Frequently Asked Questions

If you can’t find an answer here, please get in touch.

Best way to contact Serenity String Duo

There are a number of ways to contact us - so choose the way that suits you best - email, Instagram, Facebook & Messenger, our website contact page, or you can phone us and leave an answer phone message - then we can arrange a phone call if required.

We check all avenues of communication regularly and will respond as soon as we are able to.

Who performs in Serenity String Duo?

Serenity String Duo is made up of two musicians:

Katja plays the cello

and

Laura plays the violin.

We're sisters that share a passion for performance,

and love to entertain!

What is a

String Duo?

A String Duo traditionally consists of

a violinist and a cellist.

Occasionally, we perform with other musicians. We have previously performed as a violin duo, and a violin-viola duo as well.

Serenity String Duo regularly perform as a traditional

violin and cello duo.

Where did

you study?

Both Laura and Katja are professional, freelance musicians.

Both being graduates of

The Royal Welsh College

of Music & Drama.

Laura graduated in 2014,

and

Katja graduated in 2017.

Can we book a

larger ensemble?

Interested in something more?

The option to upgrade to a larger ensemble is available upon request.

Popular ensembles requested include:

string trio & string quartet.

in regards to larger esembles.

What's the difference between a String Duo & a String Quartet?

The main difference is in the

number of performers, volume

and density of sound.

Serenity String Duo arrangements

are carefully chosen and

skillfully adapted to create

the fullest sound,

maintaining each song's melody,

bass notes, harmonic progressions and percussive rhythms.

We pride ourselves in

creating a magical,

enchanting atmosphere,

whilst keeping costs affordable.

Who performs in your

larger ensembles?

We have many professional

contacts and musicians that we

work with on a regular basis.

All musicians that perform

with us in our String Trio

and String Quartet

and deputies (DEP's) standing in

if one of the duo is unavailable,

are also music conservatoire graduates from some of the

UK's top music colleges

& are professional, freelance musicians.

What if one of the duo are

ill / unavailable?

We have many professional contacts and musicians that we work with on a regular basis.

In the event that one of us is ill, or unavailable, we will arrange another elite musician to perform in our place.

At every event,

Serenity String Duo will be

led by either Katja or Laura.

How do I

check availability?

Our diary is constantly

being updated due to the nature of our client's bookings.

Because of this we

do not publish it online.

To check whether

your date is free,

please contact us directly.

When I enquire, is that date held for me?

No. When you enquire

we make a note in our diary

of your event's details.

However, this does not reserve that date for you.

Your booking is only secured once your deposit is paid.

If we receive another enquiry for the same date we will often try to let you know, however we work on a first "booked" basis. On some occasions we accept multiple bookings per day.

How far in advance

can I book?

We are regularly accepting bookings up to 3 years in advance.

The more notice the better. Having said this -

we have also been known to accept bookings within

a much shorter time frame.

If you are interested in booking us - contact us and we would be delighted to discuss your plans, no matter how far in the future they may be.

How do I

confirm my booking?

Your booking is only secured once your deposit is paid.

A non-refundable deposit of

20% is required upon booking.

Payment can be made via bank transfer.

What if the

plans change?

Details such as timings and

other requirements can change in the run-up to events.

For this reason we ask for

as many details as possible

when you book.

Please give us as much notice as possible and let us know if any plans change, especially as on some occasions we accept multiple bookings per day.

A month before your event we will contact you to confirm these details with you, and

the second payment of 60% is required 30 days before the event (non-refundable).

What information do you require when I book?

We ask clients for the following details including:

full client/s name/s,

date of event,

full venue address,

timings for event,

as well as performance timings,

plus any special requirements that the client may have.

Once this have been established we will put an informed quote together for you.

After the quote has been finalised and details confirmed,

we can proceed.

We then send clients an invoice for the non-refundable

20% deposit,

required to secure the booking.

What attire do you perform in?

Depending on the type and style of the event

our attire will vary.

We are well-presented,

highly experienced musicians.

Whether your event is

black-tie, or relaxed and casual we will perform in appropriate attire for your event.

Our usual attire is formal black, however we can perform in a number of different colours -

if you have a specific colour scheme in mind, let us know and we can ensure that we compliment the look that you wish to create.

Can you

perform outside?

We can perform outdoors but require some form of shelter.

Our instruments can not be in direct sunlight or any rain as this will damage them.

So, if you're interested in having an outdoor event: a gazebo, pergola, umbrella, large tree or being stationed by French doors work best.

Do consider a contingency plan for adverse weather. Advance notice must be given before the event.

Ultimately we reserve the right not to play outdoors, but will always do what is best in order to ensure both you and your guests get the best performance possible.

Do I need to

pay a deposit?

Yes.

Once the details of your event have been established we will put an informed quote together

for you.

After the quote has been finalised and details confirmed,

we can proceed.

We then send clients an invoice for the non-refundable

20% deposit,

required to secure the booking.

What questions do I need to ask my venue?

Do check your venue's music policy before completing your booking with us - every venue has individualised rules,

regulations and licenses to adhere to.

Does the venue have

sound restrictions - check their policies on both acoustic

and amplified music.

Ask where musicians usually perform - both inside and outside.

Check if the venue is able to provide appropriate shelter for us to perform under if your event is taking place outside: a gazebo, pergola, umbrella, large tree or being stationed by French doors work best.

What will you need

on the day?

We will need 2+ armless chairs depending on the size of ensemble you have booked, although we always bring our stools as a back-up.

