1. What does your basic wedding rate cover?
Our basic rate covers all the music you need for your wedding ceremony: 15-30 minutes of "pre-nuptial" (prelude) music, all ceremony music and a short "get-em-up-and-go" (postlude) music. This is for a typical ceremony that lasts about an hour, from prelude to postlude. If your ceremony goes longer, then the Extended Wedding" rate applies. Examples of this would be a full Catholic Mass, extended extra music during the ceremony (extra vocal soloists, and/or musical numbers that don't involve us), long homilies, extended dismissal (row-by-row dismissals for which you want us to continue the music). We handle this on a case-by case basis.
2. How soon do I need to book the New Art Trio?
The sooner the better! We tend to fill up during peak times (May, June, August,), but we actually can't book TOO far in advance, because of our orchestra schedules. Since we are all under yearly contract to the symphony, and the season schedule doesn't come out until the spring before the following season (i.e. April for the following fall), then it IS hard for us to make a definite commitment in early spring for fall weddings, for example. Our summer orchestra season consists of just Riverbend and Fourth of July, so MOST May-August weddings can be booked up to a year in advance. September through April can usually be booked by the previous May, after we have received our orchestra schedules. On the flip side, we can also often be booked at the last minute, especially if it is not during peak times. We will do our best to accommodate you!
3. How long will you hold my date for me?
We know that you like to "shop around" and that's OK! We do ask that you make your decision within the first 2 weeks after our initial contact, and let us know one way or the other. If we DO get anther inquiry for your same date and time, and we haven't heard back from you, we will try to contact you and give you first right of refusal. I call it the "put up or shut up time"! You will then need to send a deposit within a week. If we don't get a deposit by the third week after the initial inquiry, and can't get in touch with you, then we assume you have made other arrangements and will release the date. Once the deposit is received, we are "locked' and we are yours!
4. How much of a deposit do I need to send?
We require a deposit of $150 for weddings, or $200 for weddings and receptions. (Exceptions are made for businesses who hire us for company parties.) The balance is then due on or before your wedding date. Most brides now send the balance before their wedding, so that none of us have to deal with it on your special day! We do encourage that you pay the balance no later than a week before your wedding.
5. "I'm afraid I can't afford to pay that much!"
We all understand budgetary restraints--we ARE "artists" after all! But do ask yourself just what kind of quality are you looking for? You may have heard a fine student group, or amateur group, but was it really what you want? Was that pre-recorded music really "OK"? You have probably heard music that wasn't up to par, but the "price was right". Keep in mind the old adage, "you get what you pay for". We are professionals and we like to maintain a high standard for our clients. We have put in long hours to get to the level where we are, and we are proud of our product! We have tried to keep our prices low, having only raised them twice in 20 years! Compared to many of the other expenses you will incur, we are still a bargain!
6. Do you come to the rehearsal?
In a word, no. If you have a good coordinator, then you don't need us there. He/she, should line you up, walk you out, walk you in, walk you out-then you go eat! Leave it to us to make contact with him/her on your day, and we will synchronize watches, and go over the music and signals. Occasionally we will have a bride who REALLY wants us at the rehearsal. One of us will come if it will make you more comfortable, but there is an extra charge. Trust me-you don't need us! We have worked with many of the local coordinators and they are all comfortable with that. (If you don't have one, we will be glad to refer you to one of our regulars!)
7. What about corsages?
Contrary to what your florist may tell you, we not only don't need them we don't WANT them. We do appreciate the gesture, but they actually just get in our way. This is a great place to save a little money!
8. What about amplification?
Again, the short answer is, we don't need it. In most venues, including outdoors, it usually isn't necessary. We don't bring any, and you don't need to furnish it (again, save money!). The exceptions would be in a very noisy reception hall, but even then, we have discovered that if your guests have a hard time hearing us and WANT to, they will come closer! Some churches have sound systems, but again we don't really need it, unless the "sound guy" is going to be there anyway, and wants something else to do!
9. Do you play for dancing?
One more time, the answer is no. When we play for receptions/parties, our music is for "ambience". Occasionally we are asked to play for "first dance", and we have a few selections that are appropriate for that. We will also take requests. If you want dancing at your reception, then we will be glad to give you names of good dance bands!
10. Will you play for our vocalist(s)?
We will be glad to perform with your vocalist at your wedding ceremony, but there would be an extra charge to cover rehearsal time and possible music arranging. Be sure to check with your vocalist, though. Unless it is something we already have, then they would have to furnish the music. Most are not accustomed to singing with a chamber music group and may prefer to furnish their own accompaniment, whether it be a keyboardist or a pre-recorded accompaniment. We have accompanied singers for Schubert's Ave Maria, which actually works pretty well, and we do have that in our standard repertoire.
10. Why is there a fee for making a custom music arrangement?
When a musical selection is requested, and it is not already for our instrumentation, then we have to rescore it to fit. Often the music might have three lines that we can just read off of a score and no further arranging is necessary. There would be no charge for that. If the original is too complicated though, and we have to rescore it to fit our instrument ranges, etc., then THAT takes time, sometimes a whole day. As most of us work numerous other jobs (teaching, etc.) a whole day may not always be available and it has to be done in our spare time. Then the parts have to be printed out. Our standard arranger's fee covers this extra work. Keep in mind, when you are hearing music on the internet, etc, and it is for full orchestra, or other instruments, it MAY not be the sound you are looking for. Many of the more modern popular songs are not even available yet in sheet music form. You may just want to have a recording of it played instead of us trying to "make it work". We won't be offended! Also, if it is not sacred or classical, but a popular song, you may need to clear it with the presiding minister. Some churches are pretty strict about what is allowed.