Q: How far in advance do I need to book a band for my event (wedding, gala, party, etc..)?
A: Depending on the date of your event (some dates are much higher in-demand than others), and to be safe, you should try to book your band 1 - 1.5 years in advance. Not to discurage you if you are sponteniously deciding to book a band. Some dates, as hot as they are may be still open as little as a few months in advance. And if that is the case, to add to your good luck, we will also most likely be able to offer you a 'last minute' discount.
Q: I just need a band for my reception, not cocktail hour or ceremony. Can I get that?
A: Certainly, you can hire just a band for your reception, or a trio for a cocktail party or even just a soloist for whatever celebration you have. We are a music entertainment agency - Any music related need you have, we can provide you with the right talent to fullfil it.
Q: What is the Band/DJ combo?
A: It is one of our most popular services. As the name suggests it is a mix between having the energy of a live band with the option of having 30-40 minutes (based on a 4 hour reception) of DJ music, tailored to your specific wish list. It is a perfect fit for clients who want to hear certain songs in their original version, or songs that are not on the band's playlist.
Q: Do you offer discounts for events during the week?
A: We most certainly do. As you probably have learned, the industry standard and most requested day/night of the week is Saturday. Thus our fees are based on Saturday night performances in the Philadelphia area. Monday through Thursday nights are typically discounted 50% from that base. Friday and Sunday, day and evenings are discounted 15%, escept for holiday weekends (Labor Day, Memorial Day, etc..). Sometimes we run additional seasonal discounts, depending on the time of year.
Q: Do you offer discounts for Friday night events?
A: Yes, Friday and Sunday day and evenings are discounted 15%, except for holiday weekends (Labor Day, Memorial Day, etc..). Sometimes we run additional seasonal discounts, depending on the time of year.
Q: Are your groups insured? Can you provide a certificate to our venue?
A: Yes and yes.
Q: Do you travel?
A: Yes. If we are available on your date(s), we will travel anywhere in the world if you'd like us to. Additional travel and lodging costs will apply.
Q: What is included in the rate to hire one of the groups?
A: It depends on the type of group you are hiring, but typically in addition to the musicians all groups come with sound and lights systems. The 10-piece band also comes with a sound engineer(s) and a Master of ceremonies (MC) to make all announcements and introductions and create the seemless flow of the event. It also includes all prior meetings, calls, emails to coordinate and execute a flawless and memorable event. Every aspect of planning your event is absolutely customizable by you. We also include such free services as learning specific songs that may be new to the band.
Q: What do we need to provide for the group/ensemble/DJ?
A: Upon signing the contract we will provide you with an addendum of our stage and power requirements, which vary from group to group. We can provide you with it upfront at your request so can find out if your venue is able to provide the minimum requirements (almost always they do). If your event is 3 hours or longer, we also ask that you provide food for the musicians. Happy musicians bring more energy to the stage, which ultimately transforms into more energy on the dance floor!
Q: What are your stage and power requirements?
A: As mentioned above, they vary by groups. Call or email about the group you are inquiring and we'd be happy to provide you with the specific requirements. Our 10-piece band requires 3 dedicated 15-Amp circuits and an area of 8ft x 20ft. A stage is not required.
Q: Our venue has a built in sounds system. Can you use this?
A: Probably. Either way, we still need to bring our own equipment and sound engineer for stage monitoring and band specific needs.
Q: How can I book a band/ensemble?
A: Simple, call or email us letting us know which group and what date you need it for. If it is still available, we will e-mail you an electronic version of the contract to sign and return to us with a deposit, which will officially reserve the date for you. In the case where your date is in high demand (there are multiple inquiries for it), we can accept a credit card payment for the deposit to secure it immediately.
Q: When is final payment due?
A: It is due 2 weeks prior to your event. A month prior we will send you an invoice reminder, so that you don't have to worry about remembering when it is due. We know you have many other things to worry about and we refuse to be one of them!
Q: What type of payments do you accept?
A: We accept cash, checks and credit cards. There is an additional 3% fee for all credit card final payments.
Q: Do you offer non-stop music throughout the event?
