perform

 

Can I pick what songs on your list you’ll play at my event?

We invite our clients to choose 3 songs on our list that they would like to hear and 3 that they could do without. We strongly discourage attempting to make our entire set list for the evening, and we do not offer it as an option. We pride ourselves on our well-designed sets as well as our ability to read the crowd, and we specialize in catering to crowds that are diverse in taste and age. We ask our clients to keep their guests in mind when making song requests. Because our song list is expansive and some requests may require some preparation, we do ask that requests be made 30 days in advance. In most cases, the band cannot learn or perform songs that are not in our repertoire, aside from abbreviated versions specifically for wedding event dances. 

Can you emcee my event?

Your event needs to flow, and it shouldn’t fall on a client’s shoulders to make sure that happens! If you choose, we will gladly act as the emcee for your event and announce upcoming activities or other general announcements. For weddings, we can tastefully announce the bride and groom introduction, toasts, cake cutting, and other special events. We are happy to take ownership of the maintaining the schedule or to work with your event planner or coordinator.

Can you play more of a certain genre? If so, how much?

We have a vast, eclectic repertoire and we often cover multiple genres in each show, including modern pop, 70’s funk, 80’s rock, and even country. For short performances,  we can sometimes do “all-70’s” or “all-90s” shows, but generally we play a wide variety. It is always helpful to know ahead of time (at least 30 days in advance) if our client is expecting a lot of fans of a particular genre.

DJing and Break Music

The price does include break music during your event. That means there will always be appropriate music playing, including “dinner” music or dance music while the band is on break. We are happy to DJ any requested songs given to us ahead of time. There is no additional charge for this service.

Do you offer ceremony music?

Although we formerly offered a ceremony PA package and live music options, we have temporarily stopped offering ceremony services. For the moment, we are focusing our time and attention on your wedding day to an amazing cocktail hour and reception.

Do you offer cocktail hour music?

For cocktail hour, we offer a variety of small musical ensembles. Please visit our Small Acts page for more information.

Do you provide liability insurance?

Yes, we carry a $1,000,000 general liability policy. An additional insured form for the venue can be provided upon request.

Do you travel?

We travel often! We’ve performed everywhere from castles in New York to the beaches in Hawaii. Your rate quote is always “all-inclusive” and includes all travel fees.

How do I reserve the band?

A 50% deposit and a signed performance contract are required to reserve the band for your date. The deposit, as well as your balance payment, can be paid online with a card, or by check.

How long do you need to set up?

Our production staff generally arrives 4-5 hours prior to guest arrival. It’s also important to note that it takes an hour and a half to two hours for our crew to load-out.

How many breaks does the band take and for how long?

This truly depends on the itinerary for the event. When discussing the schedule, we’ll provide you with popular options to start with, and we’ll customize for your timeline. But generally speaking, the band typically performs 2-3 sets, each set lasting 45 to 90 minutes, with two breaks averaging 15-20 minutes. We can confidently say we’ve never had a client “run out” of performance time. Continuous play is also available!

How much power do you require?

For our standard setup, we require six 20-amp circuits within 20 feet of the stage. The circuits must be exclusively dedicated for the use of the band. It is often necessary to make additional power arrangements with the venue, and these must be in place prior to the band’s arrival. It should be mentioned that multiple power outlets can still share one circuit and therefore may not supply enough power. Power can only be confirmed by someone familiar with the electrical layout of the room. Insufficient power can result in power outages mid-performance. In the event sufficient power isn’t available at the venue, the client must rent a frequency stable generator capable of producing a minimum of 20,000 watts, as well as a spider box with a minimum of 6 20-amp outlets (NO GFI breakers). Feeder cable for the spider box should be approximately 200’, or long enough to reach the stage from the generator location.

Should I feed the band?

We do request that meals be provided for the band and crew for events lasting 3 or more hours and all out of town events. The best time for the band to eat is typically before or during cocktail hour. Most events necessitate 10-14 meals for our band and crew. We also request that plenty of bottled water be made available near the stage, beginning at setup time.

Should I rent a stage?

