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- Do you accept credit cards, debit cards or PayPal?
Yes, we do accept all major credit and debit cards and we do accept payments by
PayPal. However, in all these scenarios, we are charged a processing fee by
those financial institutions.
The fees typically range from 2.5% to 3.5%. Therefore, we require an additional 3.5% for any payment made by credit or debit card or through Paypal. To avoid this 3.5% charge, please make your payments by personal check, money order or cash
- Does the band take breaks?
We provide 60 minutes per hour of live music. Each individual musician gets a five to ten minute break per hour, but we don't all take our breaks at the same time. We stagger the breaks so the live music doesn't stop. For example, you don't need the full band to provide soft background music while people are eating, but when it's time to dance, no one is on a break.
- Do we need to feed the band?
We're there to provide music, not to eat. However, consider the time it takes to drive to the venue, load in, set up the sound system, perform for a ceremony, a cocktail hour and dinner and dancing, break down all the equipment, load out and drive home. This can easily take more than ten hours. So, it's appropriate and considerate to feed the band. We don't take the time to consume the entire meal and therefore the caterer typically provides us with only the main course. Since we're served an abbreviated meal, the caterer shouldn't charge you full price for feeding band members.
- Will you learn a song requested by a client?
95% of the songs we're requested to perform are songs that we already know. If a client requests a song we don't know, we're happy to fulfill such requests as well.
- What do your musicians wear?
If not discussed, then typically, the men wear tuxedos and the women wear long formal gowns for evening parties and shorter cocktail dresses for afternoon events. Over the past few years, we've been wearing the typical "tuxedo, white shirt and black bow tie" less often and have instead been dressing in tuxes with black shirt and long black tie. Considering the overall look of the band, I recommend the black shirt/long tie version. This way, if it's a black tie event, then the band has a look that's different from all the guests; and if it's not a black tie event, then the band fits right in.
- Do you provide music for wedding ceremonies and cocktail receptions?
There are many musical and budgetary options for ceremonies and cocktail hours. An economical choice is to use two or three of the musicians from the band. Alternately, we can provide separate ensembles such as a String Quartet, a Trio consisting of Harp, Flute and Cello, or a Jazz Combo.
- How far in advance do I need to hire a band?
While the easy answer is "as soon as possible", the practical answer is that for social parties such as weddings in the prime spring and fall seasons, 8 to 14 months is customary. For corporate or charitable events that are mid-week, three to six months is desirable.
- What hours are you available by phone?
Generally our office hours are 9:30AM to 9:30PM every day. If we're not able to answer the phone, please leave voicemail and we'll call back within 24 to 48 hours.
- When and where can we meet with you?
We can meet with you day or evening, weekday or weekend. We have offices conveniently located on West 23rd Street in Manhattan, in would come to your residence anywhere within the tri-state area.
- What about volume?
It's never the people on the dance floor who complain that the music is too loud. It's the people at their tables who want to talk to each other. One of my esteemed competitors says, "it doesn't have to be loud to be good". I say, "If it's too loud, it is not good." Still, some kinds of music need to be louder than other kinds. (Rock 'n' Roll wouldn't sound right being played at a whisper.) However, even when the music is at its loudest, it shouldn't be blasting anyone out of the room.
- How many musicians would be best for my party?
My recommendations as to how many musicians to use are based on three factors:
1. The styles of music. Different music requires different instruments or vocalists.
2. The number of guests in comparison to the size of the room. For example, I wouldn't recommend the same number of band members to perform for 150 guests in a room with a maximum capacity of 150 guests as I would recommend for the same 150 guests in a room for 400.
3. Of course, the client's personal taste - AND BUDGET. I don't try to spend a client's money unnecessarily. It is, however, very important to have at least the minimum number of musicians needed to fulfill the requirements of the party.
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