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All Aboard: Wedded Wonderland Arrives in London with a Musical Twist

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 05 May 2025 16:06:57 GMT

London recently played host to a truly unforgettable celebration as Wedded Wonderland and the Wedded Wonderland Network made their long-awaited UK debut, and The Travelling Hands were right at the heart of the action.

In a unique showcase of luxury wedding and event talent, VIP guests were taken on an exclusive guided bus tour through some of London’s most iconic landmarks. The event was expertly brought to life by industry leaders Jane Riddell (Planned for Perfection) and Alysia Bridger (Alysia Bridger Events), with royal insight and storytelling provided by none other than Paul Burrell.

As guests soaked up the sights and stories, we provided a live musical backdrop aboard the tour, bringing energy, spontaneity, and a touch of theatrical flair to this stylish day out!

One of the standout moments came as we took the celebration to the streets, delivering an impromptu performance outside Boodles on Bond Street. Within moments, a crowd had gathered – dancing, filming, and joining in the fun, right in the heart of Mayfair.

This unique event perfectly showcased how music can elevate an experience, and how versatile roaming band entertainment can be – even onboard a moving bus! It was a brilliant fusion of heritage, entertainment, and modern luxury, and we were delighted to be part of it.

Stay tuned over on our socials for photos and videos from this one-of-a-kind day – you won’t want to miss the highlights.

The Travelling Hands Win Favourite Entertainment at the RSVP Global Awards!

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 05 May 2025 11:35:33 GMT

We’re excited to share some exciting news from Vienna! The Travelling Hands have been awarded Favourite Entertainment at the prestigious RSVP Global Awards.

These awards celebrate the top-tier professionals shaping the events industry across Europe, Asia, and Africa, recognising excellence in creativity, delivery, and guest experience. To be recognised on this international stage is a proud milestone for us as a band, and a reflection of the energy, passion, and professionalism we bring to every event we perform at.

This win isn’t just ours, it’s a celebration of every event we’ve been lucky enough to be part of.

Here’s to the music, the memories, and many more moments to come!

Performing at Gordon Ramsay’s Newest Lucky Cat Restaurant

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 14:53:27 GMT

On Friday, 31st January, The Travelling Hands performed at the exclusive pre-launch party for Gordon Ramsay’s newest Lucky Cat restaurant in the heart of London. This event wasn’t just any pre-launch—it marked the unveiling of what is now London’s highest restaurant , located at the stunning 22 Bishopsgate.

A Night Above the Skyline

Nestled in the heart of London’s financial district, 22 Bishopsgate offers more than just a dining experience. The panoramic views from this towering venue provide a breathtaking backdrop of London’s skyline, creating an atmosphere that’s both sophisticated and unforgettable. The new Lucky Cat restaurant perfectly complements this ambience with its sleek design and signature dishes that reflect Gordon Ramsay’s renowned culinary artistry.

Setting the Scene with Live Music

As guests gathered to celebrate the launch, The Travelling Hands infused the evening with our signature blend of British style and sophistication. Our live acoustic roaming performances were meticulously crafted to mirror the event’s dynamic flow and energy. As canapés and champagne were served, we serenaded guests with a thoughtfully curated setlist, seamlessly complementing the surroundings and amplifying the excitement in the room!

Let’s Elevate Your Next Event

Looking to create an unforgettable experience at your next corporate event? The Travelling Hands specialise in providing bespoke live music that enhances any occasion, from exclusive launches to large-scale celebrations. Get in touch to learn more about how we can help bring your vision to life.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay: The Travelling Hands in The British Virgin Islands

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 20:21:07 GMT

Baywatch in Blue

We're off again! This time it's in the lap of luxury in the British Virgin Islands, where we're expanding our partnership with the iconic Rosewood Hotels at their exclusive bolthole, Rosewood Little Dix Bay , perfectly situated on the idyllic Virgin Gorda. We'll be taking you on an exciting musical tour of this secluded island paradise and bringing you that Caribbean flavour with new music in our famed modern acoustic style. Come with us to explore the pristine beaches, the azure Caribbean seas, historic sites and, of course, the exquisite Rosewood Little Dix Bay! We have some musical treats in store for you in our latest video, so let's explore one of the World's greatest getaways! Are you ready?

Virgin Gorda is a beautiful untamed wilderness nestled on the fringes of the Caribbean, with the calm Caribbean sea cradling it in its warm arms and keeping the wild Atlantic at arms reach. The islands served as a famous anchorage in 1959 which accommodated Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins's final rendezvous at Bitter End before meeting their very own whilst failing to ply Puerto Rico from its Spanish clutches. See just how beautiful the island is from the air in this clip, before we fly down and land on the powder-white sand beyond the colourful barrier reef. Do you know what this famous song is? We think it's pretty fitting in welcoming you to the island.

From Coast to Coast

Ready about! We pay homage to the classic Duran Duran video for Rio, as we sail over the crystal blue Caribbean waters with Rosewood style.

Jost Van Dyke

Now we've relaxed and done some sight-seeing, it's time to sail the high seas in our luxury yacht and find our next stop on our beautiful island adventure, but where to?

The Perfect Cocktail

Who doesn't love a piña colada on the beach? We certainly do, but today we have something extra special in store. After a quick swim to shore, we need to dry out our dollars at the famous Soggy Dollar bar, luckily it's tradition to hang them up behind the bar to air out - we know they're likely to end up there anyway! And in keeping up tradition, we settle in with a few Pain Killers, the island's legendary heady take the classic piña colada, enjoyed with some bar games on the pristine white sands, of course.

