One on One with Piano Rob

I first was introduced to Jellyrolls and Piano Rob in 2014 by my then roommate Jason. Jason likes structure and order: so we went to this dueling piano bar basically when the door opened. We were the only ones there for at least 20 minutes. It was like a private concert with 2 guys playing pianos and singing any request we had. I have been to Jellyrolls since because I love essentially all types of music. Even though I don't like bars I will make exceptions occasionally if there is live music. 

Jellyrolls is positioned at the Walt Disney World Boardwalk Resort between Epcot and Hollywood Studios. 

I decided to do this blog series showcasing talented men in Orlando. Ones that make people smile with their talent. In this trying time we could all use some more smiles. Piano Rob was a perfect choice to kick off this series. Let's jump into the interview.

When did you start playing music? 

 I started playing when I was 5.

Can you play other instruments besides piano? 

Yes. I took guitar lessons in high school. When I worked at Howl at the Moon I really picked up the bass and drums. When I was in grammar school and middle school I played clarinet and bass clarinet but I doubt I could do that anymore. Also a little bit a tenor saxophone in jazz band.

Impressive. I have a feeling that if you picked those up again you could learn it quickly. 

Have you ever had lessons for piano or voice? 

I never had a voice lessons. My grandmother is the one who taught me Piano. She was a teacher.

Aren't grandmas the best?! 

What other hobbies do you have?

I’ve always loved sports. Golf and Softball are the only ones I really do anymore. Hockey was always my favorite growing up. I also absolutely love video games. I try to go swimming a couple of times a week to stay in some form of shape. I’m a big foodie too. I love food. And of course living in Orlando I love me a good theme park.

What's your favorite genre of music? 

The easy answer is rock. I grew up on classic rock. I love Billy Joel, the Beatles, and Bon Jovi. But as far as just cruise around I’ve always loved pop punk by blink-182 and Green Day stuff.

I grew up on a lot of 70s rock so I would also agree that may be my favorite as well.

I've heard you say you started at Jellyrolls by a fluke care to expand on that.

I think all my music jobs have been a fluke. I always enjoyed playing but never thought that was a viable way to make a living so I went to college and got my marketing degree. I accidentally fell into Dueling Pianos when I moved down to Florida. Before Jellyrolls I was working at a place called Babygrands in downtown Orlando and it closed suddenly. I played a gig with some guys I knew in the area and they both worked at Jellyrolls and one was leaving so they had an opening. So I went in and tried out and they hired me.

Let's say it's about 12 years in the future. Your kids are grown, are you still playing music, specifically at Jellyrolls? 

I’d like to think so. Before COVID I never had doubts. I’m curious if things go back to normal or if there is a new way of life after all this. I hope there will always be a need for musicians in the future.

I hope so. Music can certainly make a rough day better.  

Have you ever used that marketing degree? Do you ever plan on using it?

I don’t know if I plan on using it at any traditional sense that you were probably thinking of. But in many ways I use it every day. Marketing is how you deal with people and how you figure out what their wants and needs are and then how to satisfy that. It comes in handy whenever I’m looking at things like merchandising or designing a webpage. Marketing skills can be applied to so many different things that it’s really impossible not to use those skills.

What is one thing that keeps playing music from becoming mundane?

The best thing about doing what I do is that the show is never the same. That is the number one reason it doesn’t become mundane. Every night is a different crowd. Different people want different songs and they react to those songs differently. It really never gets boring.

What is one thing you've always wanted to do? (Both professionally and personally.) 

Professionally I honestly never pictured myself where I am so I’m very grateful for that. Of course it would be nice to record an album and actually have that next level success but it’s also not something I need to be happy.

Personally I really haven’t had many other goals other than to be happy. I have a wonderful girlfriend and two beautiful kids and a nice home. As long as I can maintain that I can’t ask for more. I would like a golf simulator in the house. Wink wink. 

What is one piece of advice you've been given that has served you well? 

Do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Of course every day can’t be a happy one but I find that saying did me well.

What is one advice you would give to someone starting out?

I would tell them to be focused on specific goals. The big ones and the little ones. It’s important to have a path and realize how much work goes into being really successful at something. So you need those little goals that you can achieve and keep you going while you keep your eye on the big prize. And while you’re on that path always keep your eyes open because sometimes you end up in a better direction. 

Great advice. One last question.

So since Jellyrolls shut down for Co-Vid you've been doing live-stream concerts nightly taking request on Facebook and Instagram was that your idea? Did you start it to keep busy? 

So when we found out that we were going to be closing for Covid, I didn’t know what to do. So the next day I just went live in the afternoon and played some tunes to entertain myself. The next day I did it again and the next day I did it again and people kept listening. So I just started calling it Quarantunes because it was tunes while we’re quarantined. Then it just became this thing that I kept doing every day and it was making me happy and it seem to make other people happy so who could ask for more than that especially during this time.

Follow Rob and all his adventures on Instagram: @piano_rob. 

As always feel free to like, share and comment. 

Special thanks to Piano Rob and my former roommate Jason for introducing me to some of the best piano playing in the Orlando area.