Steel band hire
If you are planning a champagne reception for a wedding or a private party and looking for quality live music to impress your guests, there is a steel drum band in London which offers a first class service.
Big Sand is a steel drum band for hire, providing colourful Caribbean steel band music at the right level to create the perfect ambience. You can hire a 3 or 5 piece steel band, depending on your requirements for the event. Both formats are entirely acoustic, so there are no electrics and the band can be placed in the best location at the venue.
Full details on this steel drum band are given below with a substantial amount of information. A special interactive MP3 page is presented on this website to give you a better idea of how each option will work at a wedding, corporate event or Caribbean party. You can have fun with the demo feature and also follow us on Twitter @bigsands for top tips to refine your event.
Steel drum music is an excellent alternative to more traditional entertainment for a Champagne & Canape reception and is currently one of the most successful wedding music ideas being adopted. The magical and inspiring feeling created by the sound of the steel drums has become the preferred choice for hundreds of weddings. Big Sand has developed its service to meet the highest expectations of the wedding entertainment sector. For this reason, the band is hired by some of the most exclusive wedding venues. The service is also a great benefit during the colder months at indoor events to add an uplifting feel to a winter wedding reception or private party. This steel drum band has both quality and experience which will contribute to making your event a huge success. This steel drum band is totally acoustic and relies only on the natural sound of the drums. Big Sand is also recognised as a party band based on the vibrant sounds of the 5 piece steel drum format and is very popular in the corporate entertainment sector in London. The rich blend of steel drums, Congas and drum kit create an irresistible and stimulating Caribbean carnival rhythm which inspires your guests from the moment they arrive.
You can hire this steel drum band to perform real Caribbean steel band music combined with a repertoire which includes many popular favourites. Clients can request a copy of the steel band Song List which the band has refined to ensure that the music is fit for each event. Popular tunes include:
Don't Stop The Carnival, Island In The Sun, The Cricket Tune, Rum & Coco Cola, Yellow Bird, La Cucaracha, Feeling Hot Hot Hot, One Love and La Bamba.
Caribbean steel band music has become very popular, not only at weddings, but also at almost every conceivable type of themed party. Indeed, anyone can hire this Caribbean steel drum band for a private party, corporate entertainment or wedding reception music. If you are having a house party, you can choose the 3 piece steel band, which can be easily set up with minimal space. You then have the benefit of quality live music which is always a great surprise as your guests arrive, in contrast to just listening to your playlists or CDs. This steel band has a large client base from Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, London, Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, Wiltshire and will travel anywhere to entertain you. An extensive repertoire of Caribbean calypso melodies and well known popular tunes will be performed by one of the best steel drum bands in London.
Quality is everything as this makes all the difference for a successful event. Hiring the cheapest, is never the best option. Just as finding a great venue and suppliers are fundamental to having a fantastic party, this London based steel drum band has developed a reputation for delivering quality services and is one of the most sought after steel bands for hire. The band's management takes great care to ensure that you receive a first class service by paying attention to details and working closely with event organisers. In return, many clients have decided to hire the steel drum band for more than one event. The popularity of the band places it amongst the top steel bands in London and one of the most experienced in the UK.
What is different about Big Sand is the guarantee of quality! The players, equipment, presentation and performance are all of a different calibre. Also, the suavita in the music gives it clarity and definition as the steel drum band performs a colourful selection of popular melodies, ignited by rich Caribbean steel drum rhythms. This feature is an important defining factor which becomes more evident as you compare with other steel bands for hire in London. There are significant differences and varying interpretations of what is a professional service. The top steel drum bands for hire understand what professionalism is all about and offer a good standard of service. The budget bands are still trying to work out their arpeggios.
"It is always fascinating to watch the energy and enthusiasm of real talented musicians in action."
First, you will hire a band that creates real live music and real demo samples. This means that there are no programmed accompaniments supporting the live performance or MP3 demo samples. With Big Sand, a steel drum band means a band which is characterised by the majority of instruments being steel drums (Steel Pan). When you hire a steel drum band, it is always fascinating to watch the energy and enthusiasm of real talented musicians in action, in contrast to a solo performer with a big band sound that has been prepared months in advance and repeated at every event by pressing the play button. Nowadays, clients seeking to hire a steel band, have much greater expectations. For this reason, the demo samples are recorded in one take with the live band and will sound much more dynamic on the day as you hear everything in stereo.
Second, this steel band does not offer the solo and duet options and prefers to use 3 steel drum players as the minimum requirement. The 3 players act as integral components in a well oiled machine and goes through musical gears with suavita and fluency. The energetic bass drum player has a pair of custom made steel drums which is played in combination with a specially balanced Maracas. The other two steel drum players create melody, harmony and colourful Caribbean rhythms which will inspire anyone to hire a band. This steel drum band will entertain your guests right from the start of the party. With over 10 years experience and featuring some of the best steel drum players, a Big Sand performance is a must-see event. The larger steel drum band includes some of the most vibrant percussionists in London to add spice to the steel band sound. The drum kit creates great diversity for dancing and this energy drives a pulsating calypso sound which is a real treat to enjoy at a party. Notwitstanding, some corporate clients hire the 5 piece steel drum band with a brief that the band performs as light entertainment. For this, the drummer uses brushes and a more refined approach to create an uplifting sound which Big Sand has been very successful in deploying within the corporate entertainment sector.
