More Questions

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what does a string quartet consist of?
A string quartet consists of two violins, a viola and a cello

How far in advance should I book?
In order to secure your date, we recommend booking as early as possible, but don’t be put off, if we can fit you in, even very last minute we will do so. Ideally, try and plan a year or so in advance but never be afraid to ask, even if it’s next week!

What area do you cover?
We regularly play across the south and east of England, but we also travel further afield. Please note, travel expenses may be added to your fee, but these will be added at the quote stage so you won’t get any nasty surprises.

Are You Insured?
Sarah has Public Liability Insurance up to £10,000,000

Can You Play Outdoors?
This is very much weather dependant. We have a white gazebo (3m x 3m) which we can bring to provide shade (instruments and equipment, quite apart from red headed violinist and sun don’t mix well). But if it is wet and windy or cold (less than 16C) then it can become unsafe for us to play outside. We will always do our best to play outside, but we reserve the right to move inside if the conditions are not suitable.

What do we need to provide for you?
We need chairs without arms and an area of around 3mx3m, preferable on a flat surface. It is also useful to have somewhere we can put cases and bags if you don’t want them on show.

Do You need refreshments?
For shorter events we don’t need much, but we are always grateful for hot or soft drinks. If the engagement is for longer than 3 hours then light refreshments, or a meal is very much appreciated.

What happens if one of the performers is ill on the day?
We have a number of friends and colleagues who are able to provide cover. They are all performers of a very high standard, used to playing at events.

Will you need to take breaks?
We do have to have some breaks, especially during longer bookings. We try and time these to coincide with your plans. As a general rule of thumb we take approximately 10 minutes per hour.

What happens if I cancel my booking?
Unforeseen circumstances happen, and we totally understand that. The deposit you pay is non-refundable but then we have a sliding scale depending on how close to the event you cancel. If you cancel within 3 months of your event date you are liable to 50% of the full fee, If you cancel within one month you are liable to 100% of the full fee. This takes into account our loss of earnings, and the ability to find other paid work to fill the gap.

Can I reschedule my booking?
You can request to reschedule, but obviously we can’t guarantee to be free on a different date. If we can not accommodate your reschedule, then it will be treated as a cancellation, subject to the policy above.

If we are running late, or our event overruns, will you stay on?
We try and be flexible, but frequently we have another engagement to get to, so we can’t guarantee to stay later than is stated on the contract. If we are able to then please note that we charge £50 per 15 minutes and this needs to be agreed with us on the day itself.

Our wedding ceremony is at one venue, whilst our reception is at another – can you play at both?
Yes, we are happy to travel between venues. Please note that you play for the time we are booked, that includes the time taken to travel between venues. It is useful to have clear instructions for parking (anything up to 4 cars for a quartet).

Can you attend our wedding rehearsal before the day?
It is not usual for us to do so, however, if you want us to then it will class as another booking with the same fees. We are very used to playing at weddings, and are used to working with registrars, vicars and toastmasters. We arrive early and liaise with them so everything runs smoothly, without you having to worry at all.

What to do wear?
Generally string quartets will wear all black. However, we are happy to discuss other alternatives if you don’t want black. Duos, and solos, may wear black but also have other options. We can discuss this at the time of booking.
We can also be as dressy or as casual as you would like. If it’s a black tie event, we will dress appropriately, but if you’re after more of a rustic, casual kind of event then we will fit in with that.

Can you perform alongside other musicians or vocalists we’ve hired for our event?
Absolutely, please speak to us in advance about this. We generally would rehearse on the day, so whoever you want us to join with should be a competent musician. If we need to rehearse before the day, then it would be classed as another booking, with the relevant fees.

Can you provide a larger group, with other musicians or singers?
We have a large number of musicians we regularly work with, so you tell us what you’d like and we will do our best to make it happen. This may incur other charges, especially if music has to be arranged specifically.

You’ve not answered my question here – can I ask you something else?
Of course, it’s hard to think of every question anyone might ever ask – so get in touch. This is about making your event absolutely perfect so let’s work together to make that happen!

Do you play for events other than weddings?
Yes, we play for all manner of events, from private house parties, to big corporate events. So no matter what you are planning, get in touch and see how we can bring your ideas to life.