Jazz band hire

Jazz band hire is beset with obstacles and questions. It is worth getting it right. To hire a jazz band you should expect to be asked various questions. These are, in no particular order:

1. Do you think you want to hire a jazz band for an indoor event or outdoor?

If indoors almost any style of band will be fine. However, outdoors weather may be an issue. You need to hire a jazz band that can either play acoustic or be able to break equipment down quickly and dash under cover if the weather gets bad. (English weather in summer, ring any bells?)

2. What style of jazz band do you wish to hire?

Don't worry if you do not have the technical terms to hand. You can always refer to favourite songs, or artists. If someone tells me they like King of the Swingers from the Jungle Book I know they like Dixieland!!!

3. How many musicians do you want in the band?

This depends on two things, numbers of guests and what you want the music for. For 50 guests hire a jazz band of three or four players. For 50 to a hundred 4 to 5 will work best. For a hundred or more 5 or 6 is most suitable. If you want back ground music to be played by the jazz band you want to hire, 3 or 4 work perfectly well for anything up to a 120 people. The music is required for atmosphere. It is not a concert and so people want to be uplifted by its ambience.

4. How much music do you want and for how long?

The band needs to know how long they are to be on site and if they can go on to another job after. If the jazz band you wish to hire can get on to another job straight after on time they are more likely to offer a discount. If your event is taking place at a time that straddles late afternoon and evening and is on a Saturday in summer this is less likely to happen.

5. Where is the event? A jazz band has to pay for petrol like any other supplier you would hire. This is either worked in to the quote or added as an extra.

6. Is it possible to feed the jazz band or would it be more convenient if the band took care of itself?

Jazz Bands do not expect to be fed but it is always appreciated. Many clients are very generous and bands get to the point where they are sick of smoked salmon by the end of summer!! Can you believe it? If it is not convenient the band are happy to take care of themselves but it is good to know in advance rather than be stuck miles from anywhere with a rumbling tum!!

If you have the answers to these questions when you are phoning up to hire a jazz band, the agent/booker/bandleader will be able to sort you out with an accurate, competitive and speedy quote.

Jeff Williams runs Jazz not Jazz Live Music agency. His bands can be viewed at www.jazznotjazz.co.uk or he can be contacted on 0208 761 8932 or 07747 801471.

Clients include Morgan Stanley, Price Waterhouse Cooper, HM Treasury, The QE2 Cruise Ship, JP Morgan, Habitat, Thomson Cruises, The Waldorf Hilton, ITv and many others.