Rosewood's Premier Entertainment Pavillion

Luckily the amazing team at Rosewood Little Dix Bay helped us find our way back to their incredible property. And there's no time to waste, we are getting ready for a big performance in our new cream Marc Darcy suits, they're just perfect for entertaining in. Nothing beats the excitement building up to a fantastic evening making people dance and sing in one of the world's most beautiful locations. Once we're suited and booted we make our way to The Pavillion, Rosewood's premier entertaining space.

Raising the Pavillion Roof!

It's time to close the night in style. Watch the full director's cut below to see our big finale and the song we closed the night with!

That's it, the theme from Baywatch. A must for your beach playlist to get you in the mood for the next adventure. But what is in store? Let's find out now...

But perhaps we had one too many? Where exactly have we gotten to next? It looks like we might be in for a production of Castaway 2! Can we find our way home?

When Do You Need Music at A Wedding?

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 16:21:40 GMT

Music is an important part of any wedding. It helps set the mood, it can be used to help guests feel welcome, and it can even help make sure that everyone is on the same page about what's going on at the ceremony and reception.

But when do you need music at a wedding?

Well, it depends on the kind of wedding you're having! Are you having a big ceremony with lots of guests? Are you just having a small ceremony with close friends and family? Are you going for an afternoon drinks reception or an evening dance party?

The answers to these questions will determine whether or not music is needed at each part of your wedding day. Hand in hand with this are your desires for the big day itself, and the atmosphere you're looking to create at each stage of your wedding celebrations. Award-winning roaming band The Travelling Hands might just be the ideal, flexible and immersive entertainment you're looking for! Let's run through some times throughout your wedding day when music is particularly important...

Pre-Ceremony:

Music can help set the tone for your guests as they arrive at the venue, and make them feel comfortable and excited about what's about to happen. Typically this will be gentle music to set the tone, and welcome guests into your day.

Once you're married, music plays an important part in helping your guests to unwind as they continue to catch up with one another. After the ceremony is over, this is often a time for a champagne reception or cocktail hour. Music here can start to become a little more lively as guests really sink into your day.

You and your guests can often be in a number of places at this time. Perhaps outside enjoying a sunny afternoon, or perhaps inside while you enjoy canapés and sip champagne. When The Travelling Hands perform at this time of day, we can move with the flow of your guests in different locations. Our performances here are designed to allow guests to still catch up with one another, whilst simultaneously helping them to relax further into your wedding celebrations.

Now that they're all caught up, and have relaxed into your day even further, it's time for one of the most important times for music - the wedding breakfast!

Post-Ceremony:

Now that cocktail hour has wrapped up, it's time for the wedding breakfast— THIS is where the magic happens . The wedding breakfast performance is what The Travelling Hands are best known for.

Our roaming performance will consist of a carefully constructed setlist of singalong songs for guests of all ages - the goal is to ignite the celebrations and ensure that all of your guests throughout the wedding breakfast are energised, excited and ultimately united to celebrate with you before their feet have even touched the dance-floor.

Think of us as your personal hype team to stroll through your wedding breakfast as we perform, helping guests feel re-fuelled and ready to celebrate at this point of your celebrations.

Wedding Breakfast:

Evening Interval:

With the wedding breakfast complete, there's often a small interval before your evening reception begins. This is a great time to use music to help them feel energised to celebrate with you & a fantastic time for a finale performance from The Travelling Hands too.

Evening Reception:

There's one thing left to do...hit the dance-floor. Now that your guests have been coaxed out of their shells and they've sung their way through dinner, they will be in party spirits to celebrate. So whether a DJ, a funk and soul band extraordinaire or otherwise, it's time to dance the night away with your favourite people in the world!

Final Thoughts:

If you've found this blog post helpful, you might also like what time should you book The Travelling Hands to perform your wedding day which covers all the key performance times in detail and why you should hire a roaming band for your next celebration!

If you like the look of The Travelling Hands and think that we could be the right fit for your celebrations, then book a call with us to say hello, put the kettle on and let's explore everything together. To book your call simply click here !

Brown's Hotel: A Weekend to Remember in Mayfair

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 16:11:57 GMT

The Bare Necessities at Breakfast

Under the expert stewardship of Rocco Forte Hotels , Brown's Hotel is an unmistakably British 5-star gem in the heart of Mayfair. It hosts an impressive selection of exquisite dining experiences, from the romance of Charlie's and the elegance of The Drawing Room , to the glamour inside the townhouse at The Supper Club . Outside the hotel you can experience the delights of the Capital's finest restaurants and bars, immerse yourself in the art galleries of Cork Street, and take in a production in a Shaftesbury Avenue theatre, not to mention the array of artisanal boutiques providing the finest in clothes and foods. The Travelling Hands are excited to visit this exclusive hotelier and show off the magic of London in our musical celebration of Mayfair. Join us as we experience this outstanding hotel before hitting the streets to gather the essentials for a luxury picnic. Trust us when we say it is an adventure positively steeped in history!

Brown's Hotel is not only one of London's finest hotel establishments, it boasts a myriad of impressive claims to fame. Did you know that it's London's very first hotel, dating back to 1837? And the first London phone call was made under its roof by none other than Alexander Graham Bell! The hotel has also hosted an overwhelming collection of writers in its time, providing hospitality, comfort, and perhaps a muse for many a litterateur.