We require approximately

2m x 2m of space

with adequate lighting

for us to perform.

We require somewhere to store our cases and bags whilst we perform, and are always grateful for basic refreshments - most importantly having a glass of water each.

If we are to be situated outside please ensure there is adequate shade or shelter.

When performing outside we will need to be on level ground with protection from high winds.

Do you require

food and drink?

Food and drink is not expected from our clients,

however always appreciated.

A glass of water each will

keep us hydrated and focused throughout our performance/s.

If canapes are circulating,

or a cup of tea is offered,

- we won't say no.

Depending on the

length of the musical sets

during your special event,

we will require breaks

to refresh and

replenish ourselves,

keeping us,

and the music, energised.

How far do you

travel?

We are based in the

South West of England,

and are prepared to travel.

Our quotes include:

travel costs.

Approximate Travel Costs:
within 50 miles - £25
within 100 miles - £50
within 200 miles - £100

If you are looking to have

a wedding further afield

or even abroad -

let us know and we can

take this into consideration,

reflecting any extra travel costs in your quote.

Can we move from one room to another?

Of course!

We are very happy

to move between rooms

at your venue during the event.

For example,

moving from the

wedding ceremony

through to the

drinks reception.

All we ask - is that it is planned with us before hand.

We are flexible and

want to provide you and

your guests

with uninterrupted music

as much as possible.

How long do you

need to set up?

We always arrive at least

30+ minutes before our performance start time.

This allows us plenty of time to set up, warm up

and discuss any last-minute queries with the venue.

It is very helpful for us if someone at the venue has been informed of our booking

and is expecting us.

They can then direct us to your
(or their venue's standard) chosen location for our performance.

Do you perform at more than one venue per event?

Yes, we regularly travel between more than one venue.

If required this would

be done within the

total time period that

you book us for,

travel time will need be included within your quote.

...

Item Title

Describe the item and include any relevant details. Click to edit the text.

Item Title

Describe the item and include any relevant details. Click to edit the text.

Any Other Questions?

If we have not listed your question in our FAQs, please contact us and we will get back to you with an answer as quickly as we can.We look forward to hearing from you!

Are you

insured?

Katja has Public Liability Insurance for £10 million,

held with the

Independent Society of Musicians.

Laura has Public Liability Insurance for £10 million,

held with the

Independent Society of Musicians.

Insurance certificates are available on request.

Do you have

a contract?

Each client is given an

outline of our expectations, including our quote and requirements for the event.

Note: our quotes include:

travel costs,

set up time,

set changes,

necessary breaks

and our time between sets.

How much

do you charge?

Prices for our services

vary depending on a

number of factors including: location,

duration,

and special requests.

Prices for our packages start from £350.

Please get in touch with any special requirements.

Are there any

hidden costs?

Absolutely not!

The price we quote

is all inclusive,

including VAT.

How do we

pay?

A non-refundable

deposit of

20% is required

upon booking.

The final 80% is required

30 days before the event

(non-refundable).

Events cancelled will lose 100% of payments made up to that date.

You may pay at an

earlier point if you wish.

Payment can be made

via bank transfer.

Details are included

in your invoice.

Do you have a

cancellation policy?

Yes.

Events cancelled

will lose

100% of payments

made up to the

date of cancellation.

Can I hear you

perform?

Yes.

There are both

audio and video clips

available on our website,

as well as short video clips

of us performing on

socials and our YouTube channel @SerenityStringDuo.

You're always welcome to come and visit us at an upcoming wedding fair or concert.

Keep an eye on our socials

and events notifications

for more details on

performances at public events.

Can you perform amplified?

Yes we can.

Always check your venue's music policy, and specifically ask them about amplified music.

Amplification is not necessary for most wedding ceremonies or parties where we can perform acoustically. However, for bigger corporate events, or larger drinks receptions we can bring our:

pick ups / amplifier, leads, extension cable, 2x mats, and speaker.

In order to perform this way we will need access to your venue's:

electricity, any spare mats to cover our leads - which keeps everyone safe, and access to

your venue's internalised

PA system - if applicable.

Can we choose what you perform?

You certainly can.

Our clients have access to an

extensive and diverse

range of music,

allowing us to create

bespoke entertainment

for any occasion.

Have a look at our Repertoire List and contact us with your ideas.

Some couples like to choose all the pieces and send it to us like a playlist but you can also choose a handful of your favourite songs to give us an idea of your musical style and we can choose pieces that are similar.

We’ll help you create the

perfect playlist!

How long do you

perform for?

We regularly take bookings for between 1 - 4 hours, although we have no maximum length of booking.

Our overall time is

reflected in your quote.

We generally take a 10-15 minute break per hour during a function of 2 hours or more.

We will coordinate our breaks with your event's itinerary.

If planning music for a wedding, we build our breaks in to the schedule and note these clearly on your individualised set list.

Please note that musicians stay in position throughout wedding ceremonies.

I have a special request for a bespoke arrangement:

Want Something Else?

Special Requests:

If you would like a song you don’t see on our list, let us know and we will look to see if an arrangement already exists.

If we can access it we will let you know and do a quote for this special extra.

Otherwise, we can discuss writing a bespoke arrangement for you at

£60.00 per piece.

There is no rush on choosing music from the list but if you'd like to explore the bespoke option do let us know as soon as you've made a decision so we have plenty of time to arrange the piece for you.

Any other

questions?

If we have not listed your question in our FAQs,

please contact us and we will get back to you with an answer as quickly as we can.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Rich - Wedding Guest

“You guys were awesome!"