I've done a few restaurant gigs and I'm looking for more but they are very hard to get. You really have to talk to the owner and he or she can be hard to track down. Also it seems to have to be an indepent restaurant not a big chain like Red Lobster.

In this economy, an owner doesn't want to have live music if you take up too much physical space, and your not bringing bussiness....

As for your question, I played drums for several years at a trendy Mexican resturant. It was a four piece group that did Gypsy King type music. The crowd loved it- very festive type atmophere. In fact that same band is still there but I left for various reasons...

I sub on drums at an upscale steak house with a trio. The pianist sings like Sinatra and instrumental jazz and lots of bossa nova. He's had the gig forever and it pays well.

My solo keyboard gigs have been a bit rocky. I got a gig at brand new Italian place for a few months and then he went out of bussiness. Too bad. it was a nice place.

Then I did a Japenese resturant for almost a year and then ASCAP wanted a fees from the owner and she didn't want to pay. Too bad becuase she paid very well in cash.

Then I did a another steak house playing keyboards. That lasted a few months and then owner wanted to try the Kareoke stuff- he thought it would be in big crowds. It seemed so tacky for the place. Now he's using an "americana" style guitarist/singer which fits the room better as it is an upscale South Western type place.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think resturant work is better suited for solo piano and maybe vocal. It's a more transparent sound than an arranger keyboard. Volume is a hige issue at these places.

As for material, standards, 50-80's pop,lighter rock, R&B, country and some Latin seems to be good.