Also, one of the suites is named after someone in particular, but who? You could say this hotel goes beyond the b are necessities for its guests. Indeed! We kid you not. Famed Victorian poet and storyteller, Rudyard Kipling, penned the The Jungle Book in this very hotel. More recently, Brown's partnered with Penguin Books to celebrate the book's 125th anniversary .

Hence, the theme for our opening track in the full-length video (which we'll share with you later!). For now, we'll start your day at Brown's by welcoming Mayfair in through the window of your beautiful Forte Suite. We certainly had a fantastic night's sleep and are waking up to a delicious breakfast served in true style, Rocco Forte robes and all.

It's Drinks at The Donovan Bar

We're going to treat ourselves, making sure we fully unwind and while away our day with a relaxing massage in the subterranean wellness Spa . We can't think of a better way to start your time in the most beautiful part of the city, can you? Now we are fully settled in, let's discover how we going to spend our evening together.

Well, it wouldn't be an evening at Brown's without enjoying the classic style of The Donovan Bar , inspired by renowned photography and its namesake, Terence Donovan . Take a seat with us and welcome home Mr Blue Sky while the expert behind the bar fixes us a sip of something special straight from the sophisticated mind of legendary bartender, Salvatore Calabrese . Now, that's certain to end our first day in the West End off properly, after all, we want to enjoy all the luxury on offer! After we see the evening of in true Travelling Hands style, we'll get some sleep in our luxury suite. Then we will reconvene in Brown's beautifully decorated lobby in the morning, where we can admire the handywork of Rocco Forte's own Olga Polizzi. Designed as an homage to the Hotel's longstanding British heritage and in celebration of the wonders of springtime, it really sets the scene for a day in Mayfair.

The Finest Artisanal Delights

What's this?! St James's Park? How exciting! Suits already in the bag, but no attire would be complete without a proper pair of dancing shoes. So, join us at the epitome of artisanal shops in the area. Let's visit Paxton and Whitfield , artisanal cheesemongers established over 225 years ago in 1797! They'll surely have the perfect fromage for our haute picnic. And now we have something to nibble on, we'd best get some flowers to bring about a smile or two. Ellie Hartley Flowers situated within Brown's Hotel itself is just the ticket and has arranged a stunning bouquet for us. We can't wait to enjoy these at the park with you and our lucky family we'll be meeting there.

But first, we need to pop over to St James's St where we can find the iconic Lock and Co. hatters. They are measuring us up for some of London's finest hats. Lock and Co traces its roots back to 1676 and is the world's oldest hat shop! What's more, is it's also one of the oldest family-owned businesses in existence. We are bringing you our rendition of Take That's "Shine" to lift your spirits even more for the afternoon ahead.

Shod to Perfection

We have our beautifully tailored Marc Darcy suits, but no attire would be complete without a proper pair of dancing shoes! So, join us at George Cleverley's for some of the best handmade shoes in the business, a title they have held since their inception in 1958. We are welcoming you in with that Spencer Davis Group classic, "I'm a man", a sure-fire hit to make anyone feel good in their new threads. Incredibly, shoemakers at Cleverley's undertake a 3-to-5-year apprenticeship to ensure their consistent, unbeatable quality is upheld: now that's dedication! It's also a dedication that has brought them a formidable list of celebrity clients that's well worth perusing!

A Jaunt in The Park

We are expanding our suit ranges to ensure we have the perfect look for any event at any time of day! Marc Darcy has hand-picked two brand new ensembles for The Travelling Hands unveiled in our latest video, straight from The British Virgin Islands with Rosewood Hotels . Let's have a look now! They do not disappoint.

It's Back to Browns

What a weekend it's been, too, we're having such a good time, we're having a ball. Come celebrate with us with a thirst-quenching glass of champers. It's been another successful weekend at Brown's in Mayfair, and we are ecstatic to have entertained yet another fantastic couple, and of course, had you along for the ride, seeing the quintessential artisanal delights that surround Brown's Hotel and give their guests a stay to truly remember. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did - now, we've kept you long enough for the whole experience, so here is the full video!:

Read on to see what we have in store after our luxury breakfast...

And now we're all here, the concierge has a special invitation for us all. Shall we see what it is?

How do you think will we complete the look before our big date?

We're loading up the baskets on our Brown's Hotel bikes, kindly lent to us so we can make the picnic on time. But don't stop me now... In go the flowers and champagne, and we're off! A short cycle ride later and we are on time to deliver the goods. What a journey it is to pass through these beautiful West End streets that once formed part of the medieval Manor of Eia and hosted the annual St James's Fayer by Westminster held in May from 1686 to 1764 (Mayfair). Our lovely family are setting up the picnic and raising a glass, the sun is out, and smiles are a plenty. So, here's to good times with fantastic friends, great memories, and The Travelling Hands! And now you deserve some well-earned five-star rest so let's head back to Browns, shall we?

Don't forget, you can keep up to date with our video collaborations and see us performing on our social media ( Instagram / Facebook / TikTok ) or see if we are available for your special event .

With special thanks to Rocco Forte Hotels and all at Brown's Hotel . Videography by TwobyTwo and photography by Benjamin Gale .

This article and our Brown's video is dedicated to Stuart Johnson - the wonderful charming General Manager of Brown's Hotel who sadly passed away in January 2022.

Written by The Travelling Hands wordsmith, John Collins.

