Booking a musician for a corporate event in Vancouver comes down to three choices: background music or a feature, a musician who moves around or stays in one spot, and one player or a small group. Once you’ve decided, send us your date, venue and the kind of music you want, and you can compare options with prices for musicians who are free that day.
Background or a feature
Background music is something good to listen to while people arrive, talk and eat, quiet enough that nobody has to raise their voice. A feature is different. Guests stop and listen, for a set time, like a short performance after dinner.
Decide which you want, or both, and tell us when each part happens.
Moving around or in one spot
A roving musician, such as a strolling violinist, moves through the room in short bursts and plays for small groups.
A pianist, harpist or small group usually plays from one spot. Choose a place where the music reaches the room without drowning out a table, and away from the bar and the doors.
One musician, a duo or a trio
A single musician often suits a smaller room or a quieter part of the night. A duo or trio can fill a bigger space and gives you more range.
Instruments matter too. A guitarist or pianist can play a full piece on their own. A violinist or saxophonist may play with backing tracks or with a second player. Ask each musician how they’ll sound on their own in your room.
We book solo musicians, duos and trios in Vancouver, so you can ask for any of the three.
How long to book
The people who ask us for a musician in Vancouver ask for anywhere from under an hour to 3 hours. Think about which parts of the event need music: arrival and drinks, dinner, or a short feature. A roving musician plays in short bursts, so ask how they split the time.
Sound, volume and speeches
- Ask whether the musician brings their own sound equipment, or needs the venue’s.
- Don’t assume they bring a microphone for your speakers. Ask, or check with the venue.
- Tell them when the speeches or awards start, so the music stops or drops for them.
- Ask who controls the volume during the event, so you can turn it down if the room gets loud.
Questions to ask before you book
- Will you play background music, a feature, or both?
- Do you move around the room or play from one spot?
- Can you send a short video of a recent event?
- What music do you play for a corporate crowd, and can we send a few requests?
- Do you bring your own sound equipment, and what do you need from the venue?
- When will you arrive, and what will you wear?
- If our venue asks for proof of insurance, can you send it?
What changes the price
The price depends on how many hours you book, whether it’s a Saturday or in the holiday season, a second performer, and travel outside Metro Vancouver.
How booking works with AGNT
AGNT is a booking company. You send us your date, venue and guest count, and we check which musicians in Vancouver are free that day. We send you options with prices. You pick one, and it’s booked once the deposit is paid. If your first pick isn’t free, we’ll tell you and suggest a similar act who is.
Some of the Vancouver musicians you can book through AGNT are Patrick Ernst, Sandro Camerin and Pianist Miri. You can see more on musicians for hire in Vancouver.
How we put this together
We wrote this from what people tell us when they ask for a musician in Vancouver: the type of event, the kind of music, how long and how many guests. It doesn’t list prices, because they depend on your date, your hours and the musicians you choose. You’ll see prices with the options we send.
Your next step
Tell us your date, venue and the kind of music you want, and we’ll send you Vancouver musicians who are free that day, with prices: book a musician in Vancouver
Featured photo by Michel Catalisano on Unsplash
