COLUMBUS — Two keyboardists make for one big party.
Therein lies the heart of Dueling Pianos International, wherein two seasoned, high-energy, pop-rock musicians tickle the ivories while simultaneously tickling the collective funnybone of an audience charged with singing along to everything from Billy Joel to Bruno Mars to Garth Brooks.
And speaking of true Piano Man Billy Joel, the playing pair usually leave the audience feeling more than alright.
See for yourself at Ivy Tech’s Dueling Pianos: Encore Number 4 at 6 p.m. Jan. 31 at The Commons, 300 Washington St. in downtown Columbus. The 21-and-older interactive fundraiser for Ivy Tech’s Emergency Scholarships and other programs has sold out the past three years, according to organizers. At press time, it already had sold more than half of this year’s 385 seats.
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“There has been just a phenomenal response from the community,” said Therese Copeland, executive director of the Ivy Tech Foundation. “We originally were looking for something new (as a fundraiser). And there already are so many wonderful events going on all over Columbus.
“… And when this began selling out, we just decided to keep going with it until it doesn’t.”
As part of the show’s format, audience members may pay into the pianist’s tip jar if they want a certain song played. Others may pay to stop that song from being played.
The back-and-forth musical tug of war, plus one part of an audience crooning against another section of the crowd, can all be part of the fun involved in the cool duel that raises added funds beyond mere ticket sales.
“We always say that you don’t necessarily have to sing good,” said Jason Scarcelli, president at Lorio-Ross Entertainment, which operates Dueling Pianos International. “You just have to be loud.”
The keyboardists, on the other hand, have to be, well, everything in a sense, he has said. Besides, many of them can play a staggering 3,000 to 4,000 tunes.
“They really have to be a human jukebox, a disc jockey and a comedian, all rolled up into one,” Scarcelli said. “Finding those characters who can do all that can be very difficult.”
But Dueling Pianos International boasts nearly 300 such artists traveling the country. Watch online clips at duelingpianoshows.com and you will find serious singers with a comedian’s timing and sensibility.
“They make it such a high-energy, hand-clapping, toe-tapping good time,” Copeland said. “It helps that it often includes a lot of well-known dance songs and a lot of those fun, sing-out-loud kind of songs. And they bring folks up on stage from the audience.”
The website for the firm based in Royal Oak, Michigan, includes fan feedback from event organizers and general ticket buyers. Many coordinators of the gatherings are much like Ivy Tech’s leaders: They say they plan to host the musicians again they were such a hit.
Kathy Vargo of Detroit has been among those.
“Hands down best dueling pianists I’ve ever seen!” Vargo said. “Super entertaining and talented — and great at getting that corporate … crowd going.”
Edward Levy of Jersey City, New Jersey couldn’t say enough about the musicians, who sometimes include multi-instrumentalists supplementing shows with everything from flute to guitar. Not to mention a range of silly, oversized props befitting a song or artist’s theme.
“We were truly wowed by their talent,” Levy said.
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What: Ivy Tech’s Dueling Pianos: Encore Number Four to benefit the Ivy Tech Foundation’s Emergency Scholarships and programs.
When: 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 31.
Where: The Commons, 300 Washington St. in downtown Columbus.
Tickets: $55 per person at connect.ivytech.edu
Information: Facebook page for Ivy Tech’s Dueling Pianos – Encore Number Four.
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