Your event / Live music / Sound and lighting for a function band
Sound and lighting for a function band
A stage that reads well on camera, a band that can hear itself, and a changeover into the DJ set without a scramble at the side of the stage.
What the band needs from the room
- Enough channels for every voice, instrument and playback source, plus two spare.
- A monitor or two so the band can hear the singer without turning the front of house up.
- A front wash that makes the band visible to the audience and to a photographer.
- Room to load in and a power supply that can take the whole rig without a chain of adaptors.
Making a small stage look bigger
Depth comes from light behind the band, not more light in their faces. Vertical pixel bars at the back, a colour wash on the wall behind, and a warm front wash separate the band from the room. Uplighting around the venue ties the stage to the space, so the performance area does not look like a corner that happened to have a drum kit in it.
The changeover
The difference between a slick evening and a long pause is usually a save button and a labelled cable. We programme the live set and the party set in advance, save them as scenes, and leave one cue for the changeover. The band’s engineer can take over, or we can operate for the evening.
What it costs
The live music atmosphere package is £460 including local delivery, setup, programming and pack-down. A larger rig with moving heads, blinders and haze is £620. If the band carries its own production, individual fixtures, speakers, monitors and desks are available by the day.
Working with the band
Send the stage plot, channel list and a link to a recent set. We will confirm what the venue can take, what the band needs to bring, and when the soundcheck can happen. If the band tours with an engineer, we will patch for them; if not, we can operate.
What we need from the venue
- A power supply close to the stage, and the venue’s noise limit for the evening.
- The stage dimensions, ceiling height and any rigging restrictions.
- Load-in access, parking and the time the room is available.
- Whether haze is permitted, and whether the fire alarm is sensitive to it.
Packages that suit this event
One price for the sound, the lighting and the setup. Choose the package and we will confirm the details for your venue.
Rather hire the individual pieces?
The packages are the simplest way to book the event. Every fixture, speaker and microphone is still hired on its own if you would rather build the rig yourself.
Questions people ask
Do you provide backline?
No. Instruments and amps belong to the band. We provide the PA, microphones, DI boxes, monitoring and lighting.
Can you mic a drum kit?
Yes. Drum microphones and stands are part of the band PA, which is quoted against the channel list. The fixed packages cover the lighting and the front-of-house tops; the desk, monitors and microphones are added to the quote.
Can you stay for the DJ set?
Yes. The package is programmed to move from the live set into the party, and we can leave the desk ready or stay to operate.
How much space does the band need?
A typical five-piece needs about 4 m by 3 m, plus a clear access route. Send the stage plot and we will confirm what fits.
Do you need a soundcheck?
An hour is ideal. Thirty minutes is workable if the band is ready and the room is quiet when we arrive.