1. Earn Money as a Cinematic Pianist

The First Paid Gig

When I was 15, I landed my first paid piano gig. I was excited, nervous, and afraid to quote 50 euros for 8 hours of playing across two Christmas days.

I also had to transport my own digital piano. To my surprise, the client did not accept my price. He offered 200 euros instead.

Looking back, I understand the lesson: I had undercharged my service.

Years later, around 2017, I played a Michelin restaurant gig for 50 euros per hour. It was a 4-hour event, they had a grand piano ready, and I could simply arrive, sit down, and play.

Over time, you can charge higher rates and earn better terms, but only if you keep improving your offer, confidence, and proof.

Pricing Your Services

Begin Affordably

Start by offering your service for free or at a low price. This is not about devaluing yourself. It is about building a foundation.

• Gain real-world experience.
• Collect proof that your service creates value.
• Build confidence through repetition.
• Attract your first few clients.

Allow Yourself to Grow

As you gain experience, positive feedback, and better results, gradually increase your rates. Growth is a process, and your pricing should reflect that evolution.

Raise Prices Gradually

Avoid jumping too quickly between pricing tiers. Your first sale is a benchmark. Use it to learn what clients are willing to pay and how to position yourself better.

⚠️ Important: If you increase your prices too quickly, it can undermine trust and hurt your credibility. Move steadily, not abruptly.

Set Boundaries

Do not undercharge or people-please just to make a sale. Set your price, take action, and be patient.

Confidence in your pricing often leads to confident clients.

Current Pricing Example

As of , I charge €200 per hour. I may offer up to a 50% discount to existing clients as a loyalty reward while still honoring the value of my time.

Use Testimonials to Build Trust

Social proof is one of the strongest tools in outreach and marketing. A good testimonial builds credibility, demonstrates value, and lowers resistance for potential clients.

How to Ask

Keep it simple and sincere. Ask directly, and make the purpose clear.

The Testimonial

"For years, Koen Cramer has been a regular at Landhuishotel & Restaurant De Bloemenbeek, where our guests enjoy his virtuoso piano music. Besides stimulating many senses through our culinary creations, all his musical sounds are a feast for the ears. Noblesse oblige!"

Use It in Outreach

A testimonial becomes powerful when it appears close to your offer. It proves that your service already works in a real venue.

Your Funnel

You do not need dozens of testimonials. One authentic, high-quality recommendation from the right person can do more than a long pitch.

Create an Irresistible Offer

An irresistible offer is not about pressure. It is about creating so much clear value that the client feels the opportunity is obvious.

Price becomes easier to accept when the perceived value outweighs it by 10x or more.

You are not just selling a service. You are reducing risk, saving time, and helping the client reach a desired result: happy customers.

Package Results, Not Time

Instead of saying I play piano at restaurants, sell the outcome.

"An elegant, custom-curated musical atmosphere that elevates your guests' dining experience and enhances brand perception."

Add a No-Brainer Entry Point

Offer a risk-free or low-friction way to try your service.

"The easiest way to get started is to offer my services for the first 4 hours at no cost, provided transportation from Enschede is covered."

Use Proof Immediately

Use credible, specific testimonials to build instant trust. Do not wait until you are famous. Start collecting authentic words from real clients as early as possible.

Offer Funnel

• Get emails opened with subject lines focused on outcomes.
• Get responses with a low-risk offer and real-world proof.
• Get sales after the client hears or understands the value.

Finding Any Email Address

After years of outreach, the pattern is clear: personalized emails are useful, but follow-up emails are what usually get replies.

You do not need a huge network. You need a reliable system for finding the right contact, writing a short message, and following up like a real person.

Step 1: Use a Finder Tool

You can find many professional email addresses with a tool like Hunter.

• Open a fresh Google Sheet.
• Install the Hunter for Sheets plugin.
• Add First name, Last name, Domain, and optionally Company name.
• Open Extensions > Hunter > Finder.
• Click Find email addresses.

Common Email Patterns

• steve@apple.com
• steve.jobs@apple.com
• stevejobs@apple.com
• stevej@apple.com
• sjobs@apple.com
• s.jobs@apple.com

If a valid match is found, the tool can return the email address, confidence score, and verification status. Now you have the contact. Next, write the message.

Writing a Cold Email That Gets Replies

The best emails are short, honest, and structured around three psychological pillars.

Keep it tight and end with a clear, low-pressure call to action.

Why It Works

• It is short.
• It makes a genuine connection.
• It references proof through a project name.
• It ends with a friendly ask that does not feel like a sales pitch.

Pro tip: link your work inside the text with Ctrl + K or Cmd + K, so the email stays clean and clickable.

The Most Important Email Tip

Most people do not reply to the first email, not because they are uninterested, but because they are busy. This is where follow-ups matter.

That is it. Three lines. No pressure. It reminds them of your message without sounding robotic.

Follow up 2-3 times max. Each time, stay short and human. The more you follow up, the more intentional you should sound.

Final Email Principles

• First emails build awareness.
• Follow-ups build action.
• Do not over-explain. Lead with clarity and curiosity.
• Email is about connection, not only conversion.

The Benchmark Formula

Success in sales starts with clarity. The Benchmark Formula helps you measure performance in a simple, motivating way.

The higher your benchmark, the more consistent and scalable your sales process becomes.

Start With 1

Do not obsess over big numbers right away. Focus on making one sale. That is where your income skills begin.

Once you get used to selling, refine your offer, messaging, and funnel to increase your benchmark.

Mindset Shift

No sales does not automatically mean no interest. It often means people are still considering your offer.

Keep showing up, refining your pitch, and staying consistent.

Action Step

• Calculate how many sales you made in the last 7 days.
• Choose the benchmark you want next week, such as 0.2 or 1.4.
• Focus on improving the income-producing skill that will move that number.