The short answer is yes, you should rent a stage. And yes, the show will go on whether you do or don’t. A stage riser is highly recommended for all events. If you’re spending a good chunk of money on live entertainment, you want to make sure your guests can see it. Without a stage, the band will be largely invisible once the dance floor is full. A stage has a tremendous effect on adding energy to the performance, and it looks great in pictures and video (whereas no stage has the opposite effect). It also creates some separation from tipsy guests and $60k of equipment. We do not provide stages, but we can source them for you for a small fee. It is important that the dimensions of the stage, whether it be the floor or risers, be at least 20’ across and 16’ deep.

What does the price include?

Our base fee is all-inclusive of everything necessary for the show. This includes the band, audio and lighting production, production staff, emceeing, and canned DJ on breaks.

What if something happens and the band can’t make it?

Though we are asked this question constantly, neither of our bands have ever missed a performance in the history of our company. With that said, if the band were to hypothetically cancel their performance, there would of course be a full refund, and we would use our extensive network to help find a replacement band. At the end of the day, we have a reputation to uphold, and we want our client to feel that they were treated fairly. But it’s a moot point, because we don’t miss performances!

What is the difference between IDT and Empire 6?

A very common question is “What is the difference between IDT Band and Empire 6?” The short answer is “there isn’t one”.

 

IDT Band is the original band that started it all in 2009. Thankfully, due to the success and demand for the band, we were able to duplicate the formula that was proven to work, and Empire 6 was created in 2012. While some entertainment companies produce several (or infinite) versions of the same band, we elected to give Empire 6 its own identity. They immediately matched pace with IDT, and both bands have now performed hundreds of events followed by rave reviews. While they each have their own performer line-up, both bands are produced and styled identically, sharing the same song list, choreography, mashups, and even the same amazing sound production and programmed lighting. They are always priced identically and offer the same packages.

 

Which one should you book? Well, which one is available on your date? Book that one. Did you see one at an event and fell in love? That’s the band for you. We don’t have a favorite, but maybe you do!

What is your attire for private events?

The band wears formal attire (suits, ties, dresses), for nearly every event. For most events, the band begins in standard black suits and evening gowns, and often transition to their “party formalwear” as the night goes on, which usually involves plenty of sequins.  

What vocalists will be at my event?

This is a common question, and many entertainment companies handle it differently. One Five Six Four Entertainment has earned a great reputation for employing some of the most talented vocalists in the business. We are also proud to say that our vocalist lineup is very tenured, with the majority of them having been here for several years. We’re fortunate to have some of the lowest turnover in our industry. We take an “old school” approach, meaning that each band has a dedicated line-up of full-time members, rather than pulling from a “pool” or “network” of various performers. This means that all of our vocalists and musicians perform and rehearse regularly as a cohesive unit, and you can generally expect to see the same performers from show to show. With that said, a vocalist role is like any other job, and people do occasionally get ill, or move on from their role for various reasons. For this reason, we must emphasize that while all of our performers are exceptional, the truth is that we only hire exceptional performers. We’re very aware that a dip in quality during vocalist transitions would not go unnoticed, and therefore consistency is and always has been our top priority, and this is why each performer is meticulously selected and extensively trained. We advise all of our clients to look at the show rather than individual performers, because the consistent high quality of our show has transcended our line-up changes for nearly ten years.

When is the final payment due?

The final balance payment is due 30 days prior to the event date, either by check or online credit card payment. You will receive an invoice reminder at least two weeks before the due date.

When will we discuss the details of my event?

We like to schedule a consult 30-60 days prior to the event date. This optional meeting includes mapping out an itinerary or a set schedule, choosing special music for event dances, and coordinating any announcements the band will need to make. We’re happy to meet in person with you and/or your event planner, or simply exchange emails and phone calls. We also have a client portal where you can complete various event details at your convenience.

Will hiring a One Five Six Four band make my event the greatest event in history?

Yes.

Will you learn songs that aren’t on your song list?

Yes, as a courtesy, we can generally learn up to three songs (at our discretion) for wedding event dances. If we don’t believe we can faithfully recreate a requested song or are unable to prepare it for any reason, we may suggest that we DJ it. We do ask that special song requests be made at least 30 days prior to the event. Note that all event dance songs are typically shortened to a comfortable dancing duration of 2 and a half minutes.