Booking the Mike Ducker Quartet

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• Can you vary the size of your band?
• Definitely. We start by asking how many guests you have coming, the size of the venue, and how long you want us to play. We will then suggest how many musicians you need - often just a trio - but occasionally up to five for grander "gigs".
  
  
• How long do you play for?
• Usual gig length is up to three hours, occasionally three and a half, with hourly breaks. During the breaks we don't normally play recorded music - we reckon you deserve a rest too!
  
  
• Does the band perform in my area?
• We are based around Bristol and Bath. We have played as far afield as Southampton, Birmingham and Plymouth, but it can become uneconomic for you and us.
  
  
• Do you play out of doors?
• As a rule of thumb, if the guests can stand it so can we. However it can get very cold playing in one place so we prefer some sort of shelter to give of our best. Plus where to play if it rains.
  
  
• Do you play music for dancing?
• We are not usually booked for dancing, but we all have dance band experience and can rock, boogie or waltz if the guests are in the mood.
  
  
• How long does it take the band to set up?
• Normally, we try to arrive up to an hour before we are due to play. The actual setting up is normally not much more than twenty minutes.
  
  
• How much room does the band need to play?
• As an example, the Quartet fits comfortably under a standard 3m x 3m gazebo. Indoors - try us.
  
  
• Do we need to provide you with any special equipment or facilities?
• Apart from common sense things like a level surface, we ask you to provide two basics - a domestic power point capable of powering the equivalent of four 100W light bulbs - and armless chairs for the band (kitchen chairs or stacker chairs are usually fine).
  
  
• Can we use your microphone for our speeches?
• Yes - and for announcements - during the period of our engagement.
  
  
• Can we request particular songs in advance?
• Yes of course, we'll do our level best to meet your requests. This applies especially if one of the guests want to sing a song with us providing an accompaniment. (Funny how often guests want to sing Blue Moon!)
  
  
• Will the music appeal to guests of different ages?
• Yes - we have a pretty clear idea of what appeals across most ages - see our Home page for the styles we play. No - we cannot predict what will appeal to teenagers!
  
  
• Do the musicians require food and drink?
• We always ask in advance if drink and food will be available for the band, or if they should bring their own.
  
  
• Will the musicians dress smartly?
• Yes. Basic uniform is white shirts, black trousers, and fancy waistcoats.
  
  
• Can a guest or guests use the band's instruments to perform a song?
• Sorry but no. With the cost of instruments and insurance at peak levels, we simply cannot allow guests to use any of our equipment (with the exception of speeches or singers mentioned earlier).
  
  
• How much does it cost?
• The exact fee will depend on a number of things, such as the size of band you'd like, the length of time you'd like us to play and the distance we have to travel. Please contact us with your requirements and we'll be able to let you know exactly how much it will cost. Our rates are reasonable: we've not lost any bookings by being too expensive.
  
  
• How far in advance should we book the band?
• As early as possible. We already have bookings for up to nine months ahead.
  
  
• What if we need to cancel a booking we've made with you?
• There are whole books devoted to this subject. We suggest that, if a booking is cancelled too late for the musicians to obtain other engagements, then half the agreed fee for the booking becomes payable as a cancellation fee. We ask you to accept this in writing at the time of booking.