FAQs
How do you pronounce your name?
Put simply, it's 'Lee-oss'.
How far in advance do I need to book you?
The sooner the better! Our bookings work on a first come first served basis and we are currently taking bookings up to 2 years in advance so if your event is during peak times, get in touch!
Before I decide whether to book you, can I come and hear you play?
We often perform at The Trafford Centre (in Manchester) where you are more than welcome to come along, hear us and have a chat. Get in touch to find out when we are next there. In the mean time, you’ll find some sound clips here.
What if you are already booked by someone else for our date?
If the timings permit we can play at two events on one day although we prefer not to do this as weddings have a habit of running over! If the timings do clash, then we will do our very best to call our quartet colleagues and find you a group who are free.
I don’t know anything about classical music but would love a string quartet - can you advise me?!
Of course! Rachel is here to guide you through the process. She can talk you through all the options and try and accommodate any special requests
Can you play for our hymns?
We are very happy to accompany your hymns and as long as your requests are standard hymns and we have no trouble getting hold of the music we will do this for no extra charge. Equally, we don't mind not playing if you would rather book an organist (and this means we get the chance to sing along!).
How much do you charge for over time?
We understand that it is quite unusal for a wedding to run on time! We will always try and be as flexible and accomodating as possible and can offer you an extra 15 minutes of free music. (So if the bride is 15 minutes late to the Church, that's no problem at all, we will carry on playing until she arrives). If the delay is any longer than this, or you decide that you would like us to stay a little longer we charge an extra £100 for 1 hour / £50 for half an hour / £25 for 15 minutes etc.
How far do you travel?
We currently cover the North West and Midlands - but if given enough notice we can usually get just about anywhere. Travel expenses are charged at 45p per mile. (And we all have passports...!)
Are you happy to play outside?
Yes and no...Our instruments are very precious and shouldn’t be placed in direct sunlight. We would need a shaded area or small shelter (around 3m x 3m). In the event of rain we regret we cannot play outside even if shelter is provided.
Do you ever play as a string trio?
Yes although we are predominantly a string quartet. Our string trio repertoire is much more limited but still perfect for certain events if the quartet is slightly out of your budget. You can see our trio repertoire here.
Do we need to provide anything for you?
Four armless chairs, good light and refreshments if playing for more than 1.5 hours.
I'm hosting a big event - are you happy to play with microphones/can you advise me?
Yes but we don't own any of the equipment required. We have worked with Sterling Event Group who are a fantastic company and have the best sound engineers we've ever come across so if you're looking into hiring anyone, take a look at them! They have all the equipment you will need and know just what to do when it comes to miking up strings. (We are, however, also happy to use any other companies you have in mind..)
How often do you need to take breaks?
We will need a short break of 5 or 10 minutes for every hour of playing. We can be flexible though and are willing to negotiate our breaks around your timetable.
What happens if one of the members of the quartet is ill on the day?
We have a small group of highly skilled string players to choose from if necessary. All of them are very familiar with the music that we play. If we have to substitute a player, we only ever book musicians we know and trust and who have played with us before.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you have to cancel the booking less than 2 months prior to the date of your event you will still be charged half of the agreed fee as we will have had to turn down other bookings. Deposits are non-refundable.
What if you are delayed / cannot get to us on the day??
In the event of severe weather conditions it may sometimes not be safe for us to travel. We will always look at every possible option to get us to you and will give you as much notice as we can if we are at all concerned. Under these circumstances should we have to cancel the booking you would not have to pay any of the agreed fee. This has never happened before though!
Do you have liability insurance?
Yes. All of the members have public liability insurance with cover up to £10 million.
