Frequently Asked Questions

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Performance Questions
Booking Questions
Musician Questions
Music Questions
Unusual Questions!

Performance Questions

Can the quartet perform outside?

Yes, but only if cover is provided, there is no rain, and the temperature is warm. Generally speaking, we are happy to perform under a Gazebo or in a Marquee during the summer months. If you would like this, please inform us when booking, and ensure that you have a backup plan for inclement weather (e.g. indoors if wet). Our beloved violins are very expensive, sensitive Italian things, and they don't like being outdoors!

Should I book a quartet or a trio?

A quartet is suitable for almost any occasion. Having four players allows for extra melody and harmony possibilities with the music. You should generally only consider a string trio if: 1) you are working to a smaller budget, or 2) you are in a very constricted space e.g. a shop, small pub, bedsit, shoebox etc. We do not recommend a string trio for gatherings of over (approx) 200 people, because it becomes very difficult to hear.

How much space does a quartet take up?

You should allow approximately 1.5 metres (depth) by 2.5 metres (length) for a string quartet. Instrument cases must be stored nearby in a secure location - we usually hide them behind the nearest pillar or curtain, however you may prefer us to secure them in a nearby cupboard or room. A cello case is quite big - about the size of a growing child! A string trio will take up slightly less room, lengthwise, than a string quartet, because there is one less player.

I live outside your coverage area. Will you play for me?

Sure. We can do this. We can even go abroad - we occasionally play for events in Northern France. But we'll have to draw up a quotation for you, as this can be a bit more expensive than usual.

Would you like to visit the venue beforehand?

This isn't necessary. We perform at many, many venues throughout the year, and we come prepared for all circumstances. We often carry clothespegs to secure music at drafty venues; all we ask is that your venue has adequate lighting (this is very important), and no extreme temperatures. If there is anything highly unusual about your venue, please advise us of this at time of booking - there's a box on the booking form where you can tell us about this sort of thing. If your venue is very, very, very odd (you think we're joking...!) then you're welcome to email us a photo, or direct us to the venue website, although we'll usually look this up anyway.

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Booking Questions

I'd like to go ahead and book. What do I do?

Click here for our enquiry form. You can type all your requirements into the form, and we'll get back to you during the next working day once we've checked our availability (usually quicker if it's urgent).

Are you available on the date I want?

Please send us an enquiry and we will check our availability for you.

I have a question about the online booking that's not answered here.

Please contact us and we will be very happy to help.

When is the balance due?

The balance is due on the day of performance only, by cash or cheque.

If you wish to pay in advance this may be possible, but you will need to arrange this with your event coordinator (we'll give you their name and contact info once your booking is confirmed). Please be aware that we are unable to take advance payment of your full balance by credit card - we can only take payment of the £75 deposit on the online payment page; everything else goes through a different account.

Are there any other costs? VAT?

No! Everything is included in your quoted price, and we do not currently charge VAT. There are no other costs except for travel outside of London Zone 2 - we do not charge travel costs in Central London. (See our coverage map for more details about travel costs). We keep our fares low by charging for extras such as in-flight meals... no, hang on, we keep our prices low by charging for extras such as special music requests so that only people who want them bear the cost!!

I'd like to book you for our wedding... in 2012!

We take bookings 12 months in advance, i.e. booking for 7 August 2011 will open on 7 August 2010. The majority of bookings are made a month or two in advance, so there's no need to worry about missing out - if you choose your dates 11 or 12 months in advance we'll almost certainly have availability.

I'd like to go ahead and book, but I the exact timings for our wedding/reception/ceremony have not been finalised.

No problem: please go ahead and book the quartet for the longest time you will need - e.g. if you will need it for 3 hours between midday and 5pm, book 5 hours 12-5pm. Confirm the booking with a deposit instead of full payment, and we can settle the remaining balance and confirm timings later, once your schedule has been sorted out.

I'd like to meet in person to discuss arrangements. Is this possible?

Er, do you go and meet with Easyjet before flying with them?!?! Seriously though, by keeping everything online we offer a far more efficient service. If your total bookings will be over £1500 in value you are welcome to meet us in Central London for a consultation (no charge). For lower-cost bookings, we do offer a £25 consultation upon request, but we strongly recommend that this is unnecessary.

I'm a Corporate Events Professional. I want a discount. NOW.

Yes and No: Because we maintain a business model that's unique in the live string quartet business, we offer great value prices to everyone, therefore on principle we don't discount, because we want everyone to get the same low prices. However, if you are booking a seriously large number of events (i.e. at least 4 bookings), or you would like us to supply a quartet regularly e.g. for a once-a-week hotel dinner, or for a cruise ship, then obviously our marketing costs will be lower, so we do offer a small reduction for corporate clients who book with us regularly.

What is your cancellation policy?

Your £75 deposit is non-refundable. Apart from this, if you change or cancel your booking up to 1 month before performance, there is no charge and we will refund your payments. Cancellations between 1 month and 1 week before the booking incur a 50% cancellation charge. Cancellations made between 1 week before the performance and two days before incur a 75% cancellation charge. Cancellations made less than two days before the engagement incur a 100% charge. Unsubtle Hint: if you're going to cancel, do it early.

I need an invoice.

