This is a guide to making a success of your event by booking Toddington Town Band. For over one hundred years, Toddington Town Band has been proud to bring music and pleasure to audiences near and far. The band’s motto is “Music for Pleasure, Music for Us, Music for the Enjoyment of Others” and so the band pride themselves on their enjoyment in performance and in sharing their enjoyment with others.

The performance itself, however, will only be part of your event, and to make sure we make the best possible contribution we would ask that you spend a short while viewing the following information.

Where and when would you like us? 

Where and when is the event – we need the date, times of day and the location?

What would you like us to do?

Maybe you’d like a full concert, or just some background music?

If the event is for a formal audience the band would be happy to prepare a programme and organise a compère to introduce the musical items.

If it’s background music, what kind of event will we be playing at? Is there a theme?

Will other groups (musical or other) be involved? If so, how do you feel the time will be shared?

Would you like the band to accompany singing? It’s no problem, but it’s likely that we need some technical details and some additional liaison may also be required.

In all cases we would like to know how long you’d like the band to play for. A typical concert would be around 30-45 minutes playing in each half, separated by a 20 minute break. Please bear in mind that extremes of heat and cold make playing without a break more difficult.

What we would ask from you

For nearly all events the band would require seating (usually for around 30 brass and 2 percussionists, although a smaller group may be possible). Chairs with arms can make things difficult for brass players, so it's best to avoid them if at all possible. We usually sit in “horseshoe” formation – that’s like 3 sides of a square - usually three rows deep. Ideally we expect to occupy a space of around 15m x 15m, although depending on the band a smaller space may be appropriate.

If the band is booked to play in the open air, at a fete for example, it would be useful if the playing area could have some shelter from wind – the stands we put our music on can get a bit top heavy and blow over easily in breezy conditions. We try our best to keep hold of our music by using pegs to hold the music to the stands. We are happy to play on grass but please bear in mind that chairs with thin legs, on soft ground, quite easily sink into the turf. This potentially damages the grass, not to mention players’ bones and instruments!

Thought should also be given to what will happen in the case of wet or inclement weather? Will the band still be required if the event is cancelled or moved indoors?

For concerts indoors, we would appreciate the use of a back room or at least space to congregate, warm-up before playing and store the instrument cases and personal items during the performance.

The band will need to know how to access the venue, whether there will be a long way to carry equipment and whether the venue is at ground level.

Once at the venue, the band will require time to set up – around 30-45 minutes before the performance is usual. When there is a shared arena, then details will need to be discussed regarding how and when the exchange between performers will take place.

The band will usually arrive by private cars and would appreciate somewhere to park. Details of suitable locations would be very useful.  Vehicular access to the venue for players of larger instruments would also be welcomed. For longer distance or more awkward locations the band may consider the use of a coach.

Refreshments are always welcome - particularly at intervals - as playing is thirsty work! If you feel you would like to provide the band with more substantial refreshments, please do that at the end - it’s not easy to play immediately after eating and / or drinking well!

Making a booking

Toddington Town Band is an amateur organisation with many players having full-time jobs so it is often difficult to get a band together during ‘working’ hours. We are pleased to take bookings well in advance but as a minimum we would appreciate a few weeks’ notice, particularly if there is a special theme or musical item you wish us to incorporate. The band’s busiest times are usually during the summer season, with such things as garden parties and concerts in the park, and in the run-up to Christmas.

To make a booking or for more information please contact our band secretary – the details are shown below.

How much will it cost?

As we are amateur, you fortunately won't have to pay 30 or more players professional rates! However we aim to carry out our performances in a professional manner and believe we provide excellent value for money. An appropriate fee will be quoted to you once we know in what the engagement requires.

The costs of running a brass band are very high and at present we are funded by member subscriptions and concert income. In addition to the day-to-day running costs, such as rent of rehearsal facilities, music, insurance, uniforms and stands, are the substantial costs of instruments.  Although a few band members own their instruments, the band provides the vast majority and the larger instruments can cost up to £10,000 each to replace.

Promoting your event

Toddington Town Band is pleased to perform for many different organisations including many charities. The aim of most of these events is to raise money for good causes and their success often relies on attracting a good audience. Although the band has experience in publicising its own concerts, many performances are publicised by the organisers themselves, but we would be please to assist with the publicity of your event on the band’s website.

It should not be assumed that the band itself will bring the majority of supporters to your event; whilst our families and friends enjoy our performances, particularly in different venues, we cannot realistically expect them all to support each and every venture.

Getting in contact

Andrea Horsler

Band Secretary

69a Drovers Way, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 1AL

Telephone: 07804 050011

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it