Why You Should Hire a Roaming Band for Your Next Celebration

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 15:23:07 GMT

When it comes to planning a celebration, whether it's a wedding, birthday party, or corporate event, entertainment can make or break the experience. Why not consider something more unique and exciting? Here are some reasons why you might consider booking The Travelling Hands roaming band for your next celebration.

Roaming Bands Explained

At the very beginning, we need to explore what a roaming band is. If you're unsure, click through to our ' Roaming Bands Explained ' piece as a first step. Now let's look at some of the key benefits of bringing roaming entertainment to your celebrations.

A roaming band brings interactive, immersive and engaging entertainment to help make your celebration unforgettable. We can perform up close and personal with your guests, interacting and engaging them in a way that a DJ or a stationary band simply can't, and performing in moments easily forgotten within your celebrations such as during dinners and drinks receptions.

Interactive and Engaging Entertainment

The Travelling Hands roaming entertainment is designed to help your guests fully relax into your celebrations so your party can start quickly. Through interactive performances through drinks and dinners, guests can unwind much faster into your party to celebrate with you in style much earlier during your special events.

Ignite Your Celebrations Faster

We have a wide repertoire of music that can cater to appeal to all ages and tastes. Our carefully crafted setlists are designed to energise and excite your guests as they celebrate with you. Taking classic songs, and giving them The Travelling Hands acoustic twist can bring something special for your guests to enjoy. Take a peek at one of our most requested songs above - our version of The Beatles' masterpiece Hey Jude captured recently at a wedding celebration in The Ned, London .

Versatile and Adaptable

The Travelling Hands roaming band can adapt to different environments and spaces, making our performances a great option for a variety of celebrations. Whether you're hosting an indoor or outdoor event, at a small or large venue, we can create a fun and energetic atmosphere to suit your celebration. From intimate dinners for 6 to 250 guests for a marquee wedding reception and even several thousand for a corporate party, our roaming entertainment will be designed to perfectly suit your event!

Wide Repertoire of Music

Memorable Experience

As an award-winning roaming band, we know how to provide a unique, memorable and lasting experience that will be talked about long after our final song has come to an end. Our performances are designed to take your guests by surprise, so whether our of our team ends up sitting with a table as they sing, or standing on a chair for a saxophone solo, your guests will have the opportunity to dance, sing along, and become a part of an unforgettable performance themselves.

“We were absolutely delighted with The Travelling Hands. The boys blew us all away and were fantastic from start to finish”

James Caan CBE, Serial Entrepreneur and Former Dragon (BBC’s Dragon’s Den)

Professional and Experienced Musicians

The Travelling Hands is made up of professional and experienced musicians with decades of experience, who know how to read a crowd and keep your party going. You can trust that our team will provide high-quality entertainment and leave a lasting impression on your guests.

Professional and Experienced Musicians

Hiring award-winning roaming band The Travelling Hands for your celebration is a great way to create a fun and memorable experience for you and your guests. With engaging performances and adaptability to different environments, we can provide a unique and unforgettable entertainment option creating memories that will last a lifetime!

Ready to tell us about your event? To begin your journey with us, book your call with our founder Tom by clicking on the link below!

What Time Should You Book the Travelling Hands to Perform During Your Wedding Day?

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 15:01:01 GMT

With so many choices available on your wedding day, we're here to make your entertainment plans simpler. Luckily, with over a decade of experience as an award-winning roaming band The Travelling Hands , we've performed for hundreds of couples during their wedding celebrations and we happen to know a thing or two about planning music for weddings too! From the city wedding to the countryside estates & even destination weddings, there are some key timings to weddings that we need to explore to make your celebration incredible.

Let's have a look at how to plan the music for your wedding day to ensure that you and your guests have an incredible experience.

The Party Set - The Wedding Breakfast

THIS is where the magic happens. The wedding breakfast performance is what The Travelling Hands are best known for and the time we encourage our wedding couples to book our sets within their weddings too. So what makes this time so special?

By the time of the wedding breakfast (often sometime between the hours of 3-8pm), guests are fully relaxed. They have had their catch ups, they have often enjoyed a drink or two in the afternoon and the formalities of the ceremony have concluded. This is the time for each of your guests to enjoy the incredible menu that you've selected for them amongst your favourite people in the world.

THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE is a very special part of our performances that we bring to wedding breakfast performances. If this is the first time we are performing in your celebrations, imagine the surprise on your guests faces when 5 or 6 chaps come strolling in, wearing sharp matching suits, holding acoustic instruments, and performing singalong songs carefully designed for all ages. It's an incredibly fun moment for wedding guests, for you, and to be honest for us too. This is a really special moment where your guests know they are in for a treat and all thanks to you!

UNITE YOUR GUESTS - Our performance will consist of a carefully constructed setlist of songs for all ages. Our performance style is fairly unique. A band wandering around dinner tables is not a normal thing after all, and this brings with it a need for a certain style of song to be performed. The songs known by all ages are the real gems that we bring into our sets. Whilst we also play numbers from certain decades for certain tables of guests, the goal is to ignite the celebrations and ensure that all of your guests throughout the wedding breakfast are energised, excited and ultimately united to celebrate with you before their feet have even touched the dance-floor.

TRANSFORM YOUR DINNER - If you're looking for a gentle and peaceful meal perhaps with a soft playlist, then with honesty in mind, we are the wrong band for you. We know that the end of a wedding dinner can typically feel a little sleepy, and so our sets are designed to make your dinner the counter opposite of this and to make your guests feel fired up and ready to party with you into the evening.

