For organisers

Booking a music group: the right band, the right choir

Booking a music group means finding, for a fixed occasion, an ensemble that fits audience, place and budget: the wind band for the town festival, the choir for the Advent celebration, the big band for the summer party, the string quartet for the company anniversary. Describe what you are planning. We suggest ensembles that match date, genre and size, from your region or from further afield.

Which music fits which occasion

The table shows which line-ups have proven themselves at the most common occasions and what to bear in mind.

Occasion	Proven line-up	Duration and setting	Usual model
Town festival, fair, market stage	Wind band, brass band, marching band	Parade plus marquee, two to three hours with breaks	Expense allowance, hospitality
Summer party, open-air stage, culture night	Big band, wind orchestra, gospel choir, band	45 to 90 minutes per set, stage and power provided by the organiser	Expense allowance to fee
Christmas market, Advent celebration	Choir, brass ensemble, trombone choir	30 to 60 minutes, outdoors or in the church next door	Often free for hospitality, otherwise an expense allowance
Company anniversary, reception, club celebration	String quartet, jazz trio, chamber choir	Background or programme item, 20 to 60 minutes	Fee
Concert series, church concert, spa concert	Choir, orchestra, ensemble on tour	Full concert programme, 60 to 90 minutes	Collection, split of takings or fee
Carnival session, parade	Wind band, Guggenmusik, show band	Interludes and party sets over the evening	Fee, often season contracts

Models and amounts are experience values from practice and differ by country, region, group and occasion. Fee and schedule are agreed directly with the ensemble.

What to know before you ask

Ensembles plan in winter

Community bands and choirs fix their performances for the year between November and February. Ask in January and you get the best choice for June. Ask in May and you get what is still free.

Stage, power, weather

A wind orchestra of 40 needs a stage of eight by six metres and shade for the instruments. A big band needs power and often a PA. A choir needs a dry spot and risers. State what you can provide in your call; the rest we ask on your behalf.

Hospitality is part of the fee

For amateur ensembles, hospitality counts for more than the amount: food and drink for all performers, a room to change, parking for the coach or cars. Offer that, and confirmation comes more easily.

Groups on tour

Ensembles on a concert tour look for performances along their route and often play for hospitality. If your date fits, we include such groups. How these tours are planned is explained on the page Concert tours.

How to find the right music group with us

Publish a call

Occasion, place, date, desired music, duration, setting and what you can provide. Via the call form, no registration.
Receive suggestions

We match your call against our ensemble directory: genre, line-up, region, free dates. You usually hear from us within two working days. Picked by hand, not generated automatically.
Decide yourself

You choose, we put you in touch. Fee, schedule and technical details you agree directly with the ensemble; we stay available for questions.

Frequently asked questions about booking a music group

What does it cost to book a wind band or a choir?

Many amateur ensembles perform for an expense allowance covering travel and meals, some for hospitality and applause. Semi-professional groups quote a fee. As a rule of thumb, an expense allowance for a community band at a festival lies in the low to mid three-figure euro range, depending on size, distance and duration.

How much lead time does a request need?

Ensembles plan their season for summer festivals and Christmas markets between November and February. Three to six months of lead time is a good frame. A short-notice request is still worthwhile; we will tell you openly what is possible.

Which music groups does concertbase match?

Wind and brass bands, choirs, marching bands, orchestras, chamber ensembles, big bands and bands, from amateur to semi-professional, from the region and from further afield.

Can a touring ensemble perform at our event?

Yes. Ensembles on a concert tour look for performances along their route and often play for hospitality or a small expense allowance. If your date and place fit, we include such groups in our suggestions.

What does the matching cost?

The basic call and the suggestions cost you nothing. There is no obligation to book any of the suggested ensembles. Optional paid services will be added later; the basic call stays free.

Describe your occasion

Occasion, place, date, desired music. We will get back to you with matching ensembles, usually within two working days.

Publish a call