Frequently Asked Questions
For agents, event co-ordinators and potential clients
Q: How much do you charge ?
A: The amount charged depends (1)
on the distance travelled from Cape Town to the performance venue, (2) the number of hours the band is
required to be at the venue. Cool drinks and food during the event should be added to the basic performance
fee..
N.B. Various client initiated delays
(speeches etc) may prevent the band from performing for the complete time it has been booked for. Such
delays will not change either the fee charged or the time the band leaves. Quite often the band has more
than one booking during a twenty four hour period which means that the it must leave at the designated
finish time to travel to the next engagement. Clients should therefore plan their events to allow the band
the proper performance time within the times booked.
Q: How long before the
commencement of a function will the band arrive to 'set up'.
A: Being acoustic, the band
literally walks into the venue with instruments ready to play. In fact if so desired by the client, we can
actually enter the venue playing.
Q: What if the
venue doesn't have good lighting or accessible power points ?
A: The band doesn't need power or
lights so it can play virtually anywhere five or six musicians can stand.
Q: I don't like
bands that are too loud and dominate the evening.
A: Nor do we. We are very
mindful of the fact that not everyone will want to listen to us, so, even if you're sitting only a
couple of metres away, you can either choose to listen to us or carry on talking normally with your
friends. The sound carries enough for those who want to hear.
Q: I'd like to have music from
different parts of the venue. Pre dinner drinkies on the lawn. Dinner music in the restaurant
area and perhaps some background or dance music for the social.
A: The beauty of the Dixie
Swingers Mobile Acoustic Traditional Dixieland Jazz Band is that it can move from place to place in the time
it takes to walk there and then start playing again,,,,,,,,immediately. No music stands, sheet music,
electrical gadgets, wires etc etc etc. We're more convenient than a transistor radio 'cos you don't even
have to pick us up (unless
you want a hernia)
Q: Are you politically correct ???
A: It depends on your politics
really. Whether male, female, black, white, young or old, our music gets people smiling, tapping
their fingers on glasses and tables and sometimes you can actually see a barely discernable wiggle of the
nether regions accompanied by a slight drop in social stiffness. Feather underwear perhaps ??? Politically
correct ???,,,,,,Naaaa!!….
Fun??? ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Yeah!!!
(Actually we're as politically
correct as the Soweto String Quartet)
Q: What do you look like ?
A: In a word,,,,,,,,,,,,,#@%**
We're all showing signs of a misspent youth. Apart from dressing smartly, we're not trying to impress with
our looks despite the number of people who want their photograph taken with us. We just concentrate on
enjoying really good jazz entertainment. In our experience people enjoy the music with us and often join in
with the fun. Isn't that what good clean family entertainment is ??
Q: What sort of venues can the
band play at and are you playing at a regular spot where we can see you before considering booking you.
A: See below. It explains
almost everything
Q. What kind of music do you play ?
A. Popular tunes and classic jazz
numbers from the 1920's through to the 1970's such as "Muscat Ramble", "At The Jazz Band Ball", "Hello
Dolly", "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey", “Midnight in Moscow", "Just a Closer Walk With Thee", "Basin
Street Blues", " Georgia", "When The Saints Go Marching In", "Dinah", "Bye Bye Blackbird", " I Can't
Give You Anything But Love", "Don't Get Around Much Any More", "Birth of the Blues", "Alexanders Ragtime
Band", "You Made Me Love You", "Oh You Beautiful Doll", "Battle Hymn of the Republic", " Royal Garden
Blues", "The Preacher" etc etc etc etc..................