PARTY INTO THE NIGHT - When we ignite a wedding breakfast, and when guests are singing and dancing with us (often on their chairs) during dinner, there are more benefits after we finish. Guests are not falling asleep into their dessert, but they are excited and ready to celebrate with you long into the night. Think of us as your personal hype team to help guests feel re-fuelled and ready to celebrate at this point of your celebrations.

The Afternoon Drinks - The Cocktail Hour

We know we know - why have we placed this section second in our blog piece when it comes before the wedding breakfast? Well quite simply we wanted you to focus on the wedding breakfast as the top choice for The Travelling Hands performances. We can't recommend it enough as the best time to let us do what we do. However - if you've read this far, then perhaps you are considering one or more set to be placed within afternoon drinks. This is the next most popular time for our performances, and these hours often bring a cocktail hour or champagne reception as guests settle into your day after the ceremony.

THE FOCUS - Let's jump into the minds of your guests here. At this point of the day, many guests have yet to say hello to one another. They are catching up, looking their best and slowly easing into your big day. Whilst we often discover a few guests ready to have a little sing with us this early in your wedding day, the focus here is primarily on conversation.

THE ROLE OF MUSIC here is to help your guests relax into your wedding celebrations. A gentle acoustic soundtrack for your guests to enjoy can add a great touch to this time of the day. In The Travelling Hands, we can add a great ambience to these casual moments, having the freedom to move around your guests as they mingle. Here we would opt for more relaxed tunes and some subtle fan favourites from our repertoire before we hit the party anthems later in the wedding breakfast.

Can you combine the afternoon set and the wedding breakfast set? Absolutely. For this choice we would recommend placing a shorter set in the afternoon whilst guests are catching up and then adding one or two sets within the wedding breakfast for the peak performance time.

The Blend = Cocktail Hour + Wedding Breakfast

Now it's over to you! We know that each wedding is unique and it's incredibly important that you can put your trust in your wedding suppliers. When we become a part of your wedding team, we want you to feel comfortable, and that's why we offer and suggest a relaxed video call as the first step. If we can't provide what you're looking for then we won't pretend that we can. If you like the look of The Travelling Hands and think that we could be the right fit for your celebrations, then book a call with us to say hello, put the kettle on and let's explore everything together. To book your call simply click on the link below!

Amplified Roaming Performances

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:10:55 GMT

At many of The Travelling Hands events, you will find our team performing their roaming sets with amplification. So how does this work? What does it do? Is it right for your celebration? Our founder Tom explores this popular option and reveals all below...

What Does an Amplified Roaming Performance Sound Like?

When a roaming band performs acoustically and without amplification, the natural sound of unplugged vocals and acoustic instruments can only travel so far. Whilst this still works very well at smaller parties, and whilst whole rooms are still known to burst into song with this option, sometimes it’s great to give a boost to the sound and this is where amplification comes in. Amplification could be a good choice for your event if you have large guest numbers, a big space, guests in different areas or if you just want to lift the guest experience and bring a further boost to your celebrations.

How Does an Amplified Roaming Performance Work?

The Travelling Hands have an online ‘tech-spec’ ready and available at any time. We can send this to your chosen production company handling the 'AV' for your event (your audio-visual team - think of this as your sound, lights and technical team).

On the performance date, we will arrive a little earlier than usual to carry out a sound check with your AV team at the performance area. The AV team will have already strategically placed speaker systems around the performance space (whether indoors or outdoors) to ensure that guests in every part of the room or space can hear the performance clearly at the perfect volume. Just in the same way that a playlist can be adjusted to different volumes at different times of day, the professional sound team will find the perfect level for your event suited to what you’re looking for at the time(s) of day that we perform. From a gentle playlist level during afternoon drinks where guests can enjoy their catch-ups, to a party set at higher volume during dinner designed for feel-good singalong anthems as you dine, there’s now much more control to create the perfect atmosphere.

How Do You Connect Acoustic Instruments to A Sound System?

During sound check, our musicians will be handed two special radio packs each. One will be a pack connected to a headset microphone (think of this as a small foam mic that you can see on our team’s cheeks - you may have seen a sports commentator wearing something similar on TV). The other will be a radio pack connected to each of the instruments to ensure that the acoustic guitars, double bass, saxophone and percussion are all hooked up to the sound system too.

Have a look at the photo below to see the radio microphones fitted:

After running through a song or two to ensure that the levels are perfectly matched, we’ll be ready to go when the performance time comes - that’s it! The band then have a wireless roaming setup ready to go. As they perform, the sound of their instruments and vocals are wirelessly sent to radio antenna in the room - this goes straight into a mixing desk (where the perfect balance of instruments and vocals was found earlier during sound check), and finally this is sent to, heard through and enjoyed by your guests via the speakers in your venue, playing the music at the perfect level for your celebration.

This means that The Travelling Hands will still be able to roam through your venue, and still offer personal performances to small groups of guests at a time - perhaps sitting in an empty seat and serenading guests at a table, or perhaps featuring our saxophonists standing on a chair for a solo. However - there’s one big difference. As the musicians perform and sing for your party, ALL of your guests will be able to hear the performance at once no matter where they are in the room or space. Your guests can all be united together with the perfect song selection and an unforgettable experience enjoyed together.

What Does Amplification Do?

