Please ask if you have any questions that are not answered here.

1) Booking & Payment Questions

“How do I make a booking?"

“What are your prices?”

“Are your prices competitive?”

“My event is very important, how can I be sure that you are reliable and trustworthy?"

"What happens if they can't make it on the day?"

Which credit/debit cards do you accept?

How would you process my card payments?

2) Music Questions

"Can I hear the type of music that each guitarist plays, to help me decide who I want to book?"  

"My PC is not playing the music on the guitarist pages, so can I order a demo CD instead?"

“What sort of music will be played at my wedding?”

"Will they also play modern love songs, movies themes and  more popular tunes that people would recognise?"

“Can I ask for my own songs to be played?”

"Is there a difference between a 'classical guitar' and a 'Spanish guitar'?"

"Will the guitarist use amplification?"

“What if it’s too loud?”

“How long do they play for?”

"How many hours would our guitarist be with us altogether?"

"When they are having a break, will background music be played on a tape/CD?" 

3) Venue Questions

“Will the Vicar allow it in the church?”

“Will the Registrar allow it in the Civil Ceremony?”

“Will the hotel, pub or restaurant allow it?”

1) Booking & Payment Questions

“What are your prices?”  

Prices vary according to the Artist hired, the duration & location of the event.  

An average fee for a wedding ceremony & reception is likely to be from around 

£195 - £350, for a 3 hour performance.  Prices for duets will usually be higher.

“Are your prices competitive?” 

Yes, considering the cost of an average string quartet or jazz band can be double our rates. Even other soloists such as guitarists, harpists, singers and Flamenco dancers are asking on average £350 -  £500+ per booking.  Our rates are probably going to be around £100 - £150 less than that, on average, depending on who you hire and how long you want them to play for.  Please ask us for a quotation for your day.

We would much rather be fair with our pricing policy and perhaps have slightly lower fess and a higher level of happy customers recommending us in return.  This is better for you, better for us and better for the guitarists (who are kept busy).  We believe that a positive recommendation is much more desirable than to have higher fess but less frequent business with limited recommendations.  

“My event is very important, how can I be sure that you are reliable and trustworthy?" 

The agency is growing fast, with new artists frequently expressing an interest in joining, but we only use guitarists that are experienced professionals in the wedding music business.  We do not hire keen amateurs under any circumstances,  nor any skilled guitarist who may lack wedding experience.  

Careful selection processes (read them here) are involved to also ensure that only professional performers with good presentational and inter-personal skills are employed.  Not all applications are accepted.  For example, some guitarist can play their instruments, but they may lack wedding experience, or have an unsatisfactory presentation, or they may display poor communication skills. 

This ensures that you not only receive good entertainment by a skilled musician, but that the artist will be reliable, presentable and able to conduct him/herself with politeness and courtesy.  A friendly yet respectful rapport with you and your guests is the objective.  

We recently received a thank-you letter on behalf of one of one our guitarists, saying that not only was his music "delightful" but that he was "a real pleasure to have around."    

That's exactly what we aim to do for your event.  Many brides & their families have given their permission for me to release their names & addresses to potential wedding customers, - ask us for details if you are interested.  

"What happens if they can't make it on the day?"

If they are able to tell us in advance, we will try and arrange for a substitute, even if I (Andrew) am the one who ultimately performs at your wedding in their absence.  We do not offer absolute guarantees that we can find a substitute for your day, only an assurance that we will do all we can to find a replacement in whatever notice-period we are given. 

If they fail to turn up on the day without giving you any notice at all, (which is highly unlikely and has never happened before, thankfully) then we will carry out the cancellation terms as stated in the contract:  

1) We will invoice the artist for the Agency’s lost commission that would have been earned otherwise, 

2) The Bride and Groom also reserve the right to recover 'costs' from the artist direct - namely the lost deposit. 

We cannot legally enforce recovery proceedings for you, as we are acting in good faith as a go-between for both sides in the negotiations leading up to a final contract, but you can and should pursue recovery, and we would support this all the way and advise on recovery methods.   We can also assure you that we would drop the artist from the Agency immediately and insist that they compensate you fairly.

Which credit/debit cards do you accept?

We accept the following credit and debit cards issued by UK banks:

•MasterCard •Visa •Switch •Solo •Visa Debit (Delta)* •Visa Electron •Maestro

*Visa Debit Cards carry the "Delta" logo on the back of the card. They can also be identified by the word "Debit" printed on the front of the card.

