Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Laureano.
Hi Joe, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began performing dueling pianos at a piano bar in Columbus, Ohio while I was in college. At the time, I had no idea it would evolve into a 30-plus-year career. In 2003, my piano staff and I decided it was time for a change, so we left that venue and began traveling around the country to perform at various piano bars — including Mojo’s in downtown Grand Rapids.
After about a year, I took over responsibility for booking entertainment not only for that room, but eventually for more than 20 dueling piano bars nationwide, managing a roster of over 30 piano players based in multiple cities. During that time, I also continued performing private events — primarily wedding receptions — and both sides of the business grew steadily.
In 2009, I met my wife, Dana, and moved permanently to Grand Rapids. Once here, I shifted my focus to the private party and wedding market and stepped away from booking piano bars. Today, I perform almost exclusively at private events, including as many as 40 wedding receptions each year between my two groups: Main Street Dueling Pianos and my more traditional cover band, Great Scott.
Last year, Great Scott had the honor of being named a finalist for Best Band in Grand Rapids by Grand Rapids Magazine, and things continue to head in the right direction for both groups.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a performer—or a booking agent—isn’t always glamorous. As a performer, it means long days and even longer nights: early mornings on the road to a gig, late nights getting back home after the show. In my early years, I’d spend a week or two on the road at dueling piano clubs, and later, I spent stretches performing in Vegas over about a decade.
The toughest times were the back-to-back gigs. I’d play up north in Petoskey, drive home that night for just a few hours of sleep, and turn right around the next day to head to Davenport, Green Bay, or Cincinnati. It’s physically exhausting—but being away from home is even harder. I always hated leaving my wife and kids, especially when I’d barely see them between shows.
Being a booking agent comes with its own challenges. Things pop up constantly—someone gets sick, a performer cancels, a client wants last-minute changes. The key is having a strong network—you might not have every solution yourself, but you know someone who does. At the end of the day, both sides are counting on you: the client depends on you to make their event the best it can be, and the performer relies on you to help them make their income and keep their career moving forward.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been performing professionally my entire life, but my career officially began in 1994 at a dueling piano bar in Columbus, OH, called Howl at the Moon. Since then, I’ve traveled across the country performing for wedding receptions, corporate events, country club parties, and dueling piano bars.
In 2003, I started performing at Mojo’s Dueling Piano Bar in Grand Rapids, and I made the move here in 2009 after meeting my wife, who was graduating with her Graphic Design degree from Kendall College of Art and Design.
Since 2013, I’ve focused exclusively on booking private events, specializing in wedding receptions with both of my performing groups: Main Street Dueling Pianos and my more traditional cover band, Great Scott. Both have become well-known in the wedding vendor industry, and in 2025, Great Scott was a finalist for “Best Band in Grand Rapids” by Grand Rapids Magazine. That’s an honor I’m especially proud of, considering we primarily perform private events and aren’t in the public eye—our reputation has grown almost entirely through word of mouth.
I’m proudest of the incredible musicians and entertainers I get to work with. What sets us apart is that we combine strong, professional musicianship with a true audience-first approach. Every show isn’t just about playing music—it’s about creating an experience for the people in front of us. If guests just wanted to listen to music, they could turn on the radio. We’re there to entertain, and that means using our musical skills to engage the audience, make them feel included, and give them a show they’ll remember. It takes a special mindset to deliver that level of performance every time, and I feel privileged to work with people who do.
What’s next?
Our plan is simple: keep doing what we do best—bringing top-notch musicianship combined with entertaining, engaging humor to every audience. Whether it’s a wedding reception, a corporate event, a country club party, or a street festival, we aim to put on the best show possible. Our goal is that when the lights go down, everyone feels like they were part of something truly special.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.greatscottlive.com and www.mainstreetduelingpianos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greatscottlive and https://www.instagram.com/mainstreetduel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greatscottlive and https://www.facebook.com/mainstreetduel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@greatscott1039 and https://www.youtube.com/@mainstreetduel
