Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Macy.
Hi Laura, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started taking piano lessons when I was 7 and fell completely in love with it! I had the most amazing piano teacher called Heidi Potter, and her lessons were the highlight of my week! I worked my way through the graded exams with her and took my grade 8 when I was 17. I continued studying music at A Level and, alongside my studies, began working professionally as a pianist, playing for function gigs such as weddings, birthdays, and restaurant events. Alongside performing, I also started teaching private lessons to beginners, and my little piano business began to grow.
At 18, I went on to study a degree in dance rather than music, but I was able to continue working as a pianist alongside my studies. Now that I’ve graduated, I feel really lucky to say that I work as both a professional dancer and a professional pianist!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In January 2023, I got injured and was unable to walk or drive for 10 weeks! I felt so overwhelmed and anxious about earning money; as a recent graduate who was self-employed, I didn’t have the tax history I needed to get financial assistance from the government! And with a broken knee, I also couldn’t work as a dancer or pianist. I knew I had to make ends meet somehow, and at this point in my life, I had about 20 regular piano students who had private lessons with me, and the majority of them agreed to go online to help me out. I adapted their lessons to Zoom, and we made it work until I was out of my brace and could drive again! I’m really lucky that my dad also drove me to weddings and set my equipment up for me, so I did a few live performances with my leg propped up on a chair! Although I was really anxious about it at the time, it was definitely a beautiful reminder that I’m not alone in dealing with difficult situations and how lucky I am to have those people around me who helped me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a pianist, I love to create beautiful, elegant arrangements of songs for brides to walk down the aisle to. I know how many things are running through their minds on their wedding day, and to have that one special piece of music to calm them before they take the first steps down the aisle is such a special gift to be able to give them. I absolutely LOVE playing for weddings (I always cry at them) and being part of someone’s special day in such a unique way.
I recently recorded my arrangement of ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston – a wedding favorite! It was filmed by the incredibly talented videographer – Paul Nilson. His gorgeous cinematic style completely elevated the video; I’d highly recommend him!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3ZXmps21Z4
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think being a combination of both professional and personable is crucial to being a successful pianist. I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to weddings and events, it’s not cheap to hire a live musician, so I want to ensure my client is getting what they pay for and my work is the highest quality! Equally, especially where large-scale events are concerned, I try to be as friendly and accommodating as possible to put the client at ease. They usually have hundreds of things to think about and organize, so installing confidence in the client and being reliable with communication means it’s one less thing for them to think about!
Pricing:
- Wedding Ceremony – $200 per hour
- Wedding Reception – $150 per hour
- Other Function (Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc.) – $175 per hour
- Private Piano Lesson – $60 per hour
- Recording Studio Session – $200 per hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://encoremusicians.com/Laura-Watson
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauramacy/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGU92oWUztkuEZVbHHYUFvA
Image Credits
Paul Nilson
