I was offered a RM250 per hour job as a pianist at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC), playing for an gala event organized by Mercedes Benz. They were launching a painting auction event to raise funds for UNESCO.

Of course, in an event organized by Mercedes-Benz, everything has to be in the style of the high society. So it is not surprising when guests arrived in a style as if they were going to appear on the cover of Tatler Magazine. Among the guests were the Ambassador of the Philippines to Malaysia.

At about 8.30pm, when people gradually left after the fine dining session, I was playing Nat King Cole’s Unforgettable on the piano. The ambassador stood in front of the piano and sang the words “unforgettable” as I played the corresponding part on the piano.

And so the KLPAC’s General Manager initiated the meet-the-piano-player session, and he said he has been listening to me for the whole evening. He then asked if I play regularly in other venues, because if I do, he’ll bring his wife there. I humbly talk about Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, but stress that I only work as a replacement pianist. We talked a little about the song “Unforgettable“, like how Natalie Cole produce the video of her dad singing with her. He then wants me to play Paul McCartney’s Yesterday. Oh, the horror!!

Hey, wait a minute. Isn’t Yesterday by Paul McCartney the song that I wrongly played on my first job at Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur?

And before I knew it, I started showing of. He remarked that it was very “relaxing”.

As he was about to leave, I waved. He said out loud, “Aaron right?”. “Watch out, I’ll look out of you!”.

Oh wow, this is so exciting. Perhaps, I should consider putting all my other stuffs to rest and concentrate on being a great piano player.