Prices

Our pricing structure is based on the number of players, length of the performance, and any extra factors such as distance to the venue, or special requests. A sample rate for a four-player group (string quartet) on site for up to two hours in Thanet would be GBP 500 (no VAT). But to get a clearer picture, it's best to talk to us about the details.

Services provided by the Impromptu Ensemble

• Weddings — see our separate page about choosing wedding music

  

• Funerals — see our separate page about choosing funeral music
• Birthdays — or anniversaries and similar celebrations
• Bar Mitzvahs — it's a standing joke: we've never been asked, but no doubt we could
• Fund-raising events — we've done charity gala dinners, care homes, veteran concerts, etc.
• Festivals — both indoors and open air, e.g. 'Open Gardens'

  

• Concerts — we've done serious classical events, light pub gigs, themed programmes, even a concert where all the items were called out by the audience, and we're also happy to provide a few 'fillers' for variety in a longer orchestral or choral event
• Recordings — we've worked in studio and on location for various Railway Swing Band CDs

Cheaper options

Some requests we've accommodated in the past for a lower budget:

• Solo organist for a wedding, funeral, service or concert

  

• Solo violinist playing while walking in front of a wedding couple between the church and the reception
• Solo violinist playing over a grave in a natural burial ground
• Solo bugler playing The Last Post at a funeral
• Solo violinist serenading a couple in their own home on their anniversary
• Solo pianist joining a singer, group or choir for rehearsals and a concert or theatre performance

  

• Solo pianist accompanying instrumentalists or singers for exams and festival performances
• Organist and trumpeter adding colour to the hymns at a wedding
• Organist and solo cellist at a wedding

  

• Two violinists joining the local organist to play at a wedding
• String trios (or piano trios) for most of the events and functions shown above

We would always expect to discuss the types of music to be played well in advance, and perhaps make a site visit too, to check seating positions etc. We can accommodate most requests with sufficient notice. As we're acoustic, we don't require electric power or PAT certificates etc.: just some flat chairs and shelter from the elements.

We have a huge repertoire (hundreds of songs or other pieces), but if you have a particular request, we may have to buy in the sheet music — this would be charged at cost, often only GBP 10 or so. We can also produce special arrangements to make your event unique: for example, once at a policeman's wedding we created a medley of tunes from Inspector Morse, Juliet Bravo, The Bill and Z-Cars, and at a banker's marriage celebration we played another collection of popular songs such as If I were a rich man and Money Money Money.

T&C / privacy policy

In general we require a non-refundable deposit to reserve a date. The balance may be paid by bank transfer/PayPal etc. no later than the morning of the assignment, or cash upon arrival.

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