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Terms and Conditions – Wiltshire String Quartet

The following terms and conditions are agreed by both the hirer (You) and the musicians to form a contract to which all parties agree to abide by when the hirer makes a booking. The sections are listed as below.

1. Balance Payment Due Date

Your balance payment is to be made by bank transfer to one of our musicians bank accounts 14 days prior to the performance date.  Please contact us and we shall supply you with one of our musicians bank details.  We do not accept cash, cheques, PayPal or card payments of any type as balance payment.  Failure to have correctly paid your balance will leave us unable to perform and will also leave you liable to the full balance payment and any costs incurred to recover our fees.

2. Deposits And Balances, Postponement & Cancellation Of Booking By The Hirer

The deposit you pay to secure your booking is non-refundable.  If you cancel your booking at any time, for any reason, your deposit will not be refunded.  If you cancel your booking 90 days or fewer prior to the performance date, you will also be liable for the full balance payment.  If you are cancelling 90 days or fewer prior to the performance date the balance is due within 7 days of the cancellation being made.  If your booking has been postponed and then goes on to be cancelled by you, then full balance payment will be required within 7 days of the cancellation being made.

3. Weddings Ceremonies

Generally a one, to one and a half hour booking is sufficient for a ceremony only booking.  Brides are often late though.  If in doubt, you may like to consider adding a little extra time when you book.  If we are play for your wedding ceremony and it runs beyond the end of our agreed booking time, we will of course stay until the end of the ceremony if possible and invoice you for the overtime after the event.  We cannot guarantee we can stay late due to circumstances after what was originally booked, so please bear this in mind when deciding on the length of time you book us for.  Overtime will be charged at the following rates for each 30-minutes or duration of, String Quartet £120, String Trio £100.

4. Refreshments

For all bookings please provide us with soft or hot drinks of our choice as required.  For bookings of 4 hours or more Light Refreshments (sandwiches or similar) are to be supplied for the musicians.  Please ensure you have made arrangements for this on the day.

5. Inside Performance, Playing Space Required, Seating Requirements And Instrument Protection

Level ground, suitable playing area, adequate lighting and four chairs without arms are necessary for us to perform inside.  We require approximately 3x2m (9’10″x6’7″) of space to play and four armless chairs.  We arrange the four armless chairs provided in a semicircle.  Our instruments require protection from other forms of liquid and moisture, including but not limited to, Champagne spray, bubble blowing and smoke or fog machines.  If any of these are in use at your event, please make sure they are a suitable distance away from the quartet.  If the quartet is subjected to any of these, the performance will cease and the full fee will remain payable.  It is the responsibility of the hirer to ensure these requirements are met prior to our arrival at your venue(s).  If outside performance is requested, please see section 6 below for details of further requirements in addition to those already in section 5.

6. Outside Performance

If requested we would be delighted to perform outside.  The British weather however presents its own unique set of challenges at all times of the year.  Being a professional quartet/ ensemble we perform using expensive instruments which can have a combined value of £100,000 or more.  The instruments, sheet music, stands and musicians must be protected from wind, UV rays (Sun) and rain, making outside cover required.  A marquee, awning, large umbrella, extended canopy or the inside of a doorway are acceptable.  To perform under a tree is not acceptable cover.  Level ground, protection from high winds, adequate lighting and four chairs without arms are also necessary.  For string players in normal playing attire (orchestral dress), the normal ambient outside performance temperature undercover is between 18°C and 26°C.  Outside of these temperature parameters, additional heating or cooling or may be required.  Cooling may come in the form of a natural breeze, fan, or even an air-conditioning unit.  Heating may come in the form of a heater.  The decision whether to perform outside will be made by the musicians at the time of performance and you agree that their decision will be final.  Performances may be moved indoors due to weather conditions.  We do not supply cover, cooling or heating equipment of any kind. Supplying these is the responsibility of the hirer.

7. Amplification

We need to be made aware of any amplification requirements prior to performance.  We do not supply any sound amplification equipment electronic or otherwise in addition to what our acoustic instruments can produce.  Any sound amplification equipment you may require is to be hired separately from us.  We are not responsible for the quality of sound produced from any sound amplification equipment put before us for us to perform into.  We are acoustic musicians only and cannot give qualified advice on sound amplification.  You may ask us our opinion on sound amplification, but any response given is an unqualified opinion requested by you and does not constitute liability of any kind on our part.  This includes, but is not limited to, advice relating to volume levels, microphones, amplifiers, cables, stands or any other items or issues related to sound amplification.  All questions with regards to sound amplification and sound amplification equipment need to be addressed to sound amplification specialists within the company who is supplying you with the sound amplification equipment.

8. Accompanying Singer, Instrumentalists And Audio/Video Recording

If you have a singer or instrumentalist of your choice who wishes to accompany us for part of your wedding or event, we will be happy to discuss this with you.  They will need to fulfil certain criteria to work with us, and there may be additional fees chargeable depending on the requirements.  Please contact us for more information.  We have been hired to provide live music for your event, we cannot be constantly recorded by any recording device that is set up with the main purpose of recording us.

