About us

The players behind Michigan Dueling Pianos

Mike McCaslin, Tim Hunt and their troupe of dueling piano players have decades of experience with bar audiences, corporate shows, fundraisers and wedding receptions.

[Photo: Mike at the piano]

Mike McCaslin

Founder · Laingsburg, MI

Mike grew up in Boyne City, Michigan, singing in the church choir and playing in the high school band and drama productions. He studied music at Michigan State, then spent his teens and early twenties performing solo all over the state.

He also built Halfstack Entertainment, a DJ service focused on wedding receptions and school dances. That's where the show's dance-party side comes from.

In 2001, moonlighting at a pub in Traverse City, Mike caught the end of his first dueling pianos show as Billy McAllister and Smoking George Winters brought down a full house. He's been dueling ever since.

[Photo: Tim at the piano]

Tim Hunt

Grand Ledge, MI

[Tim's bio: background, how he got into dueling pianos, what he's known for on stage, any other instruments.]

And the troupe

When the calendar is full, we have a team of trusted players. If your date shows booked, call anyway. We may be able to send another great team. [Optional: list other players.]

What is dueling pianos?

A request-driven, interactive sing-along. Two piano players sit across from each other and trade songs, acting as ringmasters: keeping the energy up, the crowd involved and the laughs coming.

The audience gets split into rivalries like country vs. rock or men vs. women. Shows take unexpected turns: wait staff get pulled in, lyrics get changed, birthdays get celebrated. Props, costumes and extra instruments make appearances.

A little history

Dueling pianos goes back to New Orleans. In 1933, Pat O'Brien's opened with two grand pianos and two players taking turns on audience requests.

In the 1980s, modern dueling piano clubs started opening across the United States, and soon around the world.

Need a piano on wheels?

Mike also builds custom mobile pianos in his own wood and metal shop. [Link to the mobile piano site, if you want it here.]

See mobile pianos

Bring the show to your event

Check your date, or call 517.285.0965.

Check your date