As not all our customers require an invoice, please make sure that you request an email invoice from your Event Coordinator. Please note that we do not send out paper invoices - we can only invoice you electronically.

My event goes on until midnight, but your last booking ends at 11.30pm. Is it that you want to go to bed early?

No, we can stay and play late into the night upon request; there is a small supplement charge for this though, which is why it is not listed on our online booking panel. Reserve us for the time you require up until 11.30pm, and then tell us that you'd like extra time after that in the box on the event details page. We'll get back to you with a definite quote.

I would like to book you for 1 hour 47 minutes beginning at 3.24pm.

Actually, we've never been asked this question, because we almost always are booked in hourlong slots, with the occasional 1.5 or 2.5- hour booking. If you ask us nicely :) , we can accommodate and do the relevant maths, but it's much easier if you can round your booking up to the nearest 15 minutes wherever possible.

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Musician Questions

Do you just do string quartets? Couldn't I have an accordionist and a didgeridoo player as well?

We just do String Quartets. It's what we're good at! There are more mediocre live music companies out there than you could shake a viola at. We don't want to be one of them. We want to be London's best String Quartet service. No, we want to be the UK's best String Quartet service. Hell, we want to be the WORLD'S best String Quartet service!

Two exceptions though. 1) You can have the quartet without the viola; it's cheaper. And by which time it's called a trio. 2) We do know loads of great double bass players, so if you need them for a recording with full strings or full quartet that's fine too. 3) If it's literally just 1 other instrumentalist (or singer) you want to play with a string quartet... well, we might just about manage that too.

OK, so that's three exceptions.

Can I have an all male / all female quartet?

Probably. It kind of depends on which musicians are available on the date you require; gender-discriminatory booking is a grey area in entertainment, so it's best to mention it when placing your online booking, or if it's really essential, give us a quick call first.

What will the quartet wear?

We can wear whatever you like (within reason!). Usually we perform in suits (formal/smart casual), in black clothes (suitable anywhere), or in Dinner Jackets (more formal). If you have any dress requirements of a more specific nature, please mention this when you book. We are happy to wear special clothes such as Punjabi dress, Saris etc., but these must be provided by the client, be in good order and of the correct size, and not cause any physical obstruction to the players. Miniskirts? Erm, has been known. But we'd rather not. Particularly the guys.

Will the musicians require breaks?

Playing for a long period is physically demanding, and therefore the musicians will need approx 5-7 minutes break for every hour of performance. If, however, your event is broken up by speeches, transition to a second venue, a wedding ceremony, or another natural pause, the musicians will endeavour to break during this time, to allow a continuous flow to the proceedings.

Do the musicians require food/drink?

It's not a requirement, no - entirely at your discretion (although for a particularly long engagement, it would be welcomed!). Our only request is that some kind of drinking water is available for the musicians if necessary, but this isn't something you should worry about - we'll simply ask the venue staff for some glasses of water upon arrival.

What is a quartet made up of?

Two violinists, one violist and a cellist. A string trio can be either violin/viola/cello or violin/violin/cello. We usually supply trios in a violin/violin/cello configuration, so that the two melody lines are equal without the viola having to play high.

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Music Questions

Can you play a specific piece of music for me? At what cost?

We can arrange to play virtually any piece of music for you! This costs £30 per arrangement. Or, if you are able to source sheet music for us, there is no charge! NB: Where possible, please allow 4 weeks for music to be arranged. We will let you know before you book whether or not we can fulfil your requests in time (don't worry, we usually can!).

Can you play a Bollywood theme tune for our ceremony?

Yes! We transcribe and perform virtually any piece of music upon request. All songs cost £30 per arrangement.

What is the £30 charge for music requests?

It's if you have to have a *specific* piece (e.g. a birthday song, or a special piece of music for the exit at your wedding, which is not on our repertoire list). It's for that first-music-we-ever-heard-together song, or that we-used-to-sing-that-as-a-child song. If you've just got some more general ideas about the music that you want, don't worry, there's a much cheaper way of doing it... read on...

I have lots of suggestions for music I'd like to have at my reception, but none of it is on your repertoire list. Obviously I can't pay £30 per song, that would be ridiculous.

Of course. the £30/song service was designed for special pieces of music that have to be played at a certain point during an event, usually at weddings. However, we are constantly expanding our repertoire list, so if there is a selection of music that you'd like us to consider for your event, then yes!, please email it to us or include the suggestions with your booking. We'll go through your ideas thoroughly, and if there's anything that we can buy or arrange at low cost, and we think it's something our other clients would like i.e. that we could use again, we will go and buy it (and pay for it ourselves). Obviously there are no guarantees on this, otherwise we might go out of business! But if there's a famous song that we really shouldn't have overlooked, we'll try and get hold of it.

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Unusual Questions

Can you print and sign and bind a song for us / serenade me at dinner with my boyfriend on a bridge over the thames / promote our product by skiing down a mountain with a violin / ambush my girlfriend in St James' Park and serenade to her as I propose...

You're the boss! Sure, we're 100% up for silly, challenging, or downright ridiculous things... we love a challenge! We were the first group every to perform on the London Eye, don'tcha know! Look, here's the deal: we won't do anything illegal (despite our name...), and you must make sure that local bylaws permit performance in the area you wish your event to take place. Deal? Let's rock and roll...

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