9. Additional Sheet Music

If you would like us to perform any additional pieces of music which we do not have in our current repertoire, an arrangement fee to obtain the sheet music will be chargeable.  Please contact us for prices.

10. Vehicle Breakdown, Traffic And Illness

If for any reason (including vehicle breakdown, traffic or illness) we have to cancel the performance prior to, or on the day of your event, you will receive a full refund of any monies you have paid.  You agree this will be the limit of any financial (or other) responsibilities we have to compensate you.

11. Incomplete Quartet/ Ensemble

If for any reason not all the musicians or equipment arrives at your venue, we may offer to perform with a reduced quartet/ ensemble.  If you agree to a reduced quartet/ ensemble the compensation due to you will be limited to the fee(s) of the musician(s) not present, or the musician(s) fee(s) that are unable to perform due to lack of equipment.  This fee will only be payable to you if you have paid it to us already.  If you have not yet paid the musicians fees it will simply be knocked off the final balance payable.  You agree this will be the limit of any financial responsibilities we have to compensate you.

12. Delayed Start – Not Due To Quartet/ Ensemble

Should we arrive on time and be ready to start at the agreed start time, but due to the hirer, hirer’s guests, hirer’s service providers or any other reason not down to us, our quartet/ ensemble is unable to start performing, the start time which was agreed prior to arrival at the venue will go ahead as planned anyway.  This does not necessarily mean that we are performing music, but the total hired time clock has started ticking at the originally agreed time.  This means as far as the original booking is concerned that we will not carry on beyond the agreed finish time if we are in place ready to start and “others” are not. “Others” can be described (but not limited to) as the hirer, guests, any person in the building, suppliers, companies, organisations or events linked, or not linked to your event, that has caused delay to the start to the originally agreed booking start time.

The hirer may wish to extend their booking time to cover any additional booking time required due to delay.  Please read section 15 (Changes To Total Time Hired) for more information on time extensions to your booking.

13. Late Arrival At First Or Second Venues

If we arrive later than the start time that was originally agreed at the first venue, we will endeavour to perform beyond the originally agreed finish time until the original booking duration is fulfilled to compensate for late arrival.  On occasion due to previously arranged further commitments we may be unable to stay beyond the originally booked finish time.  If your booking is a multiple venue (more than one place of performance), which involves the musician(s) travelling between venues, please be aware travelling time may vary on the day to that predicted.  This could be due to a wide range of factors beyond our control.  We take all reasonable measures to get to the venue on time.  However, under no circumstances will we compensate you due to the delayed start of a performance at any additional venue beyond the first.

14. Total Hired Time, Required Breaks

For all our performances the booking time duration and fees quoted on your booking confirmation email is for the total time hired.  This is not the total playing time.  We generally take a 10 minute break per hour during a function of 2 hours or more.  We are happy to coordinate our breaks with your function’s itinerary, so please let us know when speeches are likely to occur for example.  In a wedding ceremony booking breaks for the musicians are built in to the service.  The musicians will stay in position throughout the ceremony.  Should you wish to extend or reduce the total time hired at a later point beyond what was agreed in the original booking, please read section 15 (Changes To Total Time Hired) for more information.

15. Changes To Total Time Hired (Extension or Reduction)

A time extension to your original booking means you are increasing the total time hired.  This is not necessarily actual performance time.  This includes (but is not limited to) any addition hired time requested by the hirer for practice, sound checks, run through, delayed start, or any other kind of time extension request made in addition to the original agreed hired time.  Time extensions to your booking which are requested after the original date you booked will be subject to an additional fee.  Fees will be quoted to you upon request.  The fees to extend the total hired time will be higher than that of the set time periods quoted when you originally booked.  If the new increased hired time period fee is higher than what the hirer wants to pay, both parties agree to abide by the original hired time and fees.  Please note that extra hired time that is requested on the day of performance is charged at a minimum rate of half an hour (no less).  We reserve the right to increase our time extension fees at any time.

A request for a reduction in total hired time may be subject to a reduction in fees.  If there is a reduction in fees applicable (which is not always the case) the fee reduction will be quoted to the hirer at the time of request.  If the new reduced booking time period fees are not acceptable to you, both parties agree to abide by the original booking period and fees.  Please also read section 19 for important notes regarding changes to total time hired.

16. Changes To Quartet/ Ensemble Size

Changes of quartet/ ensemble size that would attract an additional fee are (but are not limited to) a reduction or increase in quartet/ ensemble size from that which was originally agreed.  Fees will be quoted to you upon request.  If the new quartet/ ensemble size fee is higher than what the hirer wants to pay, both parties agree to abide by the original hired quartet/ ensemble size.  Please also read section 19 for important notes regarding changes to quartet/ ensemble size.

