The Dance Effect
The basic band cost is from £850 for six musicians on a Friday or Saturday evening, including PA & sound engineering when the band is set up by 7pm for two 1-1 1/4 hr sets & encores to an approximate 12 midnight finish. This is a general guide and you are encouraged to contact us for an individual price as there are many variables and options. (A deposit of £250.00 is required to secure all bookings.)
Optional extras
- Dinner Jazz (female vocals and piano accompanist): £200.00
Visit www.janecookesjazz.com - CD playback (CDs played during dinner, band break or wind-down): £50.00
- Trumpet: @ £150.00
- Travel: Any significant distance (100 miles plus) beyond London/Home Counties: £125.00
- Long distance travel is available, subject to bespoke quotation, including client provision of reasonable overnight accommodation close to the venue (B&B, Travelodge or similar).
FAQ: How much?! What is involved in the PA & sound engineering?
Helpful to know when booking: A significant proportion of the price is the PA system, sound engineering and lighting (not the band members’ wallets). Functions of 100 people plus will typically be hosted in large rooms or marquees, often with hard floors (eg dance floors) and difficult acoustics. With a big band with brass and wind instruments and several backing vocalists it is important to have a decent PA system and a sound engineer (usually two, with the lights as well) to operate it from the guests’ listening perspective (ie not from the stage area) when we are performing. This is intrinsic to the overall quality of the sound, the balance between the instruments (some of which are acoustically much louder than others (eg trumpet, or drums over voice!), and to manage the volume to an appropriate level (usually down) for the room and the party guests.
We therefore always hire in one of two specialist PA companies we have worked with regularly, who know the band’s sound, and are experienced and professional at setting up mid-afternoon in what are usually quite time pressured situations around caterers, flower arrangers, marquee and table planners/decorators… and of course the client! They will also run the disco through it (if ordered), which sounds superb through the band’s pro PA, and also avoids doubling up on equipment in the room. Size matters – in this instance, keeping the PA and associated cabling and mixing desk neat and tidy, compact and smart, aligned with the event and the venue. No one really wants to see Motorhead’s stadium rock rig filling the smart, beautifully decorated room! This all comes in at a cost of £400-£650, which is included in the overall price. For smaller pub gigs, a professional PA set up like this is not necessary, and we will bring our own vocal PA for those, which is ample.
The Bar Blues Band (12-piece)
This band cost is for 11 or 12 musicians on a Friday or Saturday evening, including PA & sound engineering, when the band is set up by 7pm for two 1-1 1/4 hr sets & encores to an approximate 12 midnight finish. Again, please contact us for an individual price.
