Meet Charlie Roman of Charlie Roman Hot Club, a Brooklyn, NY-based guitarist and singer who is quickly becoming a standout name in the world of hot jazz and swing. He leads 6-10 piece hot jazz bands with multiple musicians. His fiery guitar style and vocals inspired by the Romantic years of jazz win the hearts of every audience who sees him perform.
Charlie is known for his talent in the hot jazz scene, which refers to upbeat jazz music that makes audiences want to dance and ranges from the 1920s to the 1930s. He also plays jazz from the 40s and 50s, including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and more. Aside from the annual Jazz Age Lawn party on Governor's Island and weekly standing restaurant performances, Charlie performs for a variety of events from weddings and birthday parties to community events and other private celebrations. We recently caught up with Charlie to learn more about his jazz passion, and are excited to share what he had to say!
About Charlie Roman and His Hot Jazz Career.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, what you do, and how you got started!
My name is Charlie Roman, I'm a guitarist and crooner living in NYC that specializes in a niche genre of jazz guitar called gypsy jazz. I run an all-string quintet playing swing music and European jazz of Django Reinhardt and his contemporaries. I also sing a unique repertoire of fun and romantic jazz from the late 20s onward in a 10-piece jazz orchestra called Glad Rags. With The Bash, I'm able to offer a mix and blend of these two styles which is a great source for me to offer different options to all types of clients. I got started in 2010 by meeting some great friends and musicians at local jazz jams in NYC. Playing in multiple bands as a sideman, I slowly decided to start my own project.
Can you share some details about a recent event?
I recently played an event for an upscale French restaurant called Pastis here in NYC. We played their Bastille Day event and it was so much fun! We had a great band with violin, accordion, French vocals, guitar, and bass. It was a unique crowd of locals and French artsy types from the neighborhood. Everyone was super engaged with the music, wine, food, and celebration of Bastille Day. It's always a pleasure to play for a crowd who appreciates the music and can join in on the fun!
What is your key to getting booked for so many different event types?
My key to getting bookings is to have great media, making sure I am the right fit for the performance, and sending a direct message to the client. Patience is also important. It started out slow for me, sometimes clients don't respond, but it's important to follow up, and even give a phone call to touch base. Flexibility is key, I'm very personable naturally so I try to do my best to make it work out for my band and the client.
What is your #1 tip or advice for other jazz bands starting on The Bash?
My #1 piece of advice for new bands is to do what you love. Clients see my passion and always compliment me on my love of music. When you do something with passion, it's very powerful and can make a first-time listener a lifetime fan. Stay true to what you love. Get professional photos and media, and be professional. Having experience is also very important.
What is your key to making clients happy?
My key to making clients happy is to make sure they have no stress. Find out what they want, and give it to them. Sometimes clients don't know what they want, I always try to guide them and recommend certain instruments or songs that can work with the theme of their event or the environment. I like to see if clients have special requests or songs that can make their event extra special.
What is your favorite feature on The Bash?
My favorite feature on The Bash would be Featured Profiles. Ironically, I cannot use this feature because it's all filled in my locale, but I hope one day to join the Featured artist list. My other favorite feature is setting up event insurance easily through the site. The site makes it very easy to get insurance if a client requires it.
