Please reach me at sj@sjviolin.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
An electric violin sounds well, electric. It still sounds like a violin for the most part but the benefit is being able to completely control the volume output. It is more suitable for pop, dance, hip-hop, and R&B music. I use it mostly for cocktail hours and parties.
I also use a plug-in acoustic violin. It produces a nice rich tone with the added benefit of amplification. Ideal for outdoor ceremonies as well as large spaces.
Yes! I can walk around while playing, however, I can't have all my songs memorized since my list is really long, so I still need to look at my music every once in a while.
I use 2 battery powered 160-W speakers that can last up to 4 hours unplugged. This makes it ideal to play outdoors as well as indoors. The sound output can be very loud for a small space, and medium loud for a large space.
I travel all over Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.
I charge the current national mileage rate for anything outside of the Metro Detroit area.
No, I do not pro-rate my services based on playing time. You must pick at least the ceremony package for a wedding. When you book me for a wedding, I have to save the date, practice the music, purchase any necessary music, pack my equipment, travel to the location, set up and tear down. It would simply not be worth it for me to pro-rate my services. This policy also applies to any waiting time. e.g. waiting during the ceremony, waiting for cocktail hour, traveling between venues, etc.
It's not a straight answer. I can copy most players however, each musician has their unique style/sound, and it might be difficult to replicate it exactly the same. I also have my own artistic touch on my music and I would encourage you to entrust me with that part.
Yes, I do not play any kind of fiddle music whether Irish, country, or blue grass. I also don't play Bollywood music, so if you have any specific style of music that you wonder if I could play, just ask before you make your booking.
Yes! I actually started learning more Arabic music in the last year or so. Even though I grew up in the Middle East, I never trained to play Arabic music. I have been learning and adding more Arabic songs to my list- which has grown significantly. Check out my Arabic song list at the bottom of my playlist page.
Yes, I know and collaborate with many excellent musicians in the area. I can have a pianist, a string duo, trio, quartet. Just reach out and I can find the right instrumentation for your need.
Yes, I have played with DJs before. The ability to improvise on the spot with another musicians or a DJ is actually one of my strong suits. We also can pre-plan the songs that we want to play. All I'll need is an empty channel on the DJs sound board to plug into and I will be good to go!
Yes, most if not all string players will not be able to play in any kind of precipitation, even if it is just a drizzle. We also do not like the extreme heat or cold. Temps below 60 or above 85 make it almost impossible for our fingers to move. They're also damaging to our instruments and equipment. If your event is outdoors in September and October or April and May, plan an alternative indoor option. Nov-March would be an absolute no for any outdoor events.
Yes, I have a general liability insurance policy for up to 2M
I accept all major cards, checks, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.
Yes I do. I request a retainer payment to hold your date (about 25-30%) of the booking amount. The remaining balance could be paid in any installments that we agree upon, as long as the final payment is made no longer than 2 weeks before your event.
Tips are always welcome but not expected. I will not have a tip jar at your event nor will I be soliciting tips from your guests. If you insist on leaving me a tip, I will gladly accept one but the best tip you can leave is a good review for me. You can leave me a review either on my Google Business page or my FB page or both.
Absolutely. If a vendor solicits their services to you without a contract, it usually raises a big red flag. You want to have a contract to avoid any kind of surprises with your booking. My contract usually includes all the necessary details from the requested times, to the amount of songs that you can request. I also send out a form to all my clients before an event to collect more details about your event. This way I can guarantee that your event will go as planned with no surprises.
Over my years of playing for weddings, I have yet to cancel on a client. My cancellation policy is clearly stated in my contract. Basically, you are entitled to a full refund if I can't make it to your event due to a last-minute emergency. I will, of course try to find an alternative musician to take my place. If you cancel your event for whatever reason, you are entitled to a refund (minus the retainer payment) as long as the cancellation is more than 2 weeks prior to your event.
Send me a message here with your event date, location, and any important details about your event, and I will reach out to you.
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