The Kicks Most Frequently Asked Questions

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 thekicks@alivenetwork.com or call our agent, Verity Glenn, on 01782 383 540.

 

How much space do you need?

The more, the better! Seriously though, our minimum requirement is around 4m (width) x 3m (depth) - the depth is very important as not many people realise that the drumkit is actually deeper than it is wide, and if you're trying to get a singer in front of it, you need to make sure the stage area has enough depth to accommodate that.

 

How is it best to time things?

We'll work into virtually any schedule, but there are 2 good rules of thumb to work to - 1) Don't put the live sets too early - daylight scares people out of dancing and 2) if you have evening guests coming, allow 45 minutes to an hour after their scheduled arrival before you have the first dance! Also, it seems to be best to have the first dance (whether from a recording or played live - see below) to run straight into the first band set - that way, everyone's ready for a dance and they're usually all on/around the dancefloor, easy pickings for us to get their feet moving! At the end of the night, it's usually preferable to have a little DJ music (15-20mins) after our final live song - when we play right up to the noise curfew (which most venues have) the guests often find it very hard to deal with the fact that the night is over and they've got to go home....!

 

Can I pick the bands playlist?

Around 4 weeks before your event, we'll send you our songlist (which you can also find here on the website) from which we will request your essential inclusions and also any from the list you'd prefer us not to play. It's best if you don't try to pick every song we're going to play - over the years we've become experts in what works and what doesn't, which songs fit together and how to 'pace' an evening. It's hard work putting together set lists but of course we want to personalise the event for you and so your input is essential to us.

 

Where will you travel to?

We'll go anywhere you ask, but be aware that our fees rise the further away from our Hertfordshire base we have to travel!

 

Can I see you play live?

We are rarely able to play public gigs due to our very high private event workload - but stay in touch via our Facebook page as we'll announce our performances there: www.facebook.com/kicksband

 

Will you learn our special song?

We will listen to any requested songs and if it is possible to recreate them live and do them justice with male vocals, two guitars, bass and drums then we are happy to learn it for the fee of £65. Some songs are simply not possible with our line-up though - if you have a special request for a song played live, please get in touch a good length of time prior to the event and we'll give it a listen and let you know one way or the other.

 

Is the video on your website a true reflection of the band?

The video was recorded as live at Brighton Electric - the audio you hear is absolutely live, no overdubs, no autotune, no edits at all. In order to capture different visuals we recorded the song several times and the visuals you see are edited together from those - but we think it captures our live energy pretty well!

View our videos on the Media page here

 

How do I book you?

First of all, check our availability and get an instant quote here on the website - it's easy and takes seconds. You'll find the instant quote pull-down menus at the top right of the page, just below the main banner photo. Next, if we're available and the price looks right, give our agents a call on 0845 094 9764 or +44 (0) 1782 383 540 for mobiles or email us at thekicks@alivenetwork.com. We'll then go through what you need, the various options available to you and get you a final quote.

 

Are you able to DJ in between sets?

Yes, absolutely. We run a laptop, loaded with huge numbers of songs, through our state-of-the-art sound system to give you a DJ experience the equal of any standalone DJ.

 

Can we use your sound system for speeches?

You are more than welcome to use our sound system - however as we don't use wireless microphones, you'll either have to come to the stage to make your speeches or hire in a wireless mic of your own, which can be wired in to our system.

 

What equipment do you use?

Our PA set up is a 16 channel Allen & Heath mixing desk running into high quality active dB Technologies speakers - 2 x Flexsys F315 full range cabinets and (if required, depending on the venue size) 2 x sub 18D bass cabinets producing a powerful but smooth sound, suitable for venues holding up to 400 people.

 

Do you have lights?

Yes, we have two sets of LED bank arrays and 2 x impossibLED multi-colour stage lights which are ample stage lighting for most venues. If the room is huge, then you may want to look into hiring extra stage lighting, or we can organise this for an added fee.

 

How long do you play for?

