DON'T TAKE OUR WORD
“Our guests tell us they thoroughly enjoyed the entire evening and it will be a truly memorable night for all of us. We had great fun organising the event, but without your help.. where would we be?”
LATEST NEWS
May 2010
We have now expanded our repertoire with: You Got The Love, Blame It On The Boogie, Higher & Higher, Rescue Me.
Read More »
One of the top wedding bands and party bands in the North East
As one of the leading bands in the North East we pride ourselves in having a friendly and professional service which can help lighten the load of planning your event. Whether you are a bride to be who is looking at wedding bands for the first time or an event organiser for a major company, we can help make your life easier.
frequently asked questions:
From playing at hundreds of weddings and functions we have collected some of the most common answers for you.
"Where can I see Funk Conspiracy perform live?"
Because most of our shows are at private functions, we cannot invite potential clients to watch us live at these events. This is why we have made some live recordings available on this website. We will be playing regularly at As You Like It, a public bar venue in Newcastle, North East England, so please contact us for dates, because the venue website is often not up to date, and we tend to book our dates there at fairly short notice.
"How much does it cost to hire the band?"
We don't advertise a price on the website because cost can vary with distance, performance times and other variables. Every event is unique so contact Richard today to discuss your requirements. You can rest assured that our rates are very competitive with other high quality function bands in the Northeast.
"Can you learn songs specially for our event?"
Unfortunately not, our repertoire has evolved over several years to appeal to the widest range of people possible and to suit the type of events we play at. The music has also been chosen to work well with the instruments in the band and our singer. Because of this and the amount of time involved we are unable to offer a bespoke song service.
"Can you play a song for our first dance?"
We have several slower, more romantic songs that are ideal for a first dance at your wedding. See the repertoire page on this website.
"I'm interested, how do I make a booking?"
Contact Richard via the details on the contact page of this website to discuss your requirements and to make sure that the date you would like to book is available, we are often taking bookings up to a year or more in advance. We will then send out a contract for the booking, and it is considered confirmed once we have recieved the signed contact back by post. There is no deposit required and full payment can be made either a week before the event or on the day itself. An invoice can be provided if required.
"How long do you play for?"
Our most common shows consist of two sets of approx 1 hour each, (recommended) with a break in between. Sometimes it can be 3 x 40mins sets. We try to be flexible to suit your plans. Breaks should be ideally a minimum of 10 minutes to allow the band to prepare for the next set. A longer break can be the perfect time to plan the buffet if you are having one.
"Do you bring all your own equipment?"
Funk Conspiracy comes fully self contained as standard with a PA system and stage lighting. This high quality equipment and the band's experience with many different venues ensures a full and professional sound, balanced to the venue. Our standard PA system is suitable for events with up to approx 300 guests and we also have a larger system suitable for 500+. We can arrange any extra audio / visual equipment provision you may require at favourable rates through our long standing contacts in the entertainment industry.
"Can you also DJ or provide music playback?"
We do not DJ ourselves. If you have your own DJ, or wish to play CDs or an ipod, you can plug into our PA system (subject to careful use) during the event and up until midnight at no extra cost. Our lighting is included in this offer. Longer PA hire can be arranged at reasonable rates.
"How will we fill the whole evening with entertainment?"
Sometimes wedding clients wonder how long to make mp3 playlists to cover the rest of the evening, or whether it is worth hiring a DJ. If 2 hours doesn't sound like a large portion of the evening for a live band to cover then consider the other aspects of the day and how long they will take. After the wedding, photos, meal and speeches it will be around 6:30 or 7pm. The venue will need time to clear and prepare the room for the evening (this is when we set up) and guests will want to digest, drink and chat; you might have background music during this time. This brings you to about 8pm. If your reception were to finish at midnight then that leaves 4 hours, of which you might allocate up to one hour for an evening buffet (background music is best at this time as people are unlikely to eat and dance at the same time). If the band fill 2 hours then only about 1hour is left for the disco or mp3 dance playlist. A DJ becomes a more worthwhile investment when the reception finishes later than midnight.
"Is your equipment PAT tested?"
All the band's mains powered equipment is regularly tested for electrical safety by a qualified person to comply with the PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) regulations. The band also carries full public and employers liability insurance. The certificates can be shown if notice is given before the event.
"How far will you travel?"
We mainly operate in North East England. Cumbria, Yorkshire & Southern Scotland, as it is less economical to travel greater distances. However it is still worth contacting us for a quote for events elsewhere as we can still be competitive in a lot of cases.
"What do I need to arrange with the venue?"
Please note that you need to allow about 1 hour from when the band arrives at the venue to the point they are finished sound checking and ready to play. Venues with difficult access take us longer to set up. Think through your plan for the event, the band can set up at any time that is convenient for you although it will cost extra if setup needs to start before 5pm. It is worth contacting us at the earliest possible time in planning as there are certain logistical considerations with live music. The ideal minimum space needed for the 5 piece band is 4m wide by 3m deep although we have performed with less. Our equipment requires only two standard 13amp domestic power sockets. If you have booked a DJ make sure they know that there will be a live band, and that they leave enough space and sockets for the band.
Do you have a question for Funk Conspiracy that you feel has not been answered here?
Get in touch with us to ask us through our contact page »