17. Changes To Venue(s)

Changes to the originally agreed venue(s) that would attract an additional fee are (but are not limited to) a change to multiple additional venues or a change of the original single venue.  Fees will be quoted to you upon request.  If the fee to change the originally agreed venue(s) is higher than what the hirer wants to pay, both parties agree to abide by the originally booked venue(s).  Please also read section 19 for important notes regarding changes to performance venue.

18. Changes To Performance Date

Changes to the originally agreed performance date will be looked at upon request.  There may be an additional fee payable by the hirer, especially if the new performance date is considerably forward of the original date booked, or for the following year or any year beyond that.  If we have the new performance date that you have requested free in our diary, as long as there is no duration or other changes and you are willing to pay any additional fees advised, we will advise you that we can move the date.  If we cannot move your booking from the originally agreed booking date to the new requested booking date due to commitments of any kind or you are not willing to pay the advised additional fees (if any), then your booking will have to be cancelled.  Your deposit and any other monies taken by us will not be refunded.  Please remember if there is also a requested performance venue change, the venue change rules as explained in section 17 will also apply.  Please also read section 19 for important notes regarding changes to performance date.

19. Important Notes On Changes In Sections 15, 16, 17 & 18

It may not be possible to change the total time hired, change the quartet/ ensemble size, change the venue, or change the performance date.  Although we will endeavour to accommodate any request for alteration to what was originally booked, due to other commitments made since you originally booked we may be limited in our flexibility outside of the originally agreed booking times.  If it is not possible to alter what was originally booked, both parties agree to abide by what was originally booked, or, your booking is cancelled and your deposit and any other monies taken by us will not be refunded.

20. Additional Rehearsals, Meet Ups And Concerts

We do not normally attend any additional rehearsal or meet ups prior to performance at weddings or events.  Having played at hundreds of weddings and events, this is not normally necessary.  Our experience and flexibility mean that we will be in step with what is happening during your wedding or event.  For wedding ceremonies we are skilled in timing the processional music to the right length.  A member of the quartet/ ensemble will discuss preferences and details regarding the performance with you by phone or email in the weeks leading up to your wedding or event.  On the day for a wedding ceremony for example, we liaise with the Registrar or Vicar for cues.

If you absolutely require attendance and/or advice at a rehearsal or meet up, we will quote you an additional fee (minimum fee of £200 for up to 2 hours) plus travel costs for a consultation at an agreed place of meeting.  This is dependent upon the availability of one of our musicians, or representatives, to attend on the requested day.  It will be one person only and not the full quartet/ ensemble.  This meeting is to give advice and discuss the performance only, and will not consist of any performance.  If due to unforeseen circumstances on the day of meet up we arrive late or have to cancel the meet up for any other reason, our financial liability is limited only to a refund of any fees already paid to us by the hirer for the meet up.

Fees for concerts are higher than the music fees for weddings and other events.  Please check your booking is correctly described as such when you make your booking with us.  If you would like a concert performance with a seated audience and your booking is not described as such, let us know immediately as this will attract a higher fee to be agreed.  In the event of us arriving at the venue and the event being a concert, not the type of performance specified in your original booking, the performance will not take place but the full fee will remain payable.

21. Quartet, Quartet Musicians, Ensemble Definition & Responsibilities

You agree as the hirer that the musicians performing on the day of your event are directly hired and paid for by you on an individual basis, having come together to perform for your event under the name of the booked ensemble.  They are the principle service provider of the music services you have hired.  The “balance payable” on your booking confirmation is the musicians fees and is directly payable to them.  The musicians have come together for your event in line with the terms and conditions written here.  The “deposit” on the booking confirmation is payable to Michael Francis Cunningham t/a Premier Musicians to arrange the booking and ensure the music selection advertised on the website is available to you for your event.

All photographs and videos of our musicians are for example purposes only.  The actual musicians who perform at your event may differ from those shown.  We cannot take requests for musicians in certain photos or videos to be present in the ensemble for your event.  The musicians that perform for your event are given work based upon a high level of playing skill only and the availability of all our musicians changes throughout the year.  We cannot discriminate against musicians performing at your event on the basis of sex, age, race or religion.

22. Data Protection & Privacy (GDPR)

The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) specify that we must advise you of our policy on any data that we hold relating to you.  The data you have sent us on the booking form is shared between Michael Francis Cunningham and any person involved with organising or performing the services you have requested so that they can carry out their work as required for your booking.

To be clear with you.  We do not share, sell or market any of your data with any 3rd parties whatsoever.  Nobody!  All data supplied to us by you is kept securely in our email facility and electronically filed as a booking form.  Both our email facility and files are password protected, as is our computer.  Part of the GDPR is your right to view the data an organisation holds in relation to you.  Upon your request to view your data, when approved, you will be sent an email with the all the data that we hold on you.

Last revision date 21.07.24