How do I book a show?

It's easy... contact us as soon as possible to check availability and then we can hold the date for you. All the details will be taken, the price will be confirmed and a contract will be drawn up fast and sent to you for your event.

Call: 0845 224 5942
Email: enq@pxproductions.com
or use the Contact Form

Once you receive the contract, you will need to check all the details, sign and return one copy along with a 25-40% deposit (depending on the show being booked) within 2 weeks in order to officially confirm the booking. You will then be contacted a week before your event to double check everything to ensure your event runs smoothly.

Then you can relax and enjoy the event as all your entertainment has been taken care of.

Which line up should I choose?

Obviously the more musicians there are the better aesthetic and sonic appeal you will get from the show, so we would advise to go for as large a line up as possible. However, in practice, space and budget are usually the matters which affect your decision so please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your requirements. We can give you FREE advice and a no obligation quote.

How long does it take for a show to set up?

Our shows generally need 3 hours to set up and sound check. We recommend this to take place before your event starts so that the performers and crew can get everything ready before your guests arrive. Pack down takes approximately 1.5 hours.

These times are subject to good access. If there are stairs or lifts then extra time would be required.

We can reduce set up time if required - please call us to discuss further.

You won’t need to worry about cleaning up after them…All members of our team will leave the stage and dressing rooms as clean and tidy as they found them!

How much space do the shows require?

Minimum stage size:
6m wide x 5m deep no dancers
7m wide x 6m deep if booking the show with 2x Dancers
8m wide x 7m deep with 4x Dancers
10m wide x 7m deep with 4x Dancers and DJ centre set
1m space between the front of the stage and the edge of the dancefloor to allow for lighting stands, speakers... preferably barriers between the dancefloor and the stage

However, it really all depends on the line up you choose, use of in-house PA/Lighting.... means any of our shows can fit into a much smaller space.

Please contact us for further advice and our full production rider.

What do I need to provide?

We ask that you provide the following:

• Dressing Room - preferably near to the stage so performers can change, store cases and belongings and relax while not on stage
• Refreshments - soft drinks and snacks or a hot meal (if possible) shortly after sound check for all performers and crew
• Free and Secure Parking for one or two large vans and up to 6 cars (dependant upon line up)
• Adequate Mains or Generator Power Supply - preferably 32amp 3phase supply, or 32a single phase or 3x 16a - last resort 4x double sockets on at least 2 separate ring mains
• A safe environment to work in - security in place if needed. Guests should not be on stage or in the stage area unless invited by a member of the band

General Advice - Planning Your Event

We believe it’s important you have the correct information to help you make informed decisions to ensure the success of your event so here is just that, some useful information and things to consider when choosing live entertainment:

Plan Ahead

Popular venues and acts are often booked well in advance so it’s a good idea to work on your event as far in advance as possible.

Schedule

Plan timings around all the entertainment, catering, guests’ arrivals etc... Most live acts will need some time before the event starts to get their equipment in, set up and sound check. Only one act can sound check at any one time so organisation is vital to ensure the event runs smoothly. It’s very common for events, weddings and functions to run late so it’s important to have a back up plan and be prepared.

As far as actual playing times are concerned, in our experience it’s always best to leave live music (particularly party style, high energy, dance music) to later on in the evening. We would always suggest no earlier than 9pm. This gives guests time to chat and catch up with other guests, have a few drinks then they are ready to dance the night away!

Then there are the set times. Some bands/shows work in various formats, for example, 1x60mins, 2x45mins, 1x90mins etc... You may wish to have two sets and have a buffet in between where 2x45mins would work well or you may want to go with a ‘Show’ feel and have a straight 90mins high impact ‘Main Event’. Whichever you choose, it’s always good to talk to the act to discuss what will work best as every event is unique but they will have lots of experience of playing at a variety of different types of events so can suggest what would work best for yours.

The Venue

When choosing a venue, it’s important to think about a number of things:

• Access - most acts prefer ground level straight into the venue which, for a lot of venues designed for live music, is often the case. If there are stairs, corridors, narrow walkways etc... to get into the venue, extra time needs to be allowed and it’s a good idea to let the act know in advance to avoid any hassle when they arrive.
• Space in the Venue - it’s important to make sure there is enough room for the live act to set up their equipment and perform in. If a stage is supplied or being set up, make sure you have liased with the act so that the stage is the right size for them to work on.
• Power - another important aspect of the set up. Most acts will have a minimum power requirement so it’s a good idea to ask the question and make sure the venue has adequate power supply.
• Sound Restrictions - Does the venue have a licence for Live Entertainment? Are there any sound limiters or time restrictions on live music? If the venue doesn’t have a license and you really want live music then you are better off finding another venue. A live act needs to know if there are sound limiters as often there are ways around it, for example using an electric drum kit or choosing a different line up that doesn’t require live drums.
• Fire Detectors - Some systems detect heat and others detect smoke. Heat detectors are preferable as Smoke and Haze effects used by the band enhance the lighting. If the band can use smoke/haze, it will enhance the overall experience and create a better atmosphere, especially for shows like Ultra 90s which uses lighting heavily.
• Staging - Does the venue have a stage? Does the live act need a stage? What size should the stage be? Different sized bands require different sized stages or stage areas, this is another area to discuss with the act you choose.

The Band/Show and their equipment

PA - Watts/Makes/Models... It can be a mind field with so much different information supplied in various formats. As a rule, we recommend you not be frightened by the number of watts or the size of the PA system. Generally speaking, more watts doesn’t necessarily mean really loud. If a band has a good quality system with high wattage, chances are the actual sound quality will be much better than smaller speakers with less power that have to work much harder which in turn affects the sound quality in a negative way. You want to hear things clearly and not be listening to a distorted mess. It’s much easier to obtain that if the power is there to begin with. Experienced band members and sound engineers will know the right levels for the room, occasion and the time of the day.

Each of our shows at PX Productions Ltd will need space/stage/stage area dependant upon line up and production options. Call to discuss your requirements.

All of our shows at PX Productions Ltd have access to a 10,000 watt, state of the art Turbosound concert sound system which produces an excellent quality of sound and is adequate for up to 500 guests. We also have a smaller Mackie system adequate for up to 120 guests and a combination of Mackie and Turbosound system adequate for up to 200 guests should the main Turbosound rig already be in use.

Lighting - Some live acts have basic lighting to light the stage and sometimes the dancefloor, other come with lighting rigs, trussing etc... some work on a stand alone basis activated by sound, some are controlled on stage or off stage with a lighting engineer and some are computer programmed to run in sync with the show. Depending on what is being used affects how much space is needed so this is a good topic to mention to the live act you are considering.

Our shows at PX Productions Ltd use a variety of the above depending on which show is booked and various other factors so just chat to us about your requirements and we’ll make sure it works for your event.