Velvet Entertainment

What kind of entertainment do you offer?

We have a wide range of acts to keep the guests entertained at your event. Our entertainment roster includes party bands, DJs, string quartets, solo musicians and non-musical acts including magicians, acrobats, caricaturists, variety acts, hosts and speakers. Let us know what kind of event you want to throw, and we’ll find the perfect entertainer to please you and your guests.

Do you supply entertainment abroad?

Alongside our sister companies, Velvet Riviera (Cannes), Velvet Barcelona & VL Lounge (Malloca), we regularly provide entertainment across Europe from weddings in Rome to corporate parties in Cannes.

Do your music acts take requests? Can they play our first dance?

Most of our musical acts will learn one special song for free, so if you have a first dance or a song to end the night on, just let us know a few months before the event. Please note that this doesn't apply to all our bands, so do let us know when you book.

How much will it cost?

The cost of the entertainment will depend on the entertainment you are considering for your event. As a guide, a solo performer will start from around £400 +VAT, small musical groups around £1000 +VAT, with party bands and more specialist, acts starting from £2500 +VAT

Your acts seemed more expensive than other acts I found directly online?

If you find an act directly online you will most likely not have to pay a booking fee. We do however have a few key reasons that help to explain the difference between finding an act yourself and the added value that making a booking through us brings with it. The first and probably main reason to book through us is that you are eliminating the unknown and leaving nothing to chance. We carefully vet and nurture our acts, who have proven themselves and developed a great working relationship with us and our clients over many years. You can be sure that any act that we are recommending will be one of the best available in the industry. You will receive expert and impartial advice from our staff members who have years of events experience both in front and behind the microphone. You can see us as a safety net as we have the backup and experience to deal with any issue that may arise. We have a proven track record of consistently delivering high-quality entertainment for events over the last 15 years and we are proud to say that all of the above reasons are why we are a trusted supplier to some of the UK’s most prestigious locations and events.

Can we view before booking?

We will do our best to arrange an opportunity to view our acts before booking whenever possible. However, the opportunities for this can be limited. We represent bands that perform at the top level of private and corporate events and these are rarely open to the public. As such we need to make sure that the privacy of our clients is respected. When possible, we may be able to arrange for you to discreetly view an act. Rest assured, if a band appears on our website, they have been thoroughly vetted by our entertainment team, all of whom have performance experience themselves, and you can book with confidence. All of our bands can be watched and heard online via our website.

What about volume and sound limiters?

Volume is always at your discretion. However, it can be difficult to balance the dynamic required for a good performance against requests for very low volume. Also remember - some entertainment elements, such as drums, have no volume control (other than the drummer,) therefore a band with live drums can have difficulty coping with requests for very low volume. It's also worth noting that an increasing number of venues have sound limiters fitted. This is a piece of equipment that measures the volume in a function room and cuts the power supply to the stage area which can result in the band's performance coming to a somewhat abrupt end. However, in most cases, the limiters are set at a reasonable enough level and don't cause too much trouble. Our advice would be to check with your venue if it has a sound limit or limiter - if it does, get in touch and we will put together a list of acts that are suitable for the allowed volume.

Can I choose the songs the band play?

We would generally advise against clients dictating the songs or setlist. You're welcome to send over a list of your favourite songs from the band's repertoire and the band will do their best to find a happy medium and include these where possible in their set. Bear in mind that most bands will use their experience to alter their set to suit the audience reaction. Our musicians have years of experience performing thousands of gigs and will always aim to get all your guests up and dancing.

Do I have to provide food and drink for entertainment acts?

This is something to bear in mind for events where our entertainment acts may be required to be on location for extended periods of time. To answer this question, I should perhaps give you a little run-down of an entertainment acts day when performing at an event. It will be worth considering that many of our entertainment acts will be departing in good time to reach the venue of your event (especially if outside of London), transporting both themselves and any equipment they require and arriving a couple of hours before their scheduled performance time to load in and set-up. Not long after completing their set-up, they will then be providing a high-energy performance for you and your guests before then having to de-rig their equipment and commence their journey home. Therefore, we will generally ask to provide the band members and crew with an evening meal and free soft drinks during the time on site. For setups where an early sound check is required, lunch may be required as well. A well-fed band will always have a bigger smile on their faces and more energy when it comes to performance time!

How long will the entertainment perform?

This will vary depending on the kind of act you book as each act will have the suggested performance time for maximum impact at your event. However, as an example, every musical act has various options but you can expect most to offer either 2 x 45, 1 x 90 with more sets/increased performance lengths always up for discussion.

How long will it take to set up the equipment?

Most bands will set up in around an hour. This will vary depending on the size of the band and event. It is best to do this during a room turnaround when they can do a small sound check or at a time when guests are not trying to listen to speeches etc. If this is a real concern for your party, it is usually possible to arrange for the band to arrive for an early sound check for an extra fee.

Can bands play different styles of music?

Our musical acts have to appeal to a broad spectrum of audiences. You'll find most of them will perform a highly varied set with something for almost everyone. However, a traditional ceilidh band, for instance, won’t consider Coldplay’s latest. Most good function bands may be able to play something a bit more bespoke as part of their normal set. However, should you wish an extended set of a certain type/genre be sure to check first as some bands may need to bring in additional musicians at extra cost. If in doubt get in touch first for the best advice.

What size band should I book?

This one is mostly down to budget and venue. As mentioned above, larger bands are usually more expensive. Another deciding factor is how much space there is for your band to set up? If, for instance, your band play on the dance floor itself then there is less available space for actual dancing. Your venue will give the best advice on this but, give us a call and we talk you through the best solution.

Does the band provide music between and before sets?

Yes, our bands are happy to provide music via an iPod/iPad between sets, this is usually a pre-mixed playlist. If you have particular songs in mind, you're also welcome to create your own playlists which can be played through the band's PA system. We recommend you provide a playback device or the playlist in advance of the event so the music can be downloaded for safety.

What if the band or member of the band can't make it on the day due to illness?

If a member of the band is unable to attend on the day of the event due to illness, the band will use a suitable replacement. All our bands have back-up (dep) musicians for this kind of scenario. In the very unlikely event that all members are unable to attend due to illness, we will find a suitable replacement or offer a full refund. In the 15 years Velvet Entertainment has been trading, there has not been one account of a band failing to perform their set.

What if my event is running behind schedule, will the band play later?

We understand how sometimes little things can occasionally contribute to your event running a little behind schedule. But there is no need to panic in this situation. Both we and all our acts have dealt with this kind of scenario on many occasions, and our performers will always look to be as flexible as possible in these circumstances. After all, they want to perform just as much as you and your guests do, so timings can usually be shuffled and adjusted fractionally on the day to make things work as well as possible. However, it should be respected that certain instances are trickier to be flexible than others. Particularly in regard to performances that may have late finishes (midnight or later) where travel arrangements for performers will need to be considered, or occasions where the performers may have secondary bookings elsewhere after the planned finish time at your event (which we will make you aware of beforehand).

Can you provide other services?

As well as entertainment, we also have a production arm to our business able to assist with any sound, lighting, and other technical needs you may have. We also share our London offices with our sister team Velvet Living who will be able to handle any furniture and styling requirements including bars and serving stations, comfy lounge seating areas, outdoor furniture, poseur tables and bar stools.

What venues have you worked with lately?

We have a vast list of venues that we have worked with throughout our history. However, some of our most recent are venues such as the iconic Old Royal Naval College, The Royal Academy of Arts and Somerset House where we are approved suppliers for entertainment.