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Frequently Asked Questions |
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About the Jazz Soul Boogie
Band Do you just play for weddings? What is your most popular function band line-up? Do you perform for Charity Events? In which areas of the UK do you perform? Preparing for your event Music FAQs Money quotes & contracts Setting up & technical stuff
How long
does it take you to set up? On the day What car parking arrangements do you need?
Do email me with any other questions you may have - thanks!
Are
you a music agent? Yes, there are true horror stories of agents who charge far more than they should on top of a band's hire fee (I have recently heard of an agent arranging corporate who was charging the client £850 and paying the band £500... that's a 70% agent fee!). Unfortunately these things are not regulated in any way, so quite often it's very difficult to know how much a band is being paid when going through an agent. As I manage my own bands, 10% of the fee I charge will go to cover admin and band management costs such as rehearsal time, admin, equipment maintenance and advertising. Many of the folks who have hired the Jazz Soul Boogie Band say that it is easier and more effective to communicate directly with the band rather than through a third party agent. In fact, most agents worth their salt will direct the client straight to the band once they have received their enquiry. The client can then make a more informed decision as to whether the band are indeed what they are looking for.
How much
do you charge? Please remember that the Jazz Soul Boogie Band uses only professional musicians. Our quoted fee has to include extra expenses of travel, instrument costs, PA equipment and lighting, previous rehearsal time, arranging music, admin management and advertising costs, equipment repair/renew/hire and so on... not forgetting the years of training and study that was needed to attain our musicians' qualifications and professional standard of musicianship. In other words, there is a lot of hidden work behind the scenes of a good quality professional band's typical gig! As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. We are an experienced professional outfit who pride ourselves on delivering high quality music entertainment, time after time. Click here to read feedback from our clients. Also see How is your fee calculated?
Do you need
a deposit?
When do we
have to pay the balance? Interestingly, it is surprising how many event organisers 'forget' about paying the band on the day, and it's a little embarrassing on both sides if I have to chase them up when we've finished! However, we completely understand if you would rather pay us on the day.
How
far do you travel / In which areas of the UK do you perform?
The fee for hiring the Jazz Soul Boogie Band depends upon: - The number of performers (e.g. trio/quartet) - Traveling distance to the gig (and if any accommodation is required) - The size of lighting rig required (if any required - e.g. you may have your own lighting organised) - Whether the event is in the Summer Peak Season (you may be eligible for a 10% off for winter months) - If the event is a Public Event (e.g. restaurant/pub/festival - discount available). - New Year's Eve is a premium-rate date, however, we're pretty competitive compared to other good bands - If you would like us to play significantly more or less than our standard set times. - If the band is to play significantly beyond midnight I will have to pay my musicians more, so our fee, for example, may be an extra +£150 (Jazz Sets Trio) to +£300 (Boogie Sets Quartet). - If you would like to use our PA system to play cd/ipod music (with lighting) after we've finished performing, then we charge an extra £100 for each hour before midnight and £150 per hour thereafter. See Will I Need a DJ? Yes, there are cheaper bands around that say they offer a similar service. I have made a big effort matching the Band's hire fee to the quality of musicianship and entertainment that they provide in comparison to other bands currently available. My advice for hiring any band would be to check them out thoroughly and the best way to do this is to go and listen to them at a gig or rehearsal. Visit the Gig Listing page to see when and where we're next playing!
I need a quote - what
information do I need to give you? - Would you like us to play music for background or for dancing - or a mixture of both? Or perhaps you are looking for us to put on a show performance (e.g. with an intently listening audience!)? - Which band format would you prefer (The Jazz Sets and/or Soul Sets, or the Boogie Sets)? - What size of band would you prefer (e.g. Jazz Quintet with saxophone and trumpet as the 4th and 5th players) - Where is your event going to be held? - What kind of event are you holding (e.g. a wedding reception)? - What times would you like us to start playing and finish? (see How long do you play for?) - What size is the venue (in terms of how many people you are expecting)?
Do you only play for weddings? Wedding reception celebrations do form a large proportion of our gigs. However, we play at a variety of events over the course of a typical year. They range from birthday parties to bar mitzvahs, company garden parties to Christmas celebrations... we're happy as long as people are enjoying our music, whether we're background or for dancing.
