For wind bands and brass bands

Venues for wind bands: from the spa concert to the partner band

A venue for a wind band is usually not a concert stage but a place with an audience that is there anyway: the spa gardens in the afternoon, the market stage at the town festival, the festival tent, the village square at a joint concert with the local band. Community bands, concert bands, youth wind bands, symphonic wind orchestras and brass bands find different venues here than choirs do. We help you find them, in Germany, Austria, South Tyrol and across Europe.

Which venue suits which programme

Venue	Suits	Setting (rule of thumb)	Costs and audience
Spa concert, bandstand, spa gardens	Community bands, concert bands, light programme	60 to 90 minutes in the afternoon, covered stage, allocation three to six months ahead	Free, often an expense allowance; spa guests as audience
Joint concert with the local band	All bands, especially in South Tyrol, Austria, Bavaria, the Czech Republic	Two blocks plus a joint march, festival ground or bandstand	Free on a reciprocal basis, hospitality; the host's audience
Market stage, town festival, Christmas market	Community bands, big bands, brass bands	45 to 90 minutes, stage from the organiser, allocation by market office or cultural office	Free, sometimes hospitality; passing audience
Festival tent, shooting festival, fair	Bands with an entertainment programme	Two to three hours with breaks, often with a parade	Expense allowance or fee, hospitality; a full tent
Church, church concert, service	Symphonic wind orchestras, brass ensembles, sacred programme	Chancel or platform, medium reverberation, lead time through committees	Collection or contribution towards costs; the congregation as audience
Adjudicated event, wind band festival	Bands with a competition programme, youth wind bands	Registration six to nine months ahead, set pieces, grades	Entry fee; expert audience and other bands

Experience values from practice. With every suggestion we state setting, cost model and allocation route as far as known.

What counts for wind bands

Stage, shade, power

Eight by six metres for 40 players, ten by eight for 60, a roof or shade for instruments and music, power for stand lights in the evening. What the venue does not have belongs in the agreement, otherwise the band stands in the July sun.

The partner band is the best venue

In South Tyrol, Austria, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Slovenia almost every municipality has a band with a bandstand, festival ground and audience. A joint concert brings everything that is missing on tour. How the exchange format works is on the page Exchange concert partners.

Programme to match the venue

Spa concert and festival tent call for entertainment with announcements, the church a sacred or symphonic programme, the adjudicated event set pieces. A band with two programmes can serve three kinds of performance on one tour.

Instruments and coach

Tubas, percussion and stands need a trailer or luggage space, parking at the venue and a short way to the stage. We come from the travel side and ask about that too. How a tour with two or three performances is planned is on the page Planning a concert tour.

What we ask about every venue for wind bands

Stage or area: measurements, roof, riser, chairs and stands on site.
Power and amplification: stand lights, microphone for announcements, PA for big bands.
Audience: spa guests, market visitors, congregation, partner band; the host's programme wishes.
Allocation route and lead time: spa administration, market office, local band, association; dates and deadlines.
Cost model: free, expense allowance, fee, hospitality.
Logistics: coach parking, trailer, way to the stage, changing room, catering.

Frequently asked questions from wind bands

Where can a wind band perform on a concert tour?

Spa concerts in spa gardens and bandstands, market stages at town festivals and Christmas markets, festival tents, joint concerts with local bands, churches for the sacred programme, adjudicated events and wind band festivals. Most of these performances are free of charge and bring their own audience.

What does a spa concert performance cost?

Usually nothing. Spa administrations include guest bands in their programme and often pay an expense allowance or provide hospitality. Allocation three to six months ahead.

How big does the stage for a wind band need to be?

As a rule of thumb eight by six metres for 40 players, ten by eight for 60, with shade or a roof for the instruments and power for stand lights. For seated concerts without a stage a level area with chairs and stands is enough.

Are there partner bands for a joint concert abroad?

Yes. In South Tyrol, Austria, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Slovenia almost every municipality has a band, and the associations arrange joint concerts, mostly free of charge on a reciprocal basis. Describe line-up, strength and preferred region and we suggest partners.

Describe your band and programme

Line-up and strength, programme, region, dates, what you are looking for: spa concert, partner band, church, festival tent. We'll get back to you with matching venues, usually within two working days.

Request venues