Everything people ask

This is dependent on the act, but generally either 1 x 90-minute set, or 2 x 60-minute sets with a short break. Our DJs play for up to 4 hours.

We do leave it to the acts to determine the final set and order, as their experience of what works is a big part of what you’re paying for. But let us know any songs you’d particularly like to hear (or any you wouldn’t) and we’ll pass them on to the band. For DJ sets, we ask for 10-15 of your favourite songs so they know the kind of thing you like.

Usually, as long as we have a few weeks’ notice. We’ll let you know if it works for the band’s line-up. If not, we can play the original recording through the sound system, with the band kicking off as soon as it finishes.

It depends on the location and the time of year. For a midsummer wedding in England, we suggest later rather than sooner, so the dance floor isn’t competing with the sun. After the meal, leave about 20 minutes before the band starts - time for guests to go to the loo, get a drink from the bar and catch up with anyone they haven’t spoken to yet - so they’re ready to dance when the band starts. We’ll work with you to find the right moment to start.

The setting up and testing of the sound system - volume levels, monitoring for the musicians, tuning the system to the space and a couple of songs played through at dancing volume. If there’s a drum kit, there’s no such thing as a silent soundcheck. It takes about 30 minutes once everything is loaded in and set up, and it’s the one part of the day we won’t rush. It’s when the musicians set up their monitoring, so they can hear themselves and each other properly on stage, and when we make sure the sound system sounds right in the room from the first song. If you’d like it all done before your guests arrive, we can come in earlier in the day.

Rather than a meal on the day, we ask for a set amount per person so the musicians and crew can sort their own food. They much prefer it - they can eat when and where suits them, instead of waiting for the caterers, who will be busy looking after your guests. We’ll include the amount on the booking agreement, once the timings are known. All we ask for on the day is plenty of bottles of water.

Yes, and we’d always recommend it. The band has to stop at some point; the music doesn’t have to.

On the rare occasion it happens, a deputy who already knows the set steps in. Over the years we’ve built up a rather long list of some of the best musicians in the UK. The band plays as booked, and most guests would never know.

We can quote for sound, lighting and crew. Our audio supplier is one of the finest in the business and has worked with us for over 10 years, so we prefer to bring the sound in ourselves rather than work with a third party - but if you have it covered already, we’ll work with your team to make sure the act has everything it needs. Different acts have different requirements, so tell us about timings, access and any restrictions and we’ll quote for it properly. Lighting isn’t included as standard, because it depends on the room: what’s there already, the look you’re after and colours chosen to suit the space. Once we know the details, we can put together a package that makes the act and the room look as good as they sound.

Tell us the venue and we’ll let you know if it’s suitable for your act.

Staging and power are for you or your venue to arrange. Tell us about the space and we’ll send over exactly what the act needs.

Yes. We’ll speak to them directly about power, equipment and stage size.

Almost always. Marquee sites rarely have power as standard, and an extension from the house may not supply enough for what we draw, or could trip mid-set. The band needs its own supply, separate from the catering and lighting. We’ll send our power requirements for you to pass on to your marquee or generator company.

Yes, ideally before it’s finalised. A marquee company plans the space around the tables, the catering and the build, which is exactly their job. Send us the plan and we’ll suggest where the stage, the dance floor and the bar should sit. It’s usually a small change, and it makes a real difference to how full the dance floor gets.

Plan for about two thirds of your guests on it at once and roughly half a square metre each - so an 18ft square is about right for 100 guests, and 20ft by 24ft for 150. Err on the small side: a packed dance floor looks like a party and a half-empty one looks like a mistake, and people will spill off the edges quite happily.

As close to the dance floor as you can get it, safely! People will always linger around a bar, and if it’s down the far end or around a corner (or in another room entirely), that’s where half your guests will spend the evening. Put it beside the dance floor and the lingering happens where the music is. Staff it properly, too: a queue does the same thing a badly placed bar does, just more slowly.

Yes - a 5-piece band needs at least 4m by 3m and a 9-piece around 7m by 4m, and we ask for it to be carpeted. A carpeted stage looks better than bare boards, fixes together properly and is safer for the musicians if a drink gets spilt on it. If a DJ is sharing the stage, it’ll need to be a bit bigger. A DJ on their own doesn’t need one, but it’s always preferred.

Avoid facing a west-facing window if you’re starting before dark - the band is in silhouette and the guests are squinting. And give the band the longest view in the room rather than the widest: a dance floor that is deep in front of the stage fills better than one that is spread across it. The sound works better that way too: pointed down the length of the room, the band can fill the dance floor without being turned up, and there’s still somewhere further back for anyone who wants a quieter conversation.

Yes. It needs to be private and warm, with enough comfortable seating for everyone and a loo close by. It’s where the band spend most of their time on site, so a section of a marquee isn’t normally suitable.

We require a 30% deposit to secure the date, with the balance due two weeks before the event. We’re VAT registered and can add a PO number to the invoice if you need one.

Yes. We send it alongside the deposit invoice, and it sets out exactly what you’ve booked and how the day will run. If anything in it is unclear, just ask - we’re always happy to talk it through.

Yes. Rattle & Shake holds public liability insurance and our equipment is PAT tested - tell us who at the venue needs the certificates and we’ll send them over.