Part of the joy of music is being able to play for good causes. The Jazz Soul & Boogie band is always willing to lower their fee to play for charity and also school events throughout the year. Best thing to do is to email me and we can discuss the possibilities!
Do you have your own P.A. system / Disco Lights / Staging / Cd player or iPod? Oh yes, life is sooo much easier when familiar and reliable equipment is used. For background events we use our own discreet PA system which suits a variety of venues. For weddings and celebrations where people want to dance, we bring along a bigger P.A. system which is suitable for venues no larger than medium sized marquees and small halls. For these functions we also have a sound technician taking care of the sound level and quality. This means we can focus all our energies on the music and audience to deliver a top show. For dancing events, we also bring a small lighting rig which will get those feet on the dance floor! If you would like more lighting effects etc, then we can arrange that at a standard hire charge. We very often use a CD player / iPod to play through the PA during our breaks - let us know if you would like anything in particular. Some folks like to compile their own cds for us to play or just let us know the kind of 'vibe' you would like (e.g. easy listening / jazz / R 'n' B / pop / disco...) We do not bring staging with us. You are also welcome to use one of the microphones for making announcements, speeches etc. Just ask, and we'll make the arrangements.
What are your electricity requirements? It depends on the size of the band and the lighting rig we use. For example, for the 5-piece Boogie Sets, our electricity requirements are: - A normal mains 240V socket (nearby within 10m) for the PA system and - Another normal 240V socket for the lighting rig. The PA system will draw about 4 amps maximum and the lighting system will not draw more than 6 amps. All in all, our electrical requirement for a full band set-up with lights is usually smaller than a couple of standard 2kW kettles, so a domestic 240V electricity ring main should be absolutely fine.
Yes - you can choose up to 20 of your favourite songs from our Set Lists! Jazz Sets (Trio/Quartet/Quintet). From a mellow background jazz or 'easy listening' feel to fun swing and more popular styles that folks can dance to - we'll fit them in at the right point as the evening progresses! Soul Sets (3-5 piece band). You can choose your favourite numbers for us to perform in the same way - with the added bonus of being able to choose from the Jazz Sets as well! Boogie Sets (4-6 piece band). Choose your favourite dancy-get-down-and-boogie 'disco' numbers in the same way, with the added bonus of being able to choose from the Jazz Sets and Soul Sets too!
For all our performances, we keep the flow of the evening going so that there are no awkward pauses in between songs whilst folks are having a good time on the dance floor.
Also see Wedding first dances - what are the options?
We very often work alongside a DJ at events from weddings to corporate parties. The Jazz Soul Boogie Band tends play around 2 hours of music in two or three sets during a typical evening function, so if the party is due to start at around 9pm and then to go on beyond midnight, then you would be wise to consider having a DJ to 'take over' once the band has got the crowd going! This also adds a further variety of sound, feel and music to the evening. Folks have asked if we could keep the party going after our performance by playing our selection of cds through the PA system. However, we rarely do this - other than playing a few songs just to 'wind things down' - as by that stage we're pretty much zonked, need to get our equipment packed up whilst keeping enough energy to drive the journey home again! In other words, if it's going to be a great party going on beyond midnight, then we would recommend that you hire a DJ or maybe even hire your own PA system and lights to run your i-pod through! You should easily be able to pick up a medium PA and lights for hire from around £100 without a lot of hassle. Having said that, if you really want to continue the party using our own equipment (PA and lights), then we will charge an hourly rate, which would be agreed in the original contract.
Do you use a booking contract? Yes. This is so that both parties know what to expect and so that 'what would happen if' scenarios are easily dealt with. Nothing fancy - just straight forward stuff like:
Click here to see a sample contract and check out the small print... Have we ever failed a client? Absolutely not - so far, we have performed at 100% of all the gigs we have been booked for!
What car parking arrangements do you need? Generally, each of our musicians drives to the gig, so it's always a pleasure to be able to park near the venue (after unloading). Sometimes it's just not possible and we have to find somewhere else to park, perhaps on the road or in a car park... which can increase set-up times. London and other cities are a particular problem - obviously, but if there are spaces available that you can organise with the venue, we'd be very grateful (and it makes for a speed get-in and get-out).
The Jazz Soul Boogie Band takes great pride in presenting a neat stage appearance! So being able to store our cases and bags in a nearby storage area is a useful point to bear in mind when talking to the event organiser or coordinator. Sometimes... it's just not possible to stow cases away entirely (for example on a river cruise!). However, in these circumstances we'll do our very best to 'compact' everything so it looks neat and presentable.
