Frequently Asked Questions

And why should you pay out for a pro band when you can get an amateur band to play your event for a much smaller fee? We all know people who play music in their spare time, who might even do it for free!

There are actually two reasons that this approach can be a recipe for disaster. The first is that an amateur band may pull out of your gig at short notice. You trust your mate who's in the band, what what about the rest. It's not uncommon for us to get desperate calls from clients who've been let down at the last minute. There are all sorts of reasons that this might happen, ranging from family problems, holidays, and unexpected work commitments. We've even had situations where a band member has been offered a better gig and pulled out. A professional band needs to protect their reputation and will have backup musicians in the case that one member is not available due to some extraordinary situation.

When you book the Hoedown Band you get a written contract to confirm the agreement made when we accept a booking. In common with any agreement between two parties, it can only be legally cancelled with the consent of both parties. Please note that all the musicians in the band are members of the MEAA, Musicians' Union or Equity and we have used their legal departments to vet the contract to ensure that it is fair and binding on both parties.

A more prosaic reason for using professionals is that they will have the appropriate Public Liability Insurance (PLI) cover. Many venues will insist that the band presents a valid PLI certificate before they will be allowed to set up. Using professionals you will be assured that your entertainers not only turn up and put on a good show, but will have the experience and expertise to make sure the their part of the event is safe and you don't get landed with an expensive legal bill if something goes wrong.

For peace of mind it pays to stick with the professionals.

you need to give yourself enough time to find the performers you want, performers who are in-sync with the kind of music you and your guests enjoy. Like most things in life, the good ones get booked early, as much as a year or more in advance for a good band in the prime wedding period. There are also other times when you may find it a good idea to book early such as Christmas time and of course on New Years Eve,

You can begin by setting and then searching by geographical criteria. Book early. Eight to twelve months ahead of time will give you a good chance of getting the group you want. You can book the entertainment as soon as you have decided on a date and venue. If you haven't confirmed the venue booking, you can also ask the band to hold your date for a limited period of time.

The name hoedown derives from the mid west of America where agricultural workers would have a little party at the end of a working day as a form of entertainment. So the would put their hoe down and pick a fiddle for a little bit of dancing or a singalong. These events would often take pace in the largest building around - a barn - thus we get 'barn dance'.

Like the traditional event, The Hoedown Band mixes songs and dances so that the audience get a great night's worth of entertainment which appeals to all age groups.

Weddings, parties, anniversaries, festivals, corporate entertainment, fund-raising events and children's parties. No-one is excluded because the dances are demonstrated before the music starts, and are easy enough for everyone to do. No previous dance experience is required.

The music is so catchy that everyone gets into it without feeling embarrassed or awkward. The dancing can be done to your own level, and for as long or short as you wish. If you specify exactly for whom your event is being held, we will select a caller who will be ideally suited to your audience. According to research from Brides Magazine, hoedowns and barn dances are the second most popular form of wedding entertainment in the country.

Essentially not very much. Both involve called 'social dances' but a hoedown adds songs to the mix so people can freeform dance between the 'called' dances, sing along or just have a little rest before getting back up on the dance floor.

Everyone can get into a hoedown, be they young or old. The Hoedown Band selects our music and dances, not just for beginners'. But most of our work is for social functions where the lively music and easy steps are a great way to get all your guests dancing and enjoying themselves. It breaks the ice when the audience may not know each other, which is especially importantant at weddings.

Not much, really. Hoedowns take place anywhere there are dancers. They are normally indoors, though they have also been done in marquees, barns, and occasionally even something as seemingly unsuitable as a car park! No matter where it is, you must make sure you can provide a power supply consisting of at least one safe mains socket (13 Amp). Space to dance is also required which is level, relatively smooth and free from obstacles so the dancers don't trip over.

The Hoedown Band is entirely 'self-contained' which means that we can provide our own PA (amplification) systems and lighting (if that is required). Just make sure your guests know what they are coming to so that they can select suitable footwear, and they are sure to have a great time.

Well, we would recommend that you have live music for your event wouldn't we, but it's not just us, most brides agreed that live music is best as well. Statistics* that we found on the web recently, from brides surveyed after the date of their wedding, show that this is the case.

• 72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment.
• Almost 100% say they would have spent more of their budget on the entertainment.
• During wedding planning, Brides say their highest priority is reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities. Within one week after their reception, 78% of Brides say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority!
• When asked 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.
• "Feedback from our clients indicates that the bride and groom consider the entertainment to be between 70 and 90% responsible for the success of their receptions"