From Bach to Nicola Benedetti, violinists are the timeless choice to provide class and entertainment for weddings, corporate events and parties. With a wealth of violinists for hire out there, making sure you book the right violin player can be tricky.
Don’t worry though—we’ve written this handy guide which covers everything you could possibly need to know about booking solo violinists.
Let’s dive right in!
Contents:
Use these links to jump straight to what you want to know:
The Basics of Hiring a Violinist
What styles of music can a violinist play?
Violinists are normally classically trained (think: Bach, Beethoven and Mozart). However, many solo violinists can play also play in a variety of styles with their classical music training having prepared them to be able to play any type of music with the highest quality performance. The most common styles played by violinists—other than classical—are pop, jazz, and folk.
You can think of there being two overall types of violinist; acoustic violinists and electric violinists.
A wedding violinist is most likely to play on their acoustic instrument but can still be amplified if required with a PA system. However, depending on your tastes, it is perfectly possible for an electric violinist to play for your wedding ceremony and drinks reception which might offer a different energy. Think traditional classical wedding vs more modern wedding with a twist!
Violinists for wedding ceremonies can play any style of music you wish. You can check their repertoire list to see the styles they offer and discuss with them from there.
When, during my wedding/event, should I get the violinist to play?
One of the best things about violinists is their flexibility—they can play during the quieter parts of your event (e.g., the bridal procession & walkout for a wedding), or as background music during the louder parts when your guests are talking (such as guests arrival, drinks/canapés, & dinner). It’ll be up to you to choose what works best for your event. Again, choosing between an acoustic violinist with/without PA system or an electric violinist would be our recommendation.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Violinist?
Each violinist will set their own rates but expect a fee of at least £200 for two 45-minute sets, plus travel and amplification expenses if applicable.
Some violinists have a set fee for an event while some will charge hourly. As always, be wary of musicians charging significantly less, as they may not have the skill to deliver a great performance.
Encore violinist, Emma Rushworth, with her solo electric violin showreel
How much space does a violinist need?
Violinists need space to move freely and they will play either standing or seated—as long as there is room for their music stand, and their PA system (if required), they should be fine.
What equipment will they need?
Most importantly: a seat for breaks when they aren’t playing, as well as a good source of light so they can read their music.
Do I need to provide a PA system?
If you have a large number of guests or the venue is very large, violinists can often provide a PA system for amplification. They will also usually provide a PA system if you’ve asked them to play with backing tracks (more detail about backing tracks later). To power the PA, you will need to provide a power source close to where they’ll be playing.
It’s best to discuss these details directly with your violinist. Violinists usually play in a wide range of venues and are best placed to give you a recommendation on the most effective set-up for your occasion. Our extensive list of violinists includes both acoustic and electric violin players, both of which can advise on whether a PA system is required or not.
How long will it take the violinist to set up?
Generally: 10–15 minutes without a PA system; 15–30 minutes with a PA system.
Encore violinist, Cristinel Bacanu, playing before a wedding ceremony
Should I provide food?
Musicians will appreciate water and light refreshments upon arrival (especially if they’ve travelled a long way to perform for you!). Meals are always welcome, though generally not necessary unless your event runs over a mealtime.
Can a violinist play outside?
Definitely! So long as the weather is warm enough, and there is adequate rain/wind shelter (such as a gazebo or marquee). If the violinist uses a PA, an extension lead may be needed. Make sure to tell the musician in advance if you want them to be outside so they can prepare ahead of time!
What dress code can I expect?
Violinists can tailor their outfit to your event. White tie, tuxedo, floor-length gowns, cocktail dresses, smart casual or just all black are all possible. Violinists are well-known for their sartorial prowess.
How long will the violinist play for?
Sets are usually 45-60 minutes long with a 15-minute break between sets. Generally, a violinist will have enough repertoire for about 3–4 sets of music, but 1 or 2 sets is more of a typical length of performance. If you get in touch with one of our talented violinists, they will be able to advise you on exactly how long they can play for, to suit the needs of your event.
Do I need to provide parking?
If the musician is planning to drive, please make provision for parking if possible. Having to drive around looking for a parking space in a town you don’t know can be stressful, expensive, and may delay the performance. It’s worth checking travel plans with the violinist as some may take the train (and might appreciate a pickup from the station!).
Violinists can be very versatile and play music from many genres. Brides and grooms often seek advice on suitable weddings songs and solo violin wedding music can be a beautiful addition to your special day. Be sure to browse through the videos of our wonderful wedding violinists to inspire you on what you might want to hear at your wedding.
Here are some popular violin wedding ceremony songs:
- Chaconne, Partita No. 2 – Johann Sebastian Bach
- Canon and Gigue in D Major – Johann Pachelbel
- Sonata No. 5 in F Major – Ludwig van Beethoven
- Salut d’Amour – Edward Elgar
- Perfect – Ed Sheeran
- Stay With Me – Sam Smith
- Skyfall – Adele
- A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
- All Of Me – John Legend
Backing tracks, or no backing tracks?
This will depend on whether you’d like your violinist to play classical pieces, or also include other styles of music in their performance.
If the violinist’s performance only includes classical pieces, they probably won’t need backing tracks. Classical pieces for violin sound wonderful on their own and work really well as background music, or in more intimate settings.
If the violinist’s performance includes pop songs or other styles, they may be able to provide backing tracks to fill out their performance. They’ll often perform the melody line of popular tunes, alongside pre-prepared backing tracks (think: ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran, or ‘Skyfall’ by Adele—these songs sound great played on the violin!).
Encore violinist, Amy Fields, plays alongside backing tracks
Can they play my favourite song/take requests?
Certainly! Special requests for walking down the aisle or first dance songs are commonplace for live musicians but do ask your violinist in advance; if they’re not already familiar with your choices, they will need adequate time to prepare. Keep in mind, violinists are often extremely busy, so they may add an additional fee to your booking for this service—this is a small price to pay to hear your favourite song played in a new and exciting way!
How far in advance should I book?
We advise booking as soon as possible, especially if you have special musical requests, but we handle last-minute bookings all the time at Encore and can easily find a violinist at short notice.
Do I have to pay travel fees/porterage?
You may have to factor in travel costs if the violinist isn’t local. We have violinists all over the country, so we can usually find someone close to your location.
The standard rate is 47p/mile, so if the violinist needs to travel 50 miles each way, that’s an additional £47 for 100 miles of travel. This amount should only be used as a rough guide—each musician will set their own fees.
How do I handle contracts and payment?
The easiest way to handle contracts and payment is to book through Encore. Our bookings process is extremely simple, and once you have confirmed a booking with your chosen violinist, contracts and payments are handled seamlessly by our secure ‘Encore Pay’ payment system.
What happens now?
So now that you’re an expert on the ins and outs of booking a violinist—feel free to email us at [email protected], or put through an enquiry via our homepage; we’d love to help you find the perfect violinist for your event!