What Size of Band Do I Need for My Function?
As you are probably aware from our website and publicity, Atlantic Soul are pioneers in the concept of the scaleable sized band performing live at weddings and corporate functions in Scotland. We were the first to offer a service of YOU choosing exactly the right size of band to suit both the size of your venue and also your budget. We are fully scaleable in size and can perform as a 7 piece band, 6 piece band, 5 piece band, 4 piece band, 3 piece band and 2 piece band. ALL sizes of band have both male and female lead vocals and all sizes of band 3pc upwards have several other vocalists in the lineup. We are totally & completely live from the 4 piece band upwards in size and we can tailor what we do to match your requirements EXACTLY. Please see our Band Options Page on the website for an overview of each different band lineup and what size might be best suited to YOUR function. If in doubt, we will be glad to guide you through choosing the right size of band for YOUR requirements.
Is My Date Available?
Our datesheet can change on a daily basis so it’s best to email us on enquiries (at) atlanticsoul (dot) co (dot) uk [please replace words in brackets with the relevant lettering – used to prevent SPAM]. You can also call us on 0844 884 9578. A £100 deposit will secure the date. We operate on a first-come first-served basis.
Can You Send Me a Demo Disc?
For the last 7 years or so, our most up-to-date media (ie. demo songs, video, photos, references, etc) can be viewed and heard/seen on our website. This is updated on a very frequent basis. However, should you have any problems with this, then we will be glad to send you either a compilation of some LIVE recent performances or alternatively, a DVD of a range of media ((ie. demo songs, video, photos, references, etc).
Can You Hold My Date For Me?
As we operate on a first-come first-served basis, we tend not to hold dates provisionally, especially for peak interest dates (summer, Christmas, New Year, etc). We will however get back to you and let you know if anyone else contacts us about the same date.
How Far Will You Travel?
The band is scattered all round the country from Dundee to the Borders. We therefore travel the length and breadth of the country and never have based ourselves in one area, although for ease when people ask, we say we’re “based” around Glasgow, as that’s where the bulk of the band reside.
How Do I Confirm A Booking?
We operate, as mentioned, on a first-come first-served basis and payment of a non-refundable £100 deposit will secure your date. A confirmation/receipt and agreement will be issued and the date will become unavailable to any other party on clearance of the cheque. The balance is due by cheque or bank transfer 2 weeks before the wedding.
Do You Play Ceilidh Music?
We can play up to a half hour or so of the most popular ceilidh dances. The dances can be called and demonstrated if necessary. Please let us know if you would like ceilidh to be included at time of booking.
Will You Play Our First Dance?
Absolutely! One of the things Atlantic Soul holds dear is that the bride and groom gets to dance the First Dance to their own special song, performed live by the band. We need at least 4 months notice of this because, as you can probably imagine, we are extremely busy learning new songs on a regular basis for first dances. We cannot guarantee this if you don’t let us know in this time.
Can We Choose The Songs To Be Played From Your Set?
We are a live band (ie. not using backing tracks that you can just pop on and sing over the top of). Our repertoire is quite large, with the band having been gigging regularly for 10 years solid and it takes a LOT of rehearsal time to learn that amount of material. By this very nature, there’s physically not enough time to play all the songs we’ve performed in the last 10 years in the one night. The vast majority of songs in our set we can play at the drop of a hat. But some songs in our repertoire we’ve not played for some time and if you ask for any of these, we would have to judge if we have time to have an extra rehearsal and refresh our memory. We will let you know at the time of asking, and we will do our utmost to oblige. Remember though, we have been doing this for many years and are experts at “reading” the audience, so ultimately we would say if you let us do our job by choosing the repertoire and judging the audience’s reaction on the night, everyone will go home having enjoyed themselves.
How Much Space Does The Band Require to Set Up?
This will all depend on the size of band booked. We can fit on a stage of around 6m wide x 4m deep for the larger band, but obviously the more room we have, the better the performance. We don’t necessarily need a raised stage area, but for the medium to larger band, this looks much better and when we’re on a stage, the audience can see us better! For any size of band, we have squeezed into some tight spaces in our time, but if there’s any doubt at all, please ask us.
Do I Need To Arrange Food For The Band?
Not necessarily, but as we regularly travel the length and breadth of the country, sometimes leaving as early as 9am and by the time we’ve packed up and leaving the venue it could be gone 2.30am (yes count it, that’s around 18 hours!!). It would be very very much appreciated if a hot snack (something like soup, sandwiches) and tea/coffee was provided after our soundcheck, if we are setting up before/during your meal to tie in with your itinerary. If we don’t need to be there early and are setting up in the turnaround time, this won’t be necessary, but still appreciated.
How Long Does It Take To Set Your Equipment Up?
Under normal circumstances it takes around an hour for us to unload and set up but his is dependant on how easy the access into the venue is and also how fast/helpful venue is at the turnaround time, if this is when set up is taking place. Once the equipment is set up, the band needs to then change into stageclothes. Please note we will not be held responsible for starting later than scheduled due to circumstances beyond our control.