How long does it take you to set up? We usually need at
least an hour to set up and sound check and a little
more for the Boogie Sets (~75min). This keeps the stress levels low and
makes for a top quality show! When we perform at wedding receptions and other similar events where guests are present (e.g. dining) beforehand, then there are usually two ways to go about the setting up process: - If the performing area is separate from where the guests are, then we will arrive 1-2 hours before the guests are due to move into the band area (some venues have a screened-off area which rolls back to reveal the band when we're all set up). This option assumes that we have separate access to the performing area without having to move equipment through the guests. - If we're performing in the same area that the guests are in beforehand, or if access is difficult once the guests have arrived, then it is better that we set up the bulkier equipment (PA, lights, drums and electric piano) before the guests arrive. However, sometimes the venue layout and event timings mean that we have to set up as discretely as possible with the guests present. In this case, you'll find that the Jazz Soul Boogie Band members will set up quietly and quickly, and will 'sound check' - i.e. make sure the band is sounding right - during the first number we play.
Our standard playing times are either three sets of 45 minutes (most popular) or two sets of just over an hour, with breaks in-between and ending before midnight. If you would like us to play for more or less time, or beyond midnight, then we will adjust our quoted fee accordingly.
Will the band need a hot meal and what about drinks? If we're playing in the evening, then yes please - a Hot and Healthy meal either before we play or during a break will mean that your musicians will be able to pour 100% of their talents into your event! Q: How do you depress a
musician? Performing takes a lot of physical and mental effort, so a well fed band means a happy band which means a great performance, happy guests and a top event! Performing is also thirsty work. However, contrary to popular belief, most professional function musicians are very light alcohol drinkers. After all, we have to be sharp in our performances and drive home at the end of the night. If you are able to arrange a small bar tab for the band (not more than £20 - £30, even if it's just for soft drinks) that would be greatly appreciated.
Wedding first dances - what are the options? It is usually no problem for us to learn a special song to play live for you. Others prefer to play a favourite CD track on our CD player or iPod which is linked to the P.A. system. Here are some of the first dances (with YouTube links) that we've played live in the past:
Or, why not browse through the songs in the Jazz Sets, Soul Sets and Boogie Sets repertoires and pick a song that you like! Feel free to Contact Olly to discuss your choice in more detail.
Yes. I am a member of the Musician's Union and therefore covered by public liability insurance. Please email me and I will send you the latest copy of the certificate.
Do you have an electrical equipment safety certificate (Portable Appliance Testing certificate, PAT) Indeed we do! Please email me and I will send you the latest copy of the certificate.
We're worried about volume levels - how do we control how loud the band is? In both band formats we are very sensitive to the issue of sound levels and make an extra special effort to get the 'right' volume for our clients and for the venue. So what is the 'right' volume level? Hearing safety is the first priority and we will always endeavour to keep the music at a safe hearing level (for more information on safe listening levels, see www.hearingprotection.co.uk). Alongside hearing safety, we want people to enjoy our music! Whether we are playing background jazz or as a full-on disco band, if you think we are too loud (or too quiet!), please let us know - have a quick chat, even while we're performing, to either myself (Olly), or our sound technician and we'll make the change!
Will you liaise with the venue before the day? If you would like us to do so, then of course! However, at a majority of venues we play, we tend to meet the person in charge (for example the duty manager) when we arrive and discuss any important points then. The most important things that the venue should know about before the day are: -
Our arrival, setting up and playing times,
What is the most popular Jazz Soul Boogie Band line-up? Over the years, our most popular format for getting people dancing at events has been either: - the Jazz Sets and/or Soul Sets Quartet (with saxophone), or - the Boogie Sets 5-piece (with... yes, you guessed it, saxophone) Obviously, there has to be a balance between your budget, the space available and the type of music versatility you are looking for. These two popular requests seem to provide a good solution for most folks - especially at weddings. However, the simple addition of a trumpet with the saxophone creates a punchy big-sound brass section, which takes the band to the next level - whether for the Jazz Sets, Soul Sets or the Boogie Sets line-ups. If in doubt, contact me and we can talk about the options.
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 Tel: 07939 620968 or make an enquiry
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