First of all - it brings controlled volume to the performance whilst making the music clearer for guests. When fully unplugged, the band naturally have to perform loudly in order for as many guests to hear the music as possible. They also need to physically turn to different guests in order to be heard in often noisy spaces as guests are enjoying themselves. However, with amplification, they can sing at a much more controlled volume knowing that all guests can hear the band and this allows the music to become much richer as a result. Let’s not forget the moments in between songs too. If the band want to congratulate a wedding couple, for example, they are not going to be heard if they are performing unplugged just by speaking loudly. With amplification, however, they can simply talk as they stroll and their microphone will enable everyone to hear those special words at once.

The Travelling Hands goal at parties, weddings and events is simple. We are there to ignite your celebrations before your guests’ feet have even touched the dancefloor. So what does amplification do to help with this goal? It brings more energy and excitement from song number one to help your celebrations begin ever faster.

If you’d like to talk about your event - simply click here to book a call straight into Tom’s diary. Let’s plan some magic together!

If you liked this blog post check out What Is a Roaming Band?

The Travelling Hands Take a Vow for Girls

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:04:11 GMT

Marriage is often something we take for granted. A beautiful celebration to mark the official joining of two people in matrimony. Be it religious or non-religious, a marriage is full of joy, happiness, and emotion that we remember for the rest of our lives, isn't it? As we look fondly over the photographs of friends and family and reminisce about the smiles and laughter.

We were shocked and devastated when we learned that's not always the case. Did you know that every 3 seconds a child becomes a bride?

That's 12 million girls a year. During our time in St Moritz earlier this year, we heard from the fantastic Clay Dunn & his mission at VOW for Girls , a charity set up to support children who are being forced into marriages, and put a stop to it. Their mission statement speaks for itself:

"To end child marriage by building a connected groundswell of love and support for every girl whose right to own her future is at risk." - VOW for Girls

And we certainly agree! We couldn't not get involved with their efforts! But what is child marriage?

What Is Child Marriage?

Vow for Girls state that a " Child marriage includes any marriage or informal union where one person is under the age of 18. Most of these unions impact girls and are not rooted in love or choice."

UNICEF also say that 720 million women alive today were married before they reached 18 years old. And with the effects of the recent pandemic, they expect a further 100 million more in the next decade. It is a practice that reaches beyond the boundaries of countries, religions, and cultures and there isn't one catch-all solution. It happens because of many issues within communities such as gender inequality, devaluing girls' lives compared to the lives of boys, or social norms and practices that filter down from generation to generation.

It affects education, with many girls being forced to drop out of schools after marriage. Child marriage also affects their ability to make money, limiting their job opportunities and ability to rise from poverty. Their personal safety is certainly in danger, being exposed to a high risk of assault, and physical and psychological violence. And children often don't enjoy the legal benefits that adults have, meaning they have fewer legal rights, such as the right to a divorce, trapping them in the situation for many years. But what can be done?

So how Do Vow for Girls Support Their Vision?

Well, Vow for girls are doing this by working with lots of locally-led solutions. People who know the real situation on the ground and have the agency to affect real change. This includes working to keep girls in school because education is vital to support children in their life journey, job training is given so their opportunity for employment increases and independence is cultivated, healthcare services are provided to support girls and ensure their health needs are met, and advocacy for girls' rights helps improve the political and social landscape so a better future can be forged and outdated, unsafe practices can be changed. So, how can we help with this?

What Are We Doing to Help?

We knew The Travelling Hands needed to join the movement to end child marriage and support VOW for Girls. The Travelling Hands support the VOW for Girls vision of a world in which no child is ever a bride. So now, we will make a donation from our wedding bookings to VOW for Girls to support their cause and to help girls make their own choices and love on their own terms.

If you want to know more, we encourage you to head to the Vow for Girls website where you can also donate privately too.

Written by The Travelling Hands wordsmith, John Collins & Tom Warner.

Marc Darcy Suits & the Travelling Hands: A Celebration of Modern British Style

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 13:49:12 GMT

The Ted Suit

The Travelling Hands are entering their 7th year of sponsorship with Marc Darcy suits, the epitome of traditional menswear and vintage style with a modern twist. Established in 1989, Marc Darcy has built its formidable reputation on delivering the highest quality tailoring for the modern British gentleman, with a keen eye on the trims and linings that make these suits undeniably essential for the discerning client. With such fine attention to detail and quintessentially British styling, it is no wonder why The Travelling Hands and Marc Darcy form a synonymous outfit, united in late 2016 by a shared desire for excellence. We'll be taking a closer look at the styles The Travelling Hands use for your performances and how Marc Darcy perfectly complements that British flair, making your events go off in even more style. Let's take a look at our first set of threads.

The Ted Suit is a favourite of The Travelling Hands. Its classic-look British tweed and herringbone perfectly underpin our roaming performances in a wide range of settings. We've delighted in wearing it for private soirées, luxury weddings, corporate events for leading brands including Cartier, Hublot, and Formula 1, and even an event for the President of Malta. Our clients all over the world love the style it brings to their events, giving an unrivalled British feel to any occasion. Here we are sporting it in the Pie Room at Rosewood London, home to the genius of Chef Callum Franklin , author of The Pie Room Cookbook and executive chef at the Holborn Dining Room. Do you want to see this suit in action? Head over to our Rosewood London Videos blog !

The next number is an eponym of the finest school in the UK, fit for royalty and the countries rising stars. It's the Eton!

