What type of events do we do-  Really any, if you feel the music is fitting. The kind of music played (see videos tab) is generally background music, meaning it won’t be too invasive. If however you are looking for a concert or more present setting that is possible as well. Suggestions aside from weddings would be parties, real estate open houses, music in a lobby, funerals, and church services

 

How loud the sound is/amplification- Because of the nature of classical instruments, the volume will vary depending on the setting, inside being louder and outside being quieter as well as your proximity to the group. We also offer amplification, which can make this decently louder, especially outside, but it will still vary based on proximity and can still be non-invasive background music. The amplification however only goes so far and won’t be anything like a full stereo setup, like one you might hear at a concert. 

 

How many players should you have/what would the difference be- I offer 1-4 musicians, advantages of having just myself would be that the price would be less, I would suggest amplification in that case especially if your event is outside. Adding more musicians offers more texture and layers to the music, a full quartet would have the more moving parts to it and many people like this setting. A duo or trio is something in the middle of all of this. 

 

Having a family member join us for a song- this is possible, we will need a brief rehearsal with this person beforehand on the day of. We will need specific info about the song as well. 

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How early/late can you book us- The earlier the better, some book months in advance even if only tentatively, however the deposit will reserve the date for you. If you are only asking for 1 musician, depending on availability and location it may be possible to have a very quick turn around, even within the same month.

 

Equipment needed by venue/customer- We will need sturdy chairs and an area of flat ground, adequate space for our group (arms reach space around chairs that are two feet apart, 5-10 minutes break every hour and a tent if needed based on certain conditions (listed below and in contract).

 

Playing outside- Due to the nature of playing wooden instruments, there is a standard policy that if it is raining outside, even a drop, we need to move our instruments under cover. If a tent is provided, it may be possible to continue playing but that is up to the players discretion. In hotter temperatures we will need to be in a shaded area. If it is too hot or too cold, we may need to move inside or somewhere else based on our discretion. A general rule of thumb is that if you are uncomfortable in the weather, we will be too and so will our instruments. 

 

Deposit/Cancelation fee- I ask for half of the total in advance, the other half the day of. If the event is canceled before 5 PM, 21 days before the event, the deposit will be voided/returned. If the event is canceled after 5 PM, 21 days before the event, the deposit will be forfeited to CelloFirstLLC.

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What makes CelloFirst different from other string quartet groups- Most groups play a standard setting with the violin as the melody. What I have done is arranged pieces so that the cello has the melody instead, however my arrangements also allow for violin melody as well. So if you would prefer the violin for a piece that is possible. 

 

What is the difference between the cello and violin on melody- the register is generally the most notable difference. Many melodies will be heard at a lower range, the cello’s range is closer to the human voice’s range. Otherwise it is likely you won’t hear much of a difference. 

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