|
Frequently Asked Questions
Most people don't hire professional entertainment everyday.
The following are the most frequently asked questions we receive. Hopefully,
this will help answer your initial questions. If not, please call
or e-mail us.
Is the orchestra available
for my event date?
Can I see the orchestra live to decide
whether or not I should book you?
Can I meet with you? How do we communicate
ahead of time?
How far do you travel?
How long before my event should I book
the band? What is the process?
May I request a promotional package? What
is included?
Do members of the band set up early so
as not to disturb our guests?
Will the band play at a comfortable volume
so our guests are not disturbed?
How many members of the orchestra should
I hire?
Will the band members I hired be the same
ones who play at the event?
Will you make announcements and introduce
the wedding party? Can wedding party members use your microphone for announcements
and toasts?
Can the orchestra learn a special song
for us? What songs should I select for first dance, bridal party, etc?
Can your orchestra play music of all types?
Do you play ethnic music?
Can we bring CD's for you to play on breaks?
How long are breaks? How many do you take?
How long are performing sets? How many
songs do you play?
Is DJ service included for band breaks?
Do we need to feed band members?
What do band members wear?
Can entire orchestra perform during cocktails
and dinner hour?
Can our guests or we make song requests
during the course of the evening?
How do I book GFO?
How much do you charge?
What forms of payment will you accept?
When is it due?
Q. Is the
orchestra available for my event date?
A. We don't publish our calendar.
It's just too difficult because it changes daily. Contact
us by phone or e-mail and we'll let you know if the date is open.
Back to Top
Q. Can I see
the orchestra live to decide whether or not I should book you?
A. Because most of our performances
are private (weddings and company parties), we do not invite prospective
clients to view live shows out of respect for the current client's privacy.
(You would want the same treatment). To help you make an informed decision,
we can mail you a CD, video, song list, etc. We will also speak with you
in person or on the phone.
Back to Top
Q. Can I meet
with you? How do we communicate ahead of time?
A. Sure. We will be happy to come
out to see you and discuss details. We think it’s a good idea to
meet the people you are inviting to your event. We have a documented process
you can see if you click Designing Your Wedding.
It will explain our process from the first time we speak right up until
the day of your wedding.
Back to Top
Q. How far do
you travel?
A. Anywhere in and around the Chicagoland
area. We have traveled (for Saturdays only) as far as Lake Geneva, Peoria,
Rock Falls, Streator, etc. Extra charges may be incurred for this travel,
however.
Back to Top
Q. How long before
my event should I book the band? What is the process?
A. A good point of reference and industry
standard is about 10 months in advance. However, some dates are booked
1-1/2 years in advance and sometimes tomorrow is open. Never assume. Call
or e-mail us and we'll be happy to let you know.
Back to Top
Q. May I request
a promotional package? What is included?
A. Yes, you may. We have CD, video,
song list, price sheets, and references available. However, before you
request we send it out, look over this site, because much of that information
is right here at your fingertips.
Back to Top
Q. Do members
of the band set up early so as not to disturb our guests?
A. Yes, early set-up is included with
any package you select. It is frequently requested because it assures
all major equipment is in the room and set up before cocktails begin.
Back to Top
Q. Will the band
play at a comfortable volume so our guests are not disturbed?
A. We like to begin the first set
at a quieter volume level because guests are still getting used to hearing
sound emanating from the stage. From the second set on, the volume will
remain at a reasonable level for the room's acoustics and the number of
people present. We want to play with enough volume so the dance floor
will be packed, but quiet enough so guests can carry on conversations
at their tables. We focus on clean, clear, professional sound. (We use
the finest professional sound equipment.) If we are too loud ( or too
soft), please let us know and we'll accommodate you.
Back to Top
Q. How many members
of the orchestra should I hire?
A. The full orchestra is eight people.
(2 female vocalists, male vocals, 2 brass and 4-piece rhythm section with
guitar, bass, keys and drums.) We LOVE to play with full compliment of
8 people. However, sometimes 8 people won't squeeze into your budget or
the event is inappropriate for that large a band. In that case, you can
select anywhere from 5-piece (1 female singer, male singer and 4-piece
rhythm section) up to all eight. We can make the band sound right with
5, 6, 7 or 8 players.
Back to Top
Q. Will the band
members I hired be the same ones who play at the event?