The Eton Suit

This super sharp suit in navy blue tweed adds a real touch of class to our events. When coupled with the classic Marc Darcy wine paisley tie set and brown dress shoes, it is truly unstoppable. Guests and clients loved this ensemble at the Bateaux London where we sailed up the Thames entertaining 12 luxury hoteliers at GLAM (Global Luxury Aligned For MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)). We danced the night away at The Dorchester , brought Christmas home to The Connaught , and toured the opulent streets of Mayfair for our new video at Rocco Forte's Brown's Hotel . But that's not all, we've taken this suit to dizzy new heights - 5,900 ft, in fact! - for the Bridelux Symposium in St Moritz!

Here we are enjoying the hospitality at the Brown's Hotel between performing in our new video. We bring the music and Marc Darcy brings the style!

The Hilton Suit

Our go-to summer look . This fine suit fits fantastically and brings the style in light blue, especially coupled with the Marc Darcy wine velvet bowtie . It delivers the classic look but oozes summer sun from its fibres. We've worn this for the epitome of corporate events at Facebook, the National History Museum , Sony headquarters, and sang along with Fred Sirieix at the First Dates restaurant. It also gave us the perfect look for entertaining the President of Cyprus!

We're enjoying some good old British cheer at Mr Fogg's Gin Parlour in Covent Garden before a few select tipples on a beautiful summer evening in Town.

And now for something completely different...

The Simon Suit

The Simon is the suit of choice for high-class evening soirées. It fits perfectly with black tie events in the most exquisite venues. We love this because it stands apart and it looks and feels fantastic. You would think it had been hand cut on Savile Row. The suit is accompanied with a Marc Darcy black paisley bow tie set to set off that stylish trim! Doesn't it look fantastic here in the famed Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London during our latest video shoot?

We've delighted guests at countless black tie evenings with this look, and we're excited to be showing it off again at many events this year too. More to follow on that soon!

In the meantime, we have some exciting news...

The New Styles!

The Jerry Suit

This is traditional blue with a twist! The colour alone is crisp and oozes sophistication, and the subtle addition of the check running through it and that sensational pink lining really make it pop. Our guests are loving this new look in our latest summer events. Coupled with matching Jerry ties , these are really at the forefront of style for the modern gentleman. Whether on the beach in the British Virgin Islands or in an exclusive London venue, these really bring a touch of class to any occasion! And last but not least, we have...

The Bromley Suit

This is the perfect summer suit , light and airy and fits perfectly for those luxury international performances. With its stone Prince of Wales-style check embellishment, the neutral theme really comes to life! Here we are entertaining in our new threads in the British Virgin Islands after a hard day relaxing with G&Ts. We are wearing this with the sky blue paisley tie set which perfectly complements both the light and airy feel and our uplifting performances!

The Perfect Style For You

So, you've had a good look at our current suit styles. The Ted with its classic British style and unrivalled versatility, the Eton for that super sharp 5-star look that elevates any luxury event to the next level, the Hilton with its vibrant blue summer tweed and modern twist to that classic feel, and the Simon for those soirées where nothing but the absolute best will do for your guests. And the welcome additions of the Jerry and the Bromley to our wardrobe, we will always have the perfect look for your special occasion.

But, which one of these dapper outfits is your favourite?

With special thanks to Marc Darcy menswear. Photography by James Rouse , Matt Bourne , Ben Gale , and Mathew Joseph .

Written by The Travelling Hands wordsmith, John Collins.

Christmas in The Caribbean with The Travelling Hands & Rosewood Little Dix Bay

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 13:16:09 GMT

Who needs snow at Christmas, when you can have sand?

During our time at the stunning Rosewood Little Dix Bay earlier this year we donned our finest Santa hats (but stuck with our tweed suits, sort of...) and performed two Christmas classics for you on the sandy shores of the Caribbean. So if you'd like to see how The Travelling Hands do Christmas songs, this is the post for you!

We'll start our journey with the song that kicks off the Christmas season every year and one we could never get bored of hearing! It's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' by Mariah Carey. We dipped our toes in the beautiful waters of the British Virgin Islands, staggering our band members from the shore to the sea. Some musicians stayed drier than others during this shoot!

Fun fact: Did you know Mariah Carey co-wrote "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in just 15 minutes? ��

We're back on dry land for this one, as Santa Claus is making his way to Little Dix Bay! Wearing our navy Marc Darcy 'Jerry' suits - one of our newest suit selections which we debuted in our latest Rosewood showcase video earlier this year.

Fun fact: The earliest known recorded version of 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' is 1934 ��

We hope you enjoyed our festive fun in the Caribbean with Rosewood Little Dix Bay.

Merry Christmas from The Travelling Hands!

If you liked this blog post c heck out Rosewood London Videos: A Musical Extravaganza .

Rosewood London Videos: A Musical Extravaganza

maxwebdesign@trilogysite.co (Camel Team) — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 12:20:53 GMT

We recently partnered with the incredible Rosewood London - an iconic luxurious hotel in Holborn - creating some musical magic together. Allow us to showcase this magnificent establishment with our acoustic twist! Have you ever wanted to look behind the doors of one of London's most exquisite hotels? And to see what delights await you in your five-star stay? Well...why not come along with us on a musical extravaganza and experience the beautiful styling for yourself as we explore what's behind the elegant gates of 252 High Holborn. Welcome to a celebration of opulence in one of London's finest five-star hotels set in a remarkable Edwardian grade-2 listed building with (much like The Travelling Hands) a contemporary twist at the hands of some truly remarkable talent. Join our roaming band, The Travelling Hands, as we stroll through this incredible property - we also have a very special guest from Rosewood London to introduce to you.