Do You Need a Dressing Room?
Absolutely! As we have up to 3 costume changes and obviously the ladies in the band like to prepare and look their best, and you wouldn’t want the band turning up on stage in their “setting up clothes”, we need a room to be available to us from arrival at the venue until we depart after breaking down equipment and changing back into “civvy” clothes. A room with *preferably* washing facilities, a hanging rail for costumes and a mirror. We also need access to electrical sockets for straighteners/tongs etc. Most hotels are happy to provide a spare room or conference room for this purpose. Please note toilets/cupboards and the like are NOT an acceptable option.
Can You Provide Background Music or Music for Dancing for During Your Breaks?
Yes, definitely. We have had a DJ friend make up segued mixes of party music to keep the dancefloor busy when the band is offstage. You do not need to hire a separate DJ unless you specifically want this or if your function runs past the agreed finishing time of the band.
Will You Let My Uncle Jim Play Your Guitar?
Musicians do not usually like other people fiddling with or playing their instruments and we usually deny all requests to let someone else “borrow” one of our instruments and play with the band. We’ve had the odd occasion where we have agreed it, but if we do, all the conditions would be ironed out well before the big day and any special circumstances of it sorted then. We do encourage audience participation in other ways and we are very skilled at entertaining audiences by encouraging them to join in in other ways.
If Required Will You Play On Later Than Booked?
By and large, we are contracted for a midnight finish. If it’s a later finish than this, then we need to know about it at the time of booking and any later finish (costs/conditions etc) will be negotiated at this time. We won’t play on later than our agreed/contracted finish time unless negotiated prior to the event.
What Style of Music Do You Play?
We play a range of music for all ages and tastes with the emphasis on having a fantastic party atmosphere and keeping the dancefloor busy. Our repertoire comprises songs from the 1950’s to today’s charts and we play pop, rock, soul, rnb, jazz, swing, rock and roll, motown, reggae, funk, country, disco – as you see, something for everyone.
How Long Will You Perform?
Standard bookings are for a 4 hour period between 8pm and midnight. We will normally play either 2 or 3 “sets” within this 4 hour period, taking a break when you have your buffet and possibly 1 other short break during the evening.
What about volume?
Volume is totally at your discretion! How many totally live bands (that have a REAL drummer) can say that? Our drummer uses an electronic drum kit which means it needs to be plugged into the PA (speakers) so you can hear it. This also means the whole band goes through the PA system, which means that the overall volume of the whole band, and individual volumes of each instrument, is TOTALLY CONTROLLABLE. Let us know if we are too loud or too quiet and we can adjust to suit.
What Is the Band’s Dress Code?
The band dresses smartly for all functions. The guys dress in smart black shirts and trousers and the girls do what girls do best and dress to impress. 1st set is usually all in black dresses for the girls. Subsequent sets are matching cocktail dresses. We can, and have, dressed to themes in our time (ie. recent function where it was red and gold themed and we obliged, and another where it was black and white, again we obliged).
How Much Do You Cost?
This will all depend on many different factors, not least the size of the band you want to book and where the function is being held. It will cost more to play in Inverness or Manchester than it will to play in East Kilbride. Please contact us for a bespoke quotation.
Can We Come to See You Before We Book?
Over the years it has become something of “the norm” to view a band at someone’s wedding before you book. Whilst it’s perfectly understandable to want to view what the band look like, sound like and how they perform, having 10 strangers you don’t know hanging around the door of your function room on your wedding day to view the band probably isn’t quite what the bride and groom envisioned when they say “the more the merrier” at the evening reception. It has now become the norm to have video on your website and we are proud to say that Atlantic Soul pioneered this concept many years ago before it was an easy thing to do. What we still maintain is that ALL of our videos are LIVE (so you can see what we look like, hear what we sound like and how we perform in front of a live audience). The media on our website is always bang up to date and isn’t artificially enhanced in any way, shape or form. So to answer the question, under certain circumstances we can arrange a viewing at another wedding. But if that can’t happen due to there being others viewing at a wedding and we don’t want to ask the bride and groom and impede on their generosity or we’re playing too far away from where you are located – then it is for this reason why our multimedia demos are always LIVE and UP TO DATE.
Do We Need to Book a Separate DJ?
Not necessarily. We have had a DJ friend make up segued mixes of party music to keep the dancefloor busy when the band is offstage. You do not need to hire a separate DJ unless you specifically want this or if your function runs past the agreed finishing time of the band.
Is Your Equipment PAT Tested?
Absolutely. Again, we were pioneers of this and led the way so that all of our electrical equipment is completely safe and certificated. However, we can’t speak for some venues as some of these electrical systems can be decidedly dodgy.
What About Public Liability Insurance?
We have £10 million Public Liability Insurance and again, we led the way with this practice many years ago.
Tel: 0844 884 9578
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