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Frequently Asked Questions What are your rates? I often say that “I get paid to setup and teardown, and I play for free.” When looking at where the effort is spent, this statement is fairly true. That said, I don’t charge by the hour. If your guests are having a blast and your event runs past the planned ending time, I’ll keep the party rocking (within reason, of course, and significant additional time can be negotiated). My rates depend on lots of factors such as season, location, and time of day. Since each event is unique, I can’t specify a particular fee that applies to all events. Are you willing to learn a specific song or songs not on your song list just for my event? The answer is usually “yes” as long as I have enough lead time and the song suits my instrumentation and vocal range. No promises, but I’ll usually give it a shot. If you want more than one or two additional songs, I can negotiate an additional fee (this can occur “on the spot”, by the way). How far will you travel? I don’t have specific limitations on travel distance. However, for distances greater than 50 miles from greater Charlotte, NC, I will need to negotiate travel expenses, and for distances greater than 150 miles, I may require overnight accommodations. How long do you perform? As said earlier, I get paid to setup and teardown. However, I’ve found that four hours is generally the maximum time most events last. I’ll happily cover longer events; I’ll just need to adjust my rate to cover additional playing time. Do you take breaks? Yes. My performances are very high energy, and I need to recharge after 45-50 minutes of performing. Breaks usually run only about 10 minutes, during which I will provide pre-recorded music. What sort of power requirements do you have? I need an independent 20 amp 120 V circuit. Will you play outdoors? Yes. However, there are some additional things considerations for playing outdoors. If the temperature is above 80 degrees, I need a tent or awning covering the stage. You will be responsible for providing adequate protection for my equipment in case of inclement weather. Therefore, if the weather is threatening, a tent and several tarps would be a good idea. If the weather becomes dangerous to me or my equipment after I have begun setup, I reserve the right to cancel the performance (any terms of payment will apply, regardless of weather conditions). I also reserve the right to cancel performance if the temperature drops below 60 degrees, or winds exceed 15 mph. Do you require food and drink? Well, I'm human, so the answer is “it sure would be nice”, and frankly, being properly nourished and hydrated is a requirement to deliver the high energy I put into my performances. I don’t demand to eat with your guests, nor do I have any specific dietary requirements. However, if it’s not possible to partake in the food generally provided, a sandwich and some bottled water or a soft drink would be wonderful. Also, having something to hydrate with during setup would be great. What size stage do you need? I can set up in a pretty small area. 8' x 8' is probably minimum, but bigger is always better. Will you need a dressing room? Having a place to dress and relax between sets will only help my performance (and public restrooms are not the ideal place for this). I’re not modest—I’ll change anywhere—but don’t want to offend your guests or anyone else. How early do you need to arrive? I need access to the stage area at least 1 hour before the event, and for 45 minutes after the event to teardown and load out equipment. What sort of assistance do you need with your equipment? If the performance requires moving equipment more than 100 feet or involves stairs, it would be great to have a person or two to assist. How are you paid? I accept cash, bank or certified checks, or certified money orders made payable to Steve Shoaf. Do you accept tips? Let me think for a sec...uh, yes. Are they expected? No, of course not, but like any service provider, I don't mind if you show appreciation for my performance. What if one of my guests gets “out of hand”? I’re fine with people having a good time. However, you are responsible in case of injury to me or theft and physical damage to my equipment resulting from negligence of you or your guests. Can I use your name in marketing for the event? Absolutely. Please contact me to discuss creative ways to jointly market your event. |