A. Many wedding and corporate party
bands are infamous for hiring substitute players. We frown on this activity
and pride ourselves on giving you the same eight individuals you hired.
Of course, no one can guarantee you 10 months or a year in advance that
all the same players you hired will be at your event. No one could possibly
know that for sure. On rare occasions, if we do need to make a substitution,
we'll hire a substitute of equal caliber.
Back to Top
Q. Will you make
announcements and introduce the wedding party? Can wedding party members
use your microphone for announcements and toasts?
A. Yes, we
can perform all announcements, introductions and emceeing regardless of
which size package you select. We organize the wedding party in line,
go over correct name pronunciations and play background CD music as the
introductions are being announced. We also announce the cake cutting,
first dance, all other special dances and garter and bouquet toss (if
desired.) The bridal party and guests may use our wireless microphone
at any time, anywhere in the room for prayer, speeches, etc.
Back to Top
Q. Can the orchestra
learn a special song for us? What songs should I select for first dance,
bridal party, etc?
A. Yes, a special song can be requested.
You should give us at least a month in advance of the wedding or event
to learn it. We may require sheet music or a CD to learn it and will let
you know. Sometimes, if we think we cannot perform the song properly for
one reason or another (instrumentation, voices, etc.), we will let you
know in advance and we can play a CD for that same song or you can pick
another one to be performed live. We like to limit songs learned to one
per event because time does not permit us to learn 2 or 3 songs
for each client. We hope you understand.
Back to Top
Q. Can your orchestra
play music of all types?
A. We play a variety of styles. Check
the Repertoire and Our Sound
pages.
Back to Top
Q. Do you play
ethnic music?
A. We play a few selections (Havah
Nagila, Tarantella, etc.), but we are by no means an Ethnic band and we
wouldn't sell ourselves that way. We'd be happy to play you ethnic music
CD's between orchestra sets. We often do this and it makes everyone happy.
Back to Top
Q. Can we bring
CD's for you to play on breaks?
A. By all means!
Back to Top
Q. How long are
breaks? How many do you take?
A. Two 15 minute breaks between our
sets.
Back to Top
Q. How long are
performing sets? How many songs do you play?
A. Normally, we perform three sets,
about 45 minutes each. We play about 30-35 songs in a performance. Sometimes,
Set 2 runs a little longer, maybe 1 hour (it may include the garter and
bouquet toss) and Set 3 is a bit shorter. (There is usually 30-40 minutes
remaining in the evening.
Back to Top
Q. Is DJ service
included for band breaks?
A. Yes, regardless of the package
you purchase, there is CD music between sets.
Back to Top
Q. Do we need
to feed band members?
A. This is not required and we don't
expect you to provide food for the orchestra. If we are offered dinner,
we consider that an act of generosity on your part and some of us may
accept your invitation.
Back to Top
Q. What do band
members wear?
A. The ladies wear lovely, elegant
evening wear. The gentlemen wear black tuxedoes with matching vests and
jackets.
Back to Top
Q. Can the entire
orchestra perform during cocktails and dinner hour?
A. Yes, we
can. Please call us and we’ll explain how this can easily be done.
Back to Top
Q. Can our guests
or we make song requests during the course of the evening?
A. You are all are invited to make
requests. We know several songs that are not on our list. We'll try to
do it. If we don't do the song, please don't be offended. It's possible
we just don't know the song. We may feel we can't perform the requested
song on a professional level, or it may be inappropriate at that juncture
of the evening. That's a judgment we sometimes have to make. (We may just
have the song on CD and can play it during break.)
Back to Top
Q. How do I book
GFO?
A. Call or e-mail
us. We'll walk you through the process. It's easy. Once we decide
the date, location and time, we pick the proper package and options (if
necessary), and we'll send out or bring over a contract to be signed.
(This protects you and us.) We work with you every step of the way.
Back to Top
Q. How much do
you charge?
A. See the Prices
page.
Back to Top
Q. What forms
of payment will you accept? When is it due?
A. Personal or corporate checks, cash,
money order or cashier's check. We don't currently accept credit cards.
Your initial deposit (this officially holds the band and the date for
you) is $300.00. This initial deposit is due within 30 days (if time permits)
of the verbal commitment. The balance is due on the day or evening of
the event.
Back to Top
|
