Emily Evans DipLCM BA (Hons) - Frequently Asked Questions

Emily Evans DipLCM BA (Hons) -

For dates in 2012 please check the

Emily is currently based in Somerset. She will travel to all areas of Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Avon, Gloucestershire, South Wales, Bath and Bristol or anywhere within a 2 hour radius of her home in Somerset. Travel is calculated at only 25 pence per mile.

Please use the contact form or email Emily with the date, address and postcode of venue, duration needed, type of event and whether or not there is a piano at the venue. You are welcome to call but Emily will still email you across a quote.

No. When you enquire your details will be recorded in the event diary. However, this does not reserve that date for you. When Emily receives another enquiry for that date, she will often try and let you know, but unfortunately she cannot guarantee this as she receives in excess of 200 enquiries a year. If you need some time to decide please email Emily letting her know and try to decide within a week if possible to allow another booking to be taken. Your date is only secure once the deposit is received.

There is no set limit to how far in advance you can book. However, Emily does get booked up very quickly due to her reasonable rates so it's always best to book as early as possible. During the winter months it is usually possible to book as little as 2 weeks in advance subject to availability. However, this does leave very little time for you to decide your music choices and give Emily a chance to practice your itinerary. Emily already has bookings for 2014.

To confirm a booking a deposit of either 25% or 50% is required (it's completely up to you if you'd like to split it 25/75 or 50/50) - the remaining 75 or 50% is due 2 weeks before the wedding paid via internet transfer if possible (a cheque is also accepted although this delays the booking considerably). You will then be sent a wedding pack in the post which contains written confirmation of your date and quote and 2 copies of the contract. Approximately 3 months before the event Emily will contact you and email you a questionnaire to discuss music selections, timings and set up for the day. It is very important to have this questionnaire filled out early to avoid any mis-understandings on the day.

Yes, absolutely. Emily has a stunning Yamaha Clavinova (digital piano) which sounds just like a grand piano. This is available to hire for only £100 for the day. Please mention this when enquiring if your venue doesn't have a piano.

Unfortunately, the piano is extremely heavy to transport and as a female Pianist, Emily simply can't lift it! This means she has to pay somebody to move and assemble it for her. To hire an acoustic Piano costs in excess of £400 normally so it does work out much cheaper to hire the digital one which can be moved from room to room as the day progresses.

Yes. Make sure the venue is happy for you to use the piano primarily. Then check when the piano was last tuned (pianos must be tuned at least twice a year, particularly old pianos) and ask whether all the keys and the pedal work. Unfortunately, it is near impossible for Emily to provide a great performance on a piano which does not have a pedal. It is also helpful if you can let Emily know if it is an upright or grand piano at the venue and its approximate age before she arrives.

Absolutely not. Although some musicians offer to provide PA equipment to plug into their pianos, Emily thoroughly believes that the piano should be a beautiful, elegant instrument and the digital piano is not a substitute for a stage electronic keyboard. The instrument Emily provides sounds exactly like a grand piano and will play as loud as a grand piano. Therefore, there is no need for PA equipment which distorts and makes the sound muffled. To avoid some guests being deafened whilst others can't hear it at all always aim to position the digital piano near a power supply in the middle of the room.

Yes, absolutely. If Emily provides her digital piano she is happy to position it outside as long as there is a power supply (which doesn't create a hazard) available, the venue is happy for her to do so and she is positioned in the shade. She will not be able to play if there is a strong wind (which blows the music) or if there is a hint of rain (for obvious reasons when dealing with electricity - although it would make quite a talking point for your guests!)

Emily likes to have at least 6 weeks notice of the music you would like her to play if possible. If there is something that is not currently in her repertoire she can arrange an acquire it at a small cost of £20 as it takes on average 10 hours of practice to learn a new piece. She will need at least 10 weeks notice if you would like her to do this. However, if you are happy to choose pieces from her current repertoire she can usually agree to a booking with only a few days notice if available.

Generally, you will need 35 songs for a drinks reception and 55 songs for a wedding breakfast. However, this is very much dependent on your own schedule for the day and exact timings and number of songs required will be confirmed nearer the time.

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