Frequently Asked Questions
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The original members met at Bard College in 2008 and started a bar band called Split Point. We changed the name and started The Hook Club LLC in 2017, we have been based in Brooklyn and professionally rocking dance floors ever since!
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We are experienced in all types of events from small parties to large corporate functions. Weddings are our specialty, we became a wedding band organically and it has been our passion for over 10 years!
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The Hook Club is a professional, NYC-based band that relies solely on word of mouth, social media, and our own advertisements to reach clients. You will not find us on the roster of any large talent companies or contracting with any existing bands to grow an agency. We work directly with our clients and planners, and the musicians you see on stage and in our videos are running the day-to-day operations of the company.
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Aside from our status as an independent, musician-owned band, there are other reasons why THC is like no other! Our expertise in event entertainment from live bands and strings, to DJing and DJ Bands, means that we can bring our authentic, music-first approach to every type of event. Our modern ensembles are modular and customizable, allowing for the perfect match with you and your guests. On stage, we make every guest feel welcome and bring energy to the party, and by the end of the night everyone feels like a member of the band. Many bands leave all the singing up to the lead vocalists, and the musicians stay in the background. With The Hook Club, the entire band is in the spotlight and everyone takes a turn on the mic!
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Our Full Band ensemble combines the best of our Classic Band and DJ Band into one ultimate band! We start with the basics - guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums, but we also add in our DJ/Synths player, which takes the band to the next level and gives us the sound of a DJ in a fully live band! Not to be mistaken with our DJ Band, the Full Band plays every part live, utilizing producer/DJ techniques like looping and sampling to perform just like the stars do (think Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar).
For the Classic Band, we leave a lot of those frills at home, instead focusing on a high-energy performance driven by the straight-forward instrumentation of the Classic Band. This group focuses on adding as much firepower as possible to the band - with up to 3 singers and 3 horns, the Classic Band will keep guests engaged with our trademark interactive performances and infectious energy!
In terms of packages, the Full Band and Classic Band provide similar ceremony & cocktail hour ensemble options. The Full Band packages come with a complimentary ceremony musician, ceremony microphone, and dance lighting package!
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The staff for each configuration of The Hook Club is drawn from one group of musicians, though some musicians wind up working more with one group or the other depending on their instrument and specialty.
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The Hook Club aims to be a niche and boutique entertainment company, working with a limited amount of clients each season. The Hook Club assesses each date to determine our ability to accommodate a double booking, and we do not perform with more than two dance bands per date. In the case of a double booking, an experienced and dedicated Event Manager will be assigned to each client.
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A DJ Band is simply a traditional DJ, layered with live instrumentalists and vocalists. The Hook Club DJ Band takes that several steps further, working as a group to craft arrangements and custom mixes that highlight our musicians and create a unique live band feel.
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Definitely! String ensembles can be added to any package, and string musicians can be combined with members of the various reception bands for the early parts of the wedding. Furthermore, violin can be added to the DJ Band as well as the Full Band!
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We are based in Brooklyn and we perform regularly in the NYC area. We also travel to other areas in the Northeast and will accommodate overnight trips when possible. We will also travel for destination weddings whenever possible.
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Our wedding packages are based on one hour for ceremony (30 minutes for pre-ceremony, 30 minutes for the actual ceremony), one hour for cocktail hour, and four hours for receptions. During the reception we will typically take a rotating break during salads and a full break for the vendor meal. We can comfortably perform for up to two hours straight. Please let us know if your reception is longer than four hours, or if you need an hourly after-party DJ!
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We will typically play live background music during the first course of the wedding. When the entree is served, we do a hard break and allow the band to eat for roughly 20 minutes. Once we are finished eating, the band begins background music again and we build into the big dance set!
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Each year, we build a new repertoire list for each ensemble and send it to all of our clients. Clients are encouraged to provide feedback on the list, and we discus it over the phone. We will work on the details throughout the months before the wedding, and hop on the phone to make sure everything is on point for the event! Contact us to see our current repertoire lists!
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We are very flexible about requests and typically play between 3-5 “off list” requests per entire event. If you have more requests, feel free to let us know and give us an idea of which ones are most important and we will fit in as many as possible.
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Our ceremony and cocktail hour ensembles are flexible about where they can play, though we always prefer a hard surface and shade when possible. Rain will prevent us from being able to perform outside, and our instruments are sensitive to heat and direct sunlight. Our dance bands require a level, non-porous surface completely covered from rain. Please keep all these details in mind when placing your band and have a backup plan- just in case!
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We don’t require a stage to perform, but it is highly recommended! The stage should be approximately 8’×12’ feet for a 4-6 piece band, 12’×16’ for a 6-8 piece band, and 12’×24’ for a 8-15-piece band.
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Absolutely! Our dynamic performers will also act as the MCs for the entire event. Your guests will never miss an announcement, speech or toast. Our MCs always keep the room energy peaked and your audiences fully engaged.
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Our services include premium sound systems for your wedding. You can expect state of the art audio equipment and our experienced technicians on-site for your entire event. Our sound engineers are experienced and have worked in all types of environments. We will provide all the microphones, speakers and all other sound amplification needed for your event.
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Our ceremony microphone setup is professional and very reliable. We offer two discrete, wireless microphone positioned on stands, one for the officiant and couple, and the other off to the side for other speakers. We provide speakers so the crowd can hear everything that is said, and amplification for all of our musicians including our string ensembles. We can also provide an audio output for a videographer if needed.
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The Hook Club carries full liability insurance. We will provide a copy of our COI (Certificate of Insurance) to your venue upon execution of the performance agreement if requested.
Hooked Yet?
Whether you’re an event planner or a potential client, we would love to hear from you! All clients are welcome - The Hook Club is an inclusive, LGBTQ+-owned group and is happy to work with any couple regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.