FAQs

Below are all of the questions we could remember having been asked in the past. If you have a question that's not on here, please feel free to email shineonband@hotmail.co.uk or call on 07793158350.

How much do you cost?

Our costs are tailored for each specific event, there are many factors that we take into account when supplying a price. For example: Location, set lengths, venue, set-up and finish times. Please contact us for a detailed quotation.

What do I need to provide for the band at my event?

You will need to make sure that we are provided with adequate power points, or you may need to hire separate generators if in a marquee. Food and soft drinks for the band are not essential but very welcome. Often the musicians are out on the road for 10-12 hours, sometimes longer. They will often leave home at 3 or 4pm to get to the venue to set up, and then usually won’t finish packing up after the event until 1am the following morning before driving home. Performance takes a lot of energy and musicians definitely perform better without an empty stomach. 

Do we do requests and songs for a first dance?

We will learn a song of your choice for first dance or as part of our set if we feel we can re-create the track to a high standard. We can also do extra songs not normally in our repertoire with enough notice although there may be an extra charge for these tracks. We are always adding new songs to our repertoire so please ask if there is a specific song you want.

Where are you based?

Shine On are an East Sussex function band based in Brighton, UK.  We have in the past travelled to South Wales, Northern England, Germany, Ireland and Sweden for gigs, but mostly work in South and South-East England.

Can I see the band perform before I book?

Typically we don't play many gigs free to the public but any details will be on this website or our socials pages. In general we play a pub gig once every six months.

Can we see what your previous clients thought of you?

Yes! We have a list of previous client reviews on our testimonial page here

Does the band have insurance?

Shine On has up to £10 million public liability insurance, arranged by the Musicians Union.

Is your equipment PAT tested?

All of our equipment has annual PAT testing carried out by a professional safety team in the South East. Certificates are available on request.

We have a few older guests coming to our event but are concerned they won’t know enough of the music?

We have found our repertoire works for guests of all ages, however as well as a few tunes in our repertoire by great bands of the 60s and 70s and 80s such as The Beatles, The Clash and Wham!, we have a selection of older tunes available to play if you feel it would be suitable for your event. Please get in touch for more details.

Do you offer other band set-up options?

Shine On are a 4-piece band with bass drums, guitar and keyboard (and trumpet). This allows us to give an authentic reproduction of the bands we play without compromising on the overall sound of the track. We do however, offer an acoustic option if you want some background music for during dinner or at a drinks reception. 

Can we request songs for the DJ sets?

Although we have an extensive library of music available as part of our DJ option, featuring everything from Elvis to Dub-step, if you have any requests we are able to download these to our library beforehand at no extra cost. Also if your venue has Wi-Fi we can do almost any request on the day itself.

There are noise restrictions at the venue. Can I book the band?

Where sound limiters are present at the venue the band need to be notified before booking. All due care will be taken by the band to remain below the decibel levels set, and we often use a professional sound engineer to manage the levels to suit the venue.

Can the band arrive earlier than 6.00 pm or finish after midnight?

Our standard booking agreement and fees include a set arrival time from 6pm and end time no later than 12am. Of course we are flexible for either earlier set up times or later ending times, but this will incur an additional fee.

What happens if a band member is ill on the day of my function?

All band members have worked with a huge number of professional musicians and vocalists, over the years, and we have a number of talented and professional contacts (dep. musicians) we can call upon, who have played with Shine On and know the songs and performance style, should one of the band members not be able to perform on the day, for any reason.

How much space does a band need?

A stage or performance area of around 8ft x 14ft for a 4 piece band. The performance area must be safe, level, stable and not exposed to the elements.

How long does the band take to set up?

The band takes approximately one hour to set up all the equipment and can do so discreetly at a time suitable for your event.

What is the band’s performance schedule?

We normally play 2 x 1hr sets. This is to provide you with the most amount of live entertainment throughout the evening. We are flexible and can fit around arrangements, such as buffet times, evening guest arrival etc. We usually start the first set around 8:30pm or 9pm but can be flexible for your requirements.

Can I choose the band’s playlist for the evening?

In terms of hand picking all the tunes played by the band live, as well as booking the band for their musical abilities, you are also booking our experience in knowing what will keep the audience happy and the dance floor full. You are welcome to make suggestions or a few “must have” songs or “please don’t play” songs from our song list but we ask the final play list be left to us. This is because there are many factors involved in determining the order and composition of a good live set, such as key, tempo, style and genre, which we will take into consideration.

Can I or one my guests sing or play along with the band on the day?

We are often asked if it is ok for a guest appearance on stage, or use of equipment for speeches, etc. All we ask is that it is all organised with us before the night so we can be aware of what will happen during the performance. We do offer Bandeoke sets which can be booked.