We do not accept:

• Charge cards • Non UK issued cards • Cards that cannot be used online (cards without a 3 digit security number on the signature strip)
 

How would you process my card payments?

Encrypted Data Transfer
Any sensitive information you send to us, from your computer to our servers, is encrypted in transit through NOCHEX using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol.  We use the highest commercially available encryption key length of 128-bits provided by Verisign.

Encrypted Data Storage
All sensitive information is held in an encrypted form on our servers using the Blowfish encryption algorithm. Each NOCHEX payment and account has its own unique encryption key to protect that account.

Physically Protected Servers
Your information is held on servers that are hosted with one of the UK's leading ISP's in a highly secure data environment, used by many UK high street and Internet banks.

Electronically Protected Servers
The servers that hold your information are protected by secure firewall technology and are not directly connected to the Internet. Only authorised computers can access your information.

Card Authorisation
All requests to your card are authorised through a secure private network connection to the Banking Payment system.

 

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2) Music Questions

 

"Can I hear the type of music that each guitarist plays, to help me decide who I want to book?"

 

Yes you can!  Each guitarist has a web page with his/her portfolio of music, showing their photograph(s), details of their training/background along with a built in Windows Media Player to let you hear their demo CD's online.  Within about 10 - 15 seconds of their web page being opened, you should hear the music of that particular guitarist playing through your PC's speakers.  For more information, please see Our Music. 

 

Don't forget to turn your PC's speakers on, and make sure that the VOLUME & WAV controls are turned up.  

(See diagram below:)

 

How to adjust your PC's VOLUME and WAV controls.
	(FOR WINDOWS XP)   CLICK: Start>All Programs>Accessories> Entertainment>Volume Control
	(FOR WINDOWS 95/98/ME/NT/2000)   CLICK: Start>Programs>Accessories> Entertainment>Volume Control

 

 

"My PC is not playing the demo music on the guitarist's webpages, so can I order a demo CD instead?"

 

Yes, we'll be happy to send you a CD.  Please tell us about your wedding by filling out a Quotation Request form and ask for a CD in the "FURTHER INFORMATION" field at the bottom of the Request form.  (Please be sure to enter your full postal address on the request form.)

 

 

“What sort of music will be played at my wedding?”

 

Various styles of light background music, all easy listening with a general romantic feel, or according to your requirements.  

 

Listen to the CD sound files on this website on the pages of most of the guitarists.   These will provide many examples of the various styles available.  

 

Basically, you can choose from all or a selection of the following, according to the artists' area of expertise:   

   

- Modern Love Songs and Themes from the Movies

- Well known Italian, Spanish & English Classical Pieces

- Baroque, Elizabethan Lute

- Latin, South American, Argentinean

- Spanish

- Italian

- Inspirational, Gospel 

- Popular Standards  and Jazz  Classics

- Classical compositions written by each Artist.  

 

"Will they also play modern love songs, movies themes and more popular tunes that people would recognise?"

 

Yes. They usually blend modern ballads with classical to appeal to the whole audience and age group listening.  It is important though to specify what you want and do not want, otherwise, they will go with their own standard repertoire.

 

 

“Can I ask for my own songs to be played?” 

 

Yes, but please check that we already know them.  If not, you could send us a recording and the sheet music, if available.  

 

Sufficient notice is the important factor here, especially during the busy wedding season.  No guarantee can be given, but we will try our best to learn something in time if it is suitable for classical guitar replication.   

 

Please note that our business policy is strictly “Light, Romantic Background Music.”  We will refrain from playing loud, up-tempo rock ‘n’ roll or lively pop/rock music that is either not in keeping with our advertising or beyond the limitations of the classical guitar.  

 

 

"Is there a difference between a 'classical guitar' and a 'Spanish guitar'?"

 

Only the style of play.  Spanish is often confused with authentic flamenco style, (but they are both very different).  Classical can be used generically , all nationalities are essentially classical but Spanish Guitar has an undeniable uniqueness about it.  

 

 

"Will the guitarist use amplification?"

 

They usually do amplify, as weddings are joyous, noisy occasions!! 

 

 

“What if it’s too loud?”

 

It won’t be, I promise!  ‘Background’ music is central to our advertising and is the heart of all performances.  

