What Do I Need to Ask My Saxophonist About When I Hire Them For An Event?

You’ve made a fantastic decision and chosen to hire a saxophonist for your wedding, event or party.

You’ll most likely have called or emailed them, confirmed the date and time that you need them to play and, assuming you’ve discussed exactly how much they are going to cost to do a specific amount of time, you pay a deposit which can range from 10% to 50% depending on the performer or organisation.

When talking to the saxophonist about logistics you will want to find out exactly how many sets they’ll do for how much and at what time - most saxophonists will not do a single set during the ceremony and wait around until 10pm to do a dance floor show unless you are paying extra so be specific about timings when you book them.

You’ll also want to make sure that they’re alright with doing the music you want - good sax players can play over anything but most have specific shows that they know go down well with crowds and that they can perform confidently and impressively. Making a saxophonist do something they’re not good at isn’t wise.

You’ll need to be able to tell them what gear to bring. If you expect your saxophonist to play with your DJ then they will need to be able to plug into the DJ’s decks for their microphone to work. Similarly, if they are playing solo then they’ll need to bring their own speakers. Some venues have rules about no amplification (i.e. backing tracks are fine but no mic on the sax) or sometimes that the speakers have to be indoors whilst the guests are outside (I got caught out by this at a venue in the summer). Similarly, if the venue says they have a sound system then find out if it is suitable - I’ve been stuck with a single battered Sonos speaker that intermittently cut out the first time a restaurant maintained that I didn’t need to bring my own speaker system. I have never again travelled without my own PA to avoid this problem but do check with both the venue and the sax player who you have hired. This gear will take time to set up with more complicated and powerful systems requiring longer so do check set up time as well - I generally try to arrive at least an hour before my first set, others will arrive earlier or later depending on their preference.

More mundane things to cover are to find out if they have PAT tested equipment and PLI (Public Liability Insurance). Solo performers should have both within date and venues often ask to see the paperwork - it’s worth finding out if the venue will need it and if the performer has the correct up-to-date paperwork.

Finally, it’s definitely worth asking if the performer has a backup player in case of illness or a gig coming in the they just can’t refuse. Most sax players will have a dep (deputy) who they often send excess gigs to but check if you like them as well.

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Looking for a wedding saxophonist in Hertford, Oxford, Bucks, or across the South East?

Whether you're planning your big day in Guildford, Harlow, Tring, Coulsdon, Berkhamsted, or beyond – including Chichester, Dulwich, Forest Hill, Peckham, Honor Oak, East Dulwich, Croydon, Southend, Chidham, Farbridge, Fleet, Farnborough, Slough, Essex, Surrey, Sussex, Kent or London – Nick brings unforgettable live saxophone music to your celebration. Get in touch to check availability and make your wedding truly special.