GIGGIO USER SPOTLIGHT
Wedding Pianist, James Roscoe
James Roscoe is a full-time wedding pianist, delighting couples across the UK with his musical talents. Specialising in wedding ceremonies, drink receptions, and wedding breakfasts, James's performances are the epitome of elegance and sophistication.
His business has seen exponential growth thanks to his dedication and a little help from innovative tools like Giggio.
Creating Unforgettable Experiences
James's approach to wedding performances is all about crafting an unforgettable atmosphere. He often brings his own electric baby grand piano, ensuring a high-quality sound that enhances every moment of a couple's big day. From playing the bride down the aisle to providing a melodic backdrop during the reception, James focuses on contemporary pop and rock tunes. His instrumental adaptations of popular songs from the last 50 years strike a perfect balance between being recognisable and elegantly understated, making each wedding he plays at unique and memorable.
The Journey to Efficiency with Giggio
Before discovering Giggio, James found himself overwhelmed with administrative tasks. Manually creating booking agreements, contracts, and invoices using Word documents was time-consuming and error-prone. The excitement of receiving a new booking was often overshadowed by the dread of the administrative workload that followed.
This inefficiency became unsustainable as his business grew. “Before I started using Giggio, I think I was doing about 50 wedding gigs a year. And now I'm at the point where I probably play for about 100 wedding gigs a year.” The shift from manual processes to an automated system was a game-changer."
Before I used Giggio, I was living in spreadsheet hell,” James confesses. “When I wanted to see what bookings I had coming up, I had to do things like sort columns by date. I had to have lots of manual formulas as well.”
The decision to adopt Giggio stemmed from a recommendation by a fellow musician. “I started having a look at Giggio and thinking, ‘Okay, I think this probably does a lot of the things that I would find useful in terms of managing my bookings more effectively,’” James shares. After a thorough exploration during a quiet period, he was convinced. “After I've done that for a few weeks, I was really happy that it was going to actually work very well for me and my business.”
James found the platform intuitive and perfectly suited to his needs. It automated his booking processes, minimised errors, and drastically reduced his admin time.
Favourite Features of Giggio
James is particularly enthusiastic about Giggio’s calendar features, “The fact that Giggio syncs all of my bookings automatically onto the calendar app on my iPhone is amazing,” he says. This feature has become indispensable, especially when working in venues with poor signal. “I might just have to quickly check something about the booking, like what time something was going to happen on the day. Because it's all stored on the calendar app, I’ve got the info when I need it.”
This feature not only saves him time but also gives him peace of mind. “I love the calendar sync,” James affirms. “It just really makes me feel confident that I'm not gonna miss a gig, I'm not gonna double book myself.”
Overcoming Challenges and Growing the Business
James's initial hesitation about adopting Giggio stemmed from concerns about the time required to learn a new system and its reliability. However, these fears were quickly dispelled. The platform proved robust, reliable, and specifically tailored to the needs of event performers. His confidence in Giggio grew as it helped him manage his expanding business efficiently.
Before using Giggio, the administrative burden was overwhelming. James admits, “The excitement of taking a booking was being drowned out by the thought of having to do all the admin that comes with it.” Giggio has significantly reduced this burden, allowing him to focus more on his craft. “Now I can just really focus on doing what I actually love doing, which is playing piano for people's wedding days and entertaining them and their guests rather than thinking about doing the admin side of the business,” he explains.
This shift has not only increased his efficiency but has also enabled him to grow his business substantially. “I've doubled the number of gigs that I'm doing each year, and I would say actually the overall admin time that I'm spending on preparing for those gigs is less now with 100 weddings than it was with 50 weddings,” James notes.
Recommendations for Fellow Performers
For other musicians and performers considering Giggio, James has a clear message: it’s a tool that allows you to focus on your passion. “I think the real value in Giggio is that it allows musicians and performers to actually focus on doing what they love, which is entertaining people at events,” he says. By reducing the time spent on administrative tasks, Giggio frees up more time for what truly matters—creating unforgettable experiences for clients.
Looking Ahead
James is optimistic about the future, both for his business and for Giggio. He values the platform’s ongoing development and its commitment to meeting the needs of performers. “One of my initial hesitations was I don't want to move to a platform that hasn't got sustainability,” James admits. However, his fears were unfounded. “It's always really reassuring when you see Giggio saying, ‘We're expanding our team or we're adding new features,’” he says, confident that Giggio will continue to support his business for years to come.
Conclusion
James Roscoe’s journey from struggling with admin to running a streamlined, efficient business is a testament to the power of the right tools. With Giggio, he has not only doubled his bookings but also reclaimed the joy of focusing on his passion—playing music. For performers looking to simplify their administrative workload and elevate their craft, James’s experience with Giggio offers valuable insights and inspiration.
Thanks to James for taking the time to talk to us. You can read more about his business at jamesroscoe.co.uk And follow his business on Instagram: @jamesroscoepiano