 

For your occasion, we will use 1 or 2 small amplifiers placed discreetly around the room to enable all the guests to hear the music without anyone being overwhelmed by too much volume.   

 

Careful positioning of sound equipment will ensure that the nearest guests’ table is not too close to any amplifier, enabling everyone to listen as they talk and eat their meal in a relaxing atmosphere.  

 

If you specifically do not want any amplifiers, that will also be OK, but for 10 or more guests, amplification would be advised. 

 

 

 

“How long do they play for?”

 

Usually anything from 20 minutes to 3 hours total attendance time, it’s entirely up to you.  

 

A standard wedding ceremony lasts around 45 minutes in a church and 20 minutes in a civil setting. 

 

A standard reception meal varies from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the number of courses and any pre-meal drinks or photography. Sometimes we’ve only been asked to play for a total of 30 minutes. Other times we’ve stayed all afternoon.  Whatever your plans are, we will work with you on the day. 

 

During a 2-3 hour performance, a couple of 10-15 minute breaks are usually taken by the Artist, or 1 longer break, whichever is appropriate for the event.  

 

 

"How many hours would our guitarist be with us altogether?"

 

Usually 3 hours total attendance time, on average.  Often, less time is actually required for the event, and rarely more, but extensions are not unheard of.  2-3 hours total attendance time at a wedding would include the ceremony and/or the reception meal (if playing at both has been required), with the artist taking a couple of short breaks, say 10-15 minutes at convenient times.  

 

Any extension to their attendance time would need prior approval and may involve a surcharge.  It may also be a nice courtesy to offer refreshments to the artist as a "thank you" for staying longer.

 

 

"When they are having a break, will background music be played on a tape/CD?"  

 

Only if you arrange this with them in advance.  Otherwise, probably not.  In fact, the silence in the break will make the music more appreciated by your guests!

 

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3) Venue Questions

 

“Will the Vicar allow it in the church?”

 

I’ve never known a Vicar or Curate to object.  They’ve always been very pleased at the idea of the bride bringing in a musician, as it means the church does not have to provide an organist.  

 

Always check first though if you are unsure.  If it helps, I can always ring the church and introduce myself to them and talk about the arrangements.  For (optional) Christian Music List, contact me.   

 

 

 

“Will the Registrar allow it in the Civil Ceremony?”    

 

1) Registry Office - Almost all of them do.  Several years ago, one or two offices in the Cambridgeshire area previously objected to music in the Registry Office itself, as they didn’t have Public Entertainment licenses at the time.  

 

Check with them first, or ask me to ring them.

 

2) Other Civil Venue - At a hired venue, the Registrar can only object to religious music.  Any other music is out of their jurisdiction to overrule and you are free to have whatever you wish.  It is totally down to the bride & groom’s choice as long as it does not contain any spiritual content, whatever the faith inferred.  

 

If in doubt, talk to the registrar, as laws change with modernization, and new licenses & civil venues are appearing in increasing numbers these days as the Civil Ceremony grows in popularity.   

 

 

“Will the hotel, pub or restaurant allow it?”   

 

By law, all hotels, pubs, restaurants and other venues should have Public Entertainment & Live Music Licenses (often seen with the alcohol licence on a plaque above the door) to enable artists & performers to be brought in.  This also applies to almost all community centres and meeting halls.  

 

It is always best to inform the establishment that you will be hiring a guitarist, so that they know to expect him/her.  As a matter of course, I will always ring the proprietors or owners and introduce myself to them & talk about the arrangements, the layout of the tables and access to power points, etc.    

 

As long as you’ve told them of your plans, I will sort out the practical details with the relevant staff overseeing your event.  

 

 

 

Please ask if you have any questions that are not answered here. 

 

 

 

© 1994-2008 The Classical Guitar Agency Ltd.  Registered in England & Wales no. 6552497.   www.classicalguitaragency.co.uk www.classicalguitaragency.com   www.spanishguitaragency.co.uk www.spanishguitaragency.com		© 1994-2008 The Romantic Guitar Agency Ltd Registered in England & Wales no. 5153742.    www.romanticguitaragency.co.uk www.romanticguitaragency.com   www.romanticguitar.co.uk www.romanticguitar.com
The Classical Guitar Agency Ltd is a subsidiary of The Romantic Guitar Agency Ltd. >more