the performance — a half day and a full day are not twice the price — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherComplexity of the music — it is agreed before the work starts, not after — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the pianist is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, travel distance — coming to your door is a convenience you pay for.
- Event Type specialisation
- Pianists for hire can cater to various events, such as weddings, corporate functions, or private parties.
- Equipment and Setup
- Many pianists bring their own instruments, but some may require access to a piano at the venue.
- Performance Duration
- Typically, pianists perform in sets ranging from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the event's schedule.
- Repertoire and customisation
- Pianists often have a repertoire of songs they can perform, but many are open to learning specific pieces requested by clients.
- Wedding Pianist
- Specialises in providing music for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and other related events.
- Corporate Event Pianist
- Plays at corporate functions, including product launches, conferences, and networking events.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a pianist: questions people ask
The cost of hiring a pianist can depend on various factors, including their experience, the event type, and location. Additionally, travel distance and any special requests for repertoire can also affect pricing.
Many pianists may offer emergency or same-day availability, but this can depend on their schedule. It's best to reach out directly to discuss availability and any potential additional fees for last-minute bookings.
Some pianists may offer additional services, such as providing background music for different parts of your event or collaborating with other musicians. Always inquire about package deals or discounts for booking multiple services.
Pianists typically do not provide sound equipment or lighting unless specified in the agreement. Additionally, they may not handle event planning or coordination, so it's essential to clarify their role before the event.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and put right if it is not. Say what is wrong in writing first.
MORE GUIDES