Third, you will find that there are many Steel bands, Jazz bands, String Quartets and other entertainment for hire in London. Whilst cost is always a consideration, and Big Sand are not amongst the cheapest, our mission with each event is always to provide a quality service with real value. To achieve this, the team at Big Sand are always focused on the client's expectations for each event. As many customers have never experienced a live Caribbean steel drum band, the approach is always to give a great impression.
If you are networking with London's finest and enjoying champagne, canapes and chic conversation, there is nothing better than a steel drum band as light entertainment. Playing music through your iphone and a PA is fine, but upgrading to a live band is making your guests feel really special. As the sound glides across the room, it inspires you and your guests, not only to drink more champagne, but to feel confident as you meet and greet. The Caribbean steel band sound will be served at just the right level, even with the acoustic 5 piece band, to ensure a perfect balance between light entertainment and conversation. For this reason, you can hire the steel band with full confidence that the service will complement the event.
Competition in the wedding music and party entertainment sector is very intense. However, Big Sand does not copy any of its competitors or source material and ideas from other websites. This steel band is supported by an experienced management team with a mission to improve the service offered by using the best talent. This is evident if you trawl through many other competing websites, including entertainment agencies and other service providers in this sector and have a closer look at the details. Copying, is habitual. For this reason, our legal representative has acted on two obvious copyright infringements relating to this website.
You can totally rely on all the information posted and all claims made about this steel drum band. Big Sand dedicates significant resources each year to improve the service and to provide the best sound for the steel band. Big Sand's mission is simply to raise the standard of wedding music in London and party entertainment to give clients real value.
Customers will find many steel drum bands for hire in London and a wide selection of entertainment agencies to choose from. There are also party bands for hire, wedding bands and corporate entertainment. Big Sand wants to develop the best service for Caribbean steel bands and live music entertainment. This means that when you hire Big Sand for an event, "professional" means competent and the steel drum band has received recognition from wedding co-ordinators, corporate entertainment organisers, concierge managers and party planners that hire the steel drum band on a regular basis. Again, London, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Kent and Surrey are amongst the most popular areas where the band has many clients.
Booking is simple. Clients can hire either 3 or 5 musicians. There are no vocals, as singing is best served by professionals. Please visit the contact page to fast-track a booking enquiry. The key points are that a 5 piece steel drum band gives you the benefit of additional percussions to create a vibrant and pulsating Caribbean steel band sound. The steel band also employs a softer approach when necessary, even with 5 steel drum players, to ensure that the band creates the perfect ambience. This is particularly useful at corporate events in London where other companies are working in close proximity. You will receive advice on this in response to your enquiry. At present, most clients hire the 3 piece steel band and this remains the best choice for wedding reception music, garden party entertainment and as light entertainment for private parties. In both formats, the steel band performs without the use of any PA equipment or programmed electronic support such as backing tracks, so there are no electrics to worry about.
For Christmas, the corporate entertainment sector in London comes alive with numerous requests to hire the steel band for various champagne receptions and office parties. You can discover how Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer sounds on steel drums or hear an exciting Caribbean steel band perform a medley of Jingle Bells and Joy To The World. Early booking is essential to hire the band for key dates. You can book the band to perform at any venue where you are having your Christmas party. Big Sand is always delighted to provide entertainment on site to help companies wind down after a successful or eventful year. If you are just having a Christmas buffet lunch, 3 players will be fine. If your Christmas party is on a larger scale, please send as much details with your enquiry to ensure that band is optimised in the right way. You will always receive experienced advice to help you plan a successful Christmas event.
Companies that hire the band for corporate entertainment in London have booked the 5 piece steel band for most events. Again, this format fits very well at most venues without taking up too much space and the steel band sound is always pitched at the right level. For the most challenging corporate event, the steel drum band had to be staged on the upper deck of a sightseeing bus. A company in London wanted some entertainment for the 20 minute ride to and from the London Eye. The event planners enjoy Caribbean steel drums and were delighted with the band's entertainment in very difficult conditions with the rush hour traffic in London. As mentioned, the main regions that hire the steel drum band are central London and Oxfordshire. In addition, Big Sand's client base includes Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Hampshire and many other areas. The music has worked successfully at corporate events and wedding receptions because of its wide appeal.
Hotels, private members clubs and restaurants have also contacted Big Sand to hire a band for important private events. Again, Big Sand's experience translates into a smooth operation. The steel band knows London very well and understands how to produce a quality Caribbean steel band sound in different environments.
