Useful Notes for the Event Organiser

What do you want the band to do?

Have you got a clear idea of what you want the band to do?
Do you want a full concert?
Is there going to a formal audience?
Is the band accompanying singing or other musical activities?
How long do you want the band to play for? For a performance longer than 30 minutes you will need to think about intervals

What to Provide?

For nearly all events the band will require seating ( 25 brass +
3 percussionists)
Chairs with arms are not very suitable for brass players.
The foot print of a brass band is typically 15 square metres,
although smaller spaces may be used. If you have any special staging requirements, please discuss this with the band.
The Band will require a dressing room or similar space to
congregate and warm-up before playing, including somewhere safe to store their instrument cases.
The band will usually travel to engagement by private cars, so think about parking. A coach may be used by the band for longer journeys.
Light refreshments are always welcome during intervals as playing is thirsty work!

Timings?

Yiewsley and West Drayton Band is an amateur organisation and most of their players have full-time jobs or similar commitments, so it is often extremely difficult for the band to meet during working hours
Please book early. Give the band as much time to prepare as possible, at least several weeks. The band is very busy throughout the year with a wide range of activities
Allow the band time to set up once at the venue. 30-40 minutes prior to the performance. It does take a while to set up percussion eg drum kits

To ensure that you get the best value from the band programmes should ideally last for 90 minutes with a 15 minute interval in the middle. Please bear in mind the extremes of temperature that make sustained playing without a break more difficult.

Payment:

You will not be asked to pay professional rates for our services. We provide a high standard of performance for a reasonable price. You will be quoted an appropriate fee once we know all your requirements.

Please remember that it is not cheap to run a brass band. Music, rehearsal facilities, and instruments all have to be paid for. The funding comes from our engagements, subscriptions and fundraising activities. Individual players do not receive remuneration of any kind.

Fees should be paid to the band as soon as possible following the engagement.