Where to put the Band:
Remember that the reason you've hired the Eclectic Groove is because you want to have a party, and the party revolves around the band (i.e. dancing, etc).  It is  important to have the band in the center of the room and not off in a corner somewhere. In general it is a good idea to have a bar in the same room as the band since many guests tend to congregate around the bar area.

 
Is the Facility Appropriate for the Band
Most facilities can accommodate bands, but some are not able. There isn’t a band that likes to be hired to play an event and upon arrival find that the facility has a 5 ft. by 10 ft area for the band to setup.. So, make sure that your facility has appropriate space and proper electricity. This can be the difference between having a great party and having no party.

 

Remember Everybody Musically
Needless to say, everyone has their own musical tastes. Although important to hire a band that you enjoy, it's also important to keep your guest in mind.  You may like high-energy dance music but there may be some guests who would like a swing song or perhaps a ballad. The best parties are those where everybody gets involved. You can speak to out band leader before the event and discuss the music choices.

 

Don't sit guests next to the speakers
Sounds obvious, but it happens all the time. Do not place tables within five feet of the speakers. Regardless of who is sitting there, if you are that close to the speakers, it's too loud. Tables should be positioned at least 10 to 12 feet away, but that's not always possible

 
The dance floor should be immediately in front of the bandstand
Obvious, but it happens.  The dance floor was off to the side of the band or the dance floor was in the middle of the room, tables were all around it and the band was off in the corner. This scenario can destroy any chance of having a party. The band needs to interact with crowd in order to get the party started and the only way to do this is to have the dance floor immediately in front of the band.

 
Keep the Party Going
Momentum is what makes a party.  Party is all about mood, so don’t kill the mood.  Some mood killers include :taking two hours for dinner and presentations, continuously interrupting the party portion of the event with announcements and asking guests to leave the 'main party area' for other events. This is not to say that you cannot make announcements or have a nice dinner. Of course you can, but keep the event moving. It will keep your guests entertained and everybody will have a better time. Remember that nobody likes to sit still for 2 hours. So once the party is started, keep any interruptions to a minimum.

 

Outdoor Events
The beautiful weather event is easy but the not-so-beautiful one can be a challenge.
Keep these thoughts in mind. You will need tenting over every area where people may be. This includes walkways from the main tent to an existing permanent structure. Also, due to wind blowing the rain in, you will need a tent with sides that can be pulled down (in the event of nasty weather). Due to the nature of electronic equipment, the band will need to be under a shaded protected area, regardless of what the weather is like.

 
Flooring
For the band MUST be set up on a permanent, LEVEL surface. The band cannot set up on grass even if it is pretty level. Try to set up the band on a deck or patio if possible. If you rent a dance floor, make sure that the floor is large enough to accommodate the band as well as an area for dancing. Also make sure that the production company that installs the floor will level it.

 
Electricity
By nature, outdoor events are usually away from electricity. If the band setup area is within 20 feet of the electrical sources then extension cords can be run to that source. However, if the band setup area is far away, then you are left with generators. The size generator needed to run a band is quite large, you'll need one that can generate a continuous 4 20-amp circuits (about 8000 watts).

 

 

Personal Service:

Deal directly with the band, we are not an agency.

Experience and Versatility:

All of our members have pleased diverse and demanding audiences for years.  We love playing the music that makes you dance and sing!

Sound Quality:

Top-notch vocals, tight rhythm and state of the art equipment.  All of our musicians are polished
professionals who perform with energy & soul.

Uniqueness:

The Eclectic Groove is not your typical party/wedding band. We are not a put together agency band with several groups of changing musicians that book themselves under the same company name. We deliver personalized, professional, on time service to you. We play the music that will make your affair a unique, memorable and successful one.

 How long does the band play?
A typical job lasts four hours. However, the Eclectic Groove can and will accommodate you whatever your needs are. Daytime events, in particular, seem to work better at the three hour range.
Also, for events that end early in the evening (10:00pm or earlier), it's not uncommon for the Eclectic Groove to be asked to play extra because nobody is ready to go home.

 
What determines  cost?
Cost depends on many factors:
he first is the number of musicians (2 to 8 pieces).
The second is the number of hours
(Note: on Saturday night, there is a 4 hour minimum).
Other factors that can affect cost include:
Seasonal factors (i.e. Christmas weekends and New Years Eve tend to be somewhat more expensive)
Day of week factors (i.e. Weekend evenings are prime time. Other days of the week or daytime events can be addressed on an individual basis). 

 What about breaks?
Like all bands, the Eclectic Groove takes breaks.  Typically, three 15-minute breaks in a four hour event. However, the Eclectic Groove will work their breaks around your schedule. That is, if you need a longer / shorter period of time for your event (i.e. an award presentation, etc), we will be happy to accommodate. Also, we are happy to provide background music via CD's, during breaks.

 I have a special song I would like played at my event
We would be happy to learn a special song for your event.

 
My sister sings...
This is a little tricky. If you would like to have someone "sing a song" with the band, we are happy to do so as long as advance notice is given (at least a couple of days ahead of time) and it is limited to one song. However, due to the high level of preparation that is done for each event, we are unable to accommodate "last minute" requests. That is, we cannot have somebody coming up the day of the event and "sitting in".

 
The CEO plays drums...
Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, nobody (not even the CEO) is allowed to play the instruments.

 

I'm concerned about volume, etc...
Believe it or not, the Eclectic Groove is concerned about volume as well all other aspects of the performance. Most of our events come from referrals from past clients. For this reason, we try very hard to make sure that the performance is exactly as you want. This includes: volume changes, song style changes, etc... please let us know, we are very approachable, even on the night of event. Your satisfaction is our main concern. And you'll never hear "we can't turn it down".

 
How much space does the band take?
Typically, the band setup is 14 ft deep and 20 ft across the front for a five piece band. Obviously, this increases as the size of the band increases..

 I need music for my ceremony / cocktail hour /etc....
For the ceremony, we can provide a classically trained pianist / keyboardist. Or we can provide a keyboard / Vocal duo.   The Eclectic Groove can provide Brass upon request for an additional fee.