As birthday party entertainment, the band enjoys playing an important role in making each party a success. Birthdays are special and many clients have used the band for more than one birthday party. The steel drum band selects the best music for the event to keep your guests stimulated with inspiring melodies to encapsulate the feel of the Caribbean.
Big Sand also enjoys providing entertainment for Universities and performs at many summer balls, freshman's balls and Graduation parties. The steel band has performed in Oxfordshire at Trinity, Pembroke, Queen's, Balliol and Oxford Brookes. Also in Cambridge at Gonville & Caius and Fitzwilliam summer ball. You can also see the steel drum band each year at the Henley Regatta event in July.
Big Sand enjoys travelling and performing live music and welcomes enquiries from clients that are planning bespoke events. Whether it is a party at the Sheraton Skyline in London or the Belfry; Le Manoir in Oxfordshire or Chateau Marmont; the conservatory at Hampton Court Palace or the Hamptons, you can hire this band with the full confidence that some of the top players in this sector will be attending.
The smallest event that the steel band has attended was a private dinner party at a mansion in Oxfordshire for 9 guests. The client had seen the steel band performing wedding reception music in London and insisted that it would be the perfect complement to create the "wow factor" as entertainment. The largest event, was a music concert at a London venue, when the rock band Belle & Sebastian wanted to hire a Caribbean steel drum band to perform during their interval to entertain 4'500 fans. This was also the shortest steel band performance as the interval was just 10 minutes of entertainment. The steel drum band was featured on East Enders in August 2007 as entertainment during the Walford fun day and on GMTV as part of the Richard Arnold show during a Champagne reception. Big Sand's first TV appearance was on the BBC Saturday Show which was co-hosted by Fearne Cotton. The steel drum band was hired to provide a vibrant Caribbean sound for a limbo contest. The steel band played a traditional calypso tune called Miss Tourist, followed by Feeling Hot Hot Hot. The show was a success and the producer said that the steel drum band were a pleasure to work with. Many pictures of the steel drum band are taken at wedding receptions and you can find some of them posted on the Flickr website.
Customer service is the priority. The bandleader bigsands now tweets his top tips for planning a successful event; you can follow him on Twitter. Satisfaction is key to measuring quality services and this steel band delivers a consistent service to all clients. Over 70% of new clients hire the steel drum band after visiting the website and sending an enquiry. Other clients hire the band on the recommendation from venues and previous customers. This is evident with many wedding reception enquiries originating from the venue or wedding planner. Should you decide to hire the band, you are guaranteed a steel drum band with real value and musical experience.
Big Sand would like to thank all the clients that hire the steel drum band to provide wedding and party entertainment in London and throughout the UK. Also a special thank you to all the venues that regularly hire the steel band for wedding reception music and corporate entertainment. Many customers have taken the time to send thank you cards and emails which are all appreciated by the steel band. Some comments are posted on this website and I would draw your attention to that of Mrs Page who returned from her wedding in the Caribbean and booked the steel drum band. She said that it was “better than any steel band we heard in the Caribbean.” There are also comments from many couples that chose to hire the steel drum band as wedding reception music or party entertainment. All comments about the steel drum band are from recent weddings or private parties and all the information posted on this website is totally reliable. Credibility is important to this steel drum band as it competes with all the top wedding and party bands for hire. For this reason the entire operation is carefully managed to ensure that you receive the best live music entertainment for your event.
Throughout this website you will also notice the description of the band as a steel band and steel drum band, both terms are interchangeable. Steel drums are also called steel pans and the bands referred to as steel pan bands. The instruments are made to a very high standard from actual oil drums and originated from Trinidad. You can read more about the evolution of the steel band from many dedicated websites and see how a simple idea has spread throughout the Caribbean and major continents. You can also find information about the top steel drum players from many steel band websites and steel pan directories like Pan Jumbie, Hot Pans and Panpodium. These resources will enable you to compare the standard and services with that offered by Big Sand.
Comments about the steel drum band or any helpful observations that you wish to raise is always appreciated. If you have taken the time to read this entire page, please share your comments by sending an email. Previous clients are encouraged to send feedback about the quality of the live steel band as wedding receptions music, private party and corporate entertainment. You will receive a response from the band leader who reads all feedback about the steel drum band. You can also request more information about the steel drum band, contractual arrangements or travelling abroad for corporate entertainment, weddings, etc.
Free Links are available from a special link page. Big Sand will welcome reciprocal link enquiries from companies that provide wedding services, party entertainment or corporate hospitality; including wedding venues, photographers and catering. This website has very strong links with many major sites and will help to drive a significant amount of traffic to your business. There will only be a limited amount of links permitted as the idea is to provide useful and relevant information for our customers and offer services from the most experienced professionals.
Copyright protects all the content on this website. This means that permission must be sought before any images, text, links or other material can be used. Lee Cheyenne Entertainment is currently in litigation with an unscrupulous trader who has lifted an entire section of text from Big Sand's website and substituted the band's name. This was brought to our attention by a client who had noticed the similarity. New regulations makes it much easier to successfully pursue copyright infringement of this type.
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