How The Eighty Eights Brings the College Spirit Better Than Anyone
If you’ve ever seen a great dueling piano show, you already know it’s not just a concert, it’s part comedy, part sing-along, part dance party, and 100% connection.
And if you haven’t yet? Well, then you definitely should keep reading to find out why, when it comes to college events like Parents’ Weekends, alumni gatherings, tailgates, and reunions, dueling pianos might be the entertainment option you’ve been missing.
What Makes a Dueling Piano Show So Great for College Events?
Guests of All Ages Get Involved
What makes dueling pianos so perfect for college events is how it pulls everyone in. At alumni events, there can be a wide range of ages, from recent graduates to proud alums from the class of ’79. But the great thing about a dueling piano show is that we know how to focus on the songs that span generations. While we have a wide range of songs to choose from, Sinatra to Swift, Journey to Justin Timberlake, we know how to blend them together in a way that gets everyone up, clapping, laughing, and singing together.
For Parents’ Weekends, we lean into that even more, because we know how to find the sweet spot between eras mixing in classic rock and Motown for mom and dad and the latest hits for the students. Allowing each generation to bond over music while also connecting the generations.
We take requests on the fly, mix generations through music, and turn a room full of strangers into fast friends. That’s why a dueling piano show is a preferred form of entertainment for a majority of college events.
Dueling Pianos Fit Many Venues
One of the best parts about The Eighty Eights is how easy we make it to bring the show to you. Our mobile dueling pianos setup is completely self-contained, meaning you don’t need a concert hall or a fancy stage to host an unforgettable night. We’ve played on campus quads under the stars, in student unions, alumni centers, gymnasiums, and even under tailgate tents before kickoff.
We travel with everything:
- Two polished grand piano shells with professional keyboards inside (they look and sound incredible).
- A full sound and lighting system that scales to your space.
- Wireless microphones for announcements, awards, or those spontaneous “dad wants to sing Sweet Caroline” moments.
- A setup and teardown crew that handles every detail so your team doesn’t have to lift a finger.
All we need is power and a spot big enough to make some noise — we’ll handle the rest.
This flexibility means we can bring the same polished, high-energy experience whether you’re hosting a formal alumni dinner or a tailgate blowout in the parking lot. Indoors, outdoors, day or night, our setup adapts to your space, your crowd, and your vibe.
Why Texas Colleges Love Booking The Eighty Eights
Here’s why Texas campus event planners and student life teams love having us back year after year:
- We read the room. Parents, students, and alumni all have different vibes — we adjust on the fly to keep everyone engaged.
- We’re clean but high-energy. Think “PG-13 fun” — no cringe jokes, just great music and good energy.
- We’re interactive. From on-stage sing-offs to audience requests, everyone’s part of the show.
- We travel anywhere. Big venue or small, we bring a polished setup that fits.
- We bring the school spirit. Your colors, your songs, your traditions — we make it personal.
We love performing on local college campuses like the University of Texas, University of Texas at Arlington, and St. Edward’s University.
Better Than a Band (or a DJ, too for that matter)
DJs are great for background playlists. Bands are great for concerts.
But for college events? You need something that does more than just fills the room with music you need something that brings everyone together, students, alumni, faculty, and parents.
That’s what a dueling piano show does better than anything else.
It’s not just a playlist; it’s a performance. We work the audience into the show ensuring your event is one that will be remembered. When you book an Eighty Eights Dueling Piano you get music and an interactive performance that is tailored to what your crowd wants. You can check out how we have customized performances for other customers on our Media Page.
With a DJ at a Parents’ Weekend or an alumni reunion they might have one generation vibing while the others check their phones. And with a band they might nail one genre but miss half the room.
Dueling pianos, can jump from Sweet Home Alabama to Taylor Swift, from Don’t Stop Believin’ to Mr. Brightside with one request.
Bridge Generations
Our show is built to bridge generations and energy levels.
- The students get their pop and hip-hop hits.
- The parents get their classic rock anthems.
- The alumni get their nostalgic singalongs from their college years.
- And the faculty? They just get to relax and have fun watching it all happen.
There’s no “sit and listen” zone at a dueling piano show, we turn every event into a live, laughing, singing, clapping crowd experience.
That’s the Dueling Piano Difference.
Let’s Make Your Next Campus Event Legendary
Ready to take your Texas campus event to the next level? If you’re ready to make your event the one people can’t stop talking about Fill out our contact form and tell us your date, your event type, and your crowd size.
We’ll get right back to you with custom options that fit your budget and your venue.
📍 Available to perform on your campus throughout Texas — including Austin, DFW, Houston, and beyond.