THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN HIRING A STRING QUARTET

Here you are planning a big event, be it a wedding, corporate dinner, office holiday party, or anything else you set your imagination to. You have decided to hire a string quartet to provide live music, but you’re not quite sure how to go about it. Here are a handful of things to consider, and questions you can ask to help guide you. Keep in mind, prices can vary widely, and you often will get what you pay for.

KNOW YOUR BUDGET AND HOW LONG THEY WILL PERFORM

• When hiring a string quartet (2 violins, viola, cello), keep in mind you are paying for highly trained and seasoned musicians. They are professionals and expect to be compensated accordingly. You should expect to pay around $600-$2000 total per hour.

• If that is not an option financially, a good alternative is a string trio (violin, viola, cello), which will cost $450-$1500 per hour. Though not as versatile as a string quartet, a string trio can still provide a great amount of music.

• Next is a string duo (violin or viola, cello). This grouping requires more from the musicians than a quartet or trio, translating to greater limitation on the variety of music available. Expect to pay $300-$1000 per hour.

• Finally, you can hire a solo string musician for your event. It is recommended that you avoid this option unless you know the musician is fully capable. Performing solo means music choice becomes even more limited, and requires a more skilled musician. Here, you can expect to pay $200-$800 for an hour. Expect no more than an hour.

HOW TO FIND A GROUP

• As with most services, the best way to find musicians is through recommendations from people you know and trust. It might be someone you know that recently has been to a wedding or holiday party, or it could be someone that works as an event planner. Six degrees of separation is a real thing, so ask around, it can produce great results.

• Event vendors (venues, caterers, decorators, etc.) often have a list of preferred partners that they work with. Feel free to reach out to them for recommendations.

• There are online platforms with vendor directories focused on event planning. These run the gamut from vetted vendors with customer reviews to platforms that vendors simply advertise on.

• You can also do your own research online. As is always the case, beware of what the search engine results are. Top results are not always the best results, and given the expense of hiring musicians, you want your money spent in a way that brings peace of mind, not heartburn.

INCIDENTAL COSTS

• The instruments that are used by string players are very expensive, and therefore need to be protected. If you are planning on holding an outdoor event, you need to make certain that the musicians will not be in direct sunlight, that there is protection from precipitation, and that they will not be exposed to temperatures below 55° F. These circumstances may require that you rent a canopy or tent, and/or heater(s).

• The musicians also need armless chairs to sit in. Check with the event venue to see if it will provide them. If not, you will need to provide you own.

• If you have special requests for music, some ensembles may charge extra for music that they don’t have in their library. If this information is not available on the ensemble’s website, it can be confirmed by contacting them.

• With larger outdoor spaces, you might need some form of PA system for the musicians to be heard clearly.

VENUE (Indoor and Outdoor)

• A string quartet will need at least 50 square feet of space for performing, making tight, hidden corners not a very good option. You also want to avoid having them near doors and busy pathways.

• Outdoor venues can be lovely, but we are all then left to whims of the weather. As mentioned above, that can lead to extra cost regarding musicians. You also need to ensure that there is a level area for the musicians to perform, sitting on a slope does not work well.

• For any outdoor venue, there should always be an indoor of canopied location on site in case of inclement weather.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN HIRING A STRING QUARTET:

• know your music budget and how that affects your options

• when possible, use trusted sources to find a string quartet

• there are potential incidental costs, including protection from weather

• size and orientation of space need to be taken into account