Our standard package is 120 mins playing time split into either 2 x 60 minute sets or 3 x 40 minute sets with the DJ filling the rest of the evening. Other options are available though, including various ideas for background afternoon entertainment - full band acoustic, solo acoustic guitar or solo piano (that drummer of ours, he's a talented fella!) - talk your requirements through with our agents.

 

What time do you start and finish?

We usually start our first set at around 8.30, and play our second set in the final hour of the evening, but again we are totally flexible with this.  Arrival and finish times are 5pm and midnight as standard with early arrival and late finish fees applicable outside of these timings.

 

How long do you take to set up?

It depends on the venue as tricky access can sometimes lead to delays in the load-in but it's very rare for a load-in, set-up and soundcheck to take longer than an hour.

 

Can I provisionally book you?

We don’t take provisional bookings as demand for our services, particularly during the busy summer wedding season, is very high. However, once you have an official quote from us you will be given first refusal on your date should anybody else enquire for the same date.

 

What if the band split up before my event?

Like many professional party bands, our work is our livelihood and so we take our commitments very seriously.

In the very unlikely event that the band had split up before your party, every effort would be made to find a suitable replacement band.

 

Can my sisters/bosses/daughters dog sing with your band?

If it's with prior negotiation, then yes we're happy to accompany a singer on a special song. We'll discuss what he/she/it wants to sing to make sure it's feasible (as with 'special song' requests, we need to make sure it's a song that's possible with the instrumentation we have) - but we draw the line at a drunken fool who's '...got a great voice, honestly' getting up with us on the spur of the moment and making us and them look bad! We do ask that if the person will be playing guitar as well that they bring their own instrument, but they are more than welcome to plug into our amps!

 

What will the band wear?

See our photos on the bottom of the Media page here - we like to think our look is cool and stylish with that indie-rock edge but appropriate for smart occasions!

 

Does the band have PAT and PLI certificates?

Yes, available on request

 

Why should I book The Kicks?

We guarantee to make your night one to remember - The Kicks (party band Hertfordshire) are highly professional, very experienced and put on a show to rival the best in the business. But don't just take our word for it - have a look at the testimonial page on the website!

 

How much does it cost to book the band?

As stated above it depends largely on where in the country you are based and also your specific requirements for the day. Quotes start at just under £1200 during peak season but we offer discounted rates off-peak (January, February and November). Get an instant quote by using the drop-down menus just below the banner photo at the top right of this page.

 

Can we see some previous client testimonials?

See the testimonial page for many satisfied customers' comments

 

Do The Kicks have any specific requirements?

The only things we require are 4 standard 13-amp power sockets, a room to change in, food (a meal must be provided to make sure we have the energy to perform), drink (a source of water and soft drinks needs to be available to us so we can keep our voices) and a really up-for-it, party crowd!

 

What type/size venues are you able to play at?

We are able to play at virtually any moderately sized venue as our system has the power to cope with most function rooms. Arenas are a bit beyond our system though - you'll have to hire in your own sound system if you're thinking of booking us for the O2!

 

How loud will the band be?

We adapt to the venue - we try to keep it to a level where people on the dancefloor get the full rock band experience but those who are content to stand at the bar can still have a conversation.

Being a guitar band with a live drum kit specialising in indie-rock, the nature of the music we play means that we can only turn down so far. If your venue has a sound limiter (an 'ingenious' piece of electrical gubbins that cuts power to the stage if it goes beyond a certain level), please find out the level it is set to and how far away from the stage it is positioned (the venue should be able to supply these details), then discuss this with your agent at the time of your enquiry. It's exceedingly rare that a sound limiter impedes our performance, but occasionally we come across one that is set at too low a level for us to be able to perform at an adequate volume - we're there for you to dance to, not for background music!

 

What is the band power requirement?

Our power requirements are pretty low - we require 4 standard 13-amp sockets, which, if the event is in a marquee, usually means a 60-amp generator is ample for our needs.