A: Yes we do. Depending on how long your event is the band members will take one or two breaks. During that time our DJ software will play a compilation of songs, customized by you during your pre-reception planning. And since all of our musicians are true professionals, they have gotten it down to the beat so that when they break, the DJ mix starts immediately and your guests will stay on the dance floor. Other agencies offer 'continuous music' as another competitive advantage; members of the band perform continuously all throughout the night. Every human being at least needs a bathroom break during a 4 or 5 hour performance, so what owners of these other agencies do to compensate for that is rotate 2 to 3 musicians, resulting in long periods of low-energy music, since all musicians have to take turns. If we did that, we would not be giving you what you have paid for - the sound and energy of a full band on stage - and this is why we offer the Band/DJ combination.
Q: I don't see our first dance song on your song list. Will you learn it?
A: Yes, we most certainly will. We know how much this song means to you and we will learn it (if we don't already know it).
Q: Does the song list on this website include all the songs you play?
A: No it doesn't. We update the song list quite frequently, adding and removing songs, keeping the list current and fresh with the most popular requested music among all genres. There have been many songs the band has learned over the years, but removed from the list because there was little demand for them. If you don't see a song on the list, just ask us!
Q: What happens after I book one of your groups?
A: You rest confidently that we are doing our job preparing for your event. A month prior we will contact you to discuss the details and prepare a schedule of events in accordance to your wishes and the timeline of the rest of the vendors.
Q: Do you contract a sound company?
A: No. We own and use brand new 'state-of-the-art' Bose sound systems and have engeneer(s) mixing the band throughout the night.
Q: Do you help with event coordination during the event?
A: Yes, we are happy to coordinate with all other vendors and respond to any last minute changes that arise. In the event that there is no event coordinator, or someone else in charge, we ask that all communications with the band/ensemble are directed to the band leader. This will help avoid any confusion and message crossover.
Q: We've been to too many events where the sound was overpowering and people can't converse. Is there any way we can control the volume?
A: Yes, we hear this question often from people who have seen bands using a traditional PA sound system, which can overpower your thoughts. This is why we invested in the newest state-of-the-art Bose system (you can see pictures of it on our site), which can create volume and energy around the dance floor, while keeping it softer around the dinner tables. We are in control of the volume and we understand your request, since we too have been guests to such loud weddings. Another really cool thing about the Bose system is that it looks so discrete and classy and will match any decor.
Q: I keep trying to come and see you live but with my busy schedule I can never make it. What is the second best way to determine if you are the perfect match for my event?
A: We understand that planning an event can collide with many other responsibilities that our clients have and we try to offer as many options as possible to help you make a decision. If you can't see the band live, you can call up some of our recent clients and ask them for their take on how we did. You can of course see some video footage and even request a meeting with the bandleader at a time convenient for you. Speaking with them almost always seems to suffice in answering all questions and making you feel comfortable that you are in the hands of professionals who pride themselves with a perfect record. Or you can combine all of these options. It is all up to you. We want you to be comfortable when you make a decision to hire us.
Q: Who MCs the events?
A: If you hire a DJ, he is the MC as well. If you hire a small ensemble, you probably don't need a lot of MC-ing, but one of the musicians on hand will be happy to assist with announcements of any kind. If you hire the party band, this comes with a professional MC, who will be in charge of all announcements throughout the event, speaches, and creative flow from one song to the next.
Q: How do you prepare for our event?
A: With the utmost care about every single detail and an ear for your desires and wishes. Depending on the event and the ensemble you chose, it will be different. Typically, the bandleader meets with each client individually to finalize all the details a few weeks prior to the event. They prepare a schedule of events and coordinate it with the venue/caterer to ensure everyone is working together. We are comfortable with the many details to consider and any last minute changes that may occur.
Q: Do you provide party enhancements other than music?
A: Other than music, sound, lighting and DJ equipment, which we specialize in, we can contract any type of party enhancement that you need. Just give us an idea of what you need and we will provide it.
Q: What music genres do you perform? What are you best at?
A: Take a look at our song list here. We are best at party music, any and all of it. Our musicians have performed with a wide range of popular artists from Aretha Franklin, the OJays, Willie Nelson, to LL Cool J, Beyonce and Celine Dion, to name a few. They are quite comfortable with any genre and style.