I'm Tom Warner, founder of The Travelling Hands and I'm excited to show you what we've been up to with our friends at Rosewood London... Shall we begin?

Welcome to Rosewood London: Through the Gates

Under the archway, the courtyard welcomes you in true style. It's the perfect setting for The Travelling Hands to introduce you to the lavish world of Rosewood London. Its ornate Edwardian stonework surrounds you in a rich tapestry of history and timeless exuberance. How many famous footsteps have fallen on these cobblestones, and which will come next, you wonder? We expect the answer lies in its thousands. Foot tapping and hips moving, we will warm your senses to the excitement that lies beyond those iconic entrance doors and into the Bronze Gallery to commence your stay of a lifetime. Can you guess what song we are playing for you first?

That's right! It's Beyonce's Crazy in Love. And here's what happened next...

The Scarfes Bar: We're Open for Business!

Raise your glass! We have reservations at Scarfes Bar . Shall we toast to celebrate the reopening of this truly unique venue? Never far from the top of the World's Best Bar list with its exclusive cocktails and impeccable conviviality, it certainly offers its patrons an evening to remember. And it gets better, Scarfes Bar is considered a personal gallery by famed British artist, Gerald Scarfe , from whom it proudly gets its name. Scarfe is the mastermind behind the artwork for Pink Floyd's seminal album: The Wall, among many other impressive artistic achievements. What drink would you share with him if you happened upon a seat at the bar? We think ours would be one of the specially bottled house cocktails that we could enjoy whilst taking in a little live music. Trust us, there's nothing better than turning your drinks and dinner into a party. Whichever way it's enjoyed, Scarfes Bar is back!

Grand Pavonazzo: Let's Take the Stairs

We hope you enjoyed that tipple! So, what's next on our luxury tour? After you've wined and dined the night away in true Scarfes Bar style, it's time to head upstairs to freshen up for your big weekend. Expertly curated by designer Tony Chi , all the notes of the Rosewood London ensemble join in harmony on the Grand Pavonazzo marble staircase under the gaze of the lofty cupola. The quiet clinking of Scarfes Bar flutes and rich harmonies of The Travelling Hands mix effortlessly with the soothing stone and the lure of the signature suites calling to you for a good night's sleep. Luckily, we have the perfect song to play you into the next chapter of your evening, and tomorrow at Rosewood will be an exciting one, at last... we'll meet the special guest we've been waiting for!

The Bronze Gallery and Beyond: Time to Meet Our Guest

But we're not stopping there, it's a new day and Rosewood is ready to receive you, and our honoured guest awaits us eagerly. Let's take a stroll through the Bronze Gallery that forms the threshold of luxury, to the top of the Grand Pavonazzo staircase to meet him now. He's the one man who can deliver the luxury you deserve, but do you know who it is yet? Then it's on to discover the famous Pie Room, where chef Calum Franklin is designing something exquisite for the menu, before checking out the signature suites with the main man himself. "It's time", he says, to head to the Courtyard for the grand finale where we meet the wonderful, dedicated people who make your time at Rosewood London absolutely unforgettable. Of course, The Travelling Hands are there to celebrate with the finest of London hotels. So which song did The Travelling Hands choose to celebrate the reopening of this incredible hotel?

Ok, so you know the song for sure, it's the classic Never Forget by Take That, effortlessly brought to life by our acoustic experts, and who was our special guest?

Absolutely right again! It's none other than Michael Bonsor, Managing Director of Rosewood London. Michael has personally overseen the success the Rosewood London since 2013, bringing it into the limelight as one of London's finest hotels. From the Holborn Dining Room to the Mirror Room and Scarfes Bar, this 306-bedroom establishment is perfectly poised to deliver excellence.

Under recommendation from over twenty five-star hotels in London alone, The Travelling Hands are delighted to make some musical magic with our friends at Rosewood London. We hope to see you all there very soon! One last thing, as an added gift, we've included the full-length video for you. Take a look below!

Rosewood London: The Director's Cut

So, we hope you're delighted with your musical exploration of Rosewood London with our special guest and enjoyed the music we hand crafted for you. Through the Bronze Gallery, up the Grand Pavonazzo marble staircase, through the signature suites, and stopping for a bite of luxury in the Pie Room and a tipple in the Scarfes Bar before joining your new friends at Rosewood London in the Courtyard for the grand finale, we hope we have made this an experience you will Never Forget! Without further ado, here is the Director's Cut:

So, if you want to elevate your event into a bespoke musical extravaganza then we would be delighted to accommodate your request. Just get in touch to discuss your plans with our founder, Tom.

With special thanks to Michael Bonsor and our friends at Rosewood London , and TwobyTwo videography.

Roaming Band Questions & Answers – 18 Faqs to Make Your Party Amazing

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 16:08:58 GMT

Roaming Band Questions

Let's get to work and answer your roaming band questions. With 11 plus years in the business, we know some key questions arise from time to time and we're here to help.

What Is a Roaming Band?

A roaming band is a group of musicians who are able to travel with their instruments as they perform. This could mean they perform as they stroll through a dinner service or a drinks reception for example. Unlike a traditional band performance on a stage; a roaming band uses the venue space that they perform within and moves throughout different areas enabling them to perform to different groups of guests at a time with interactive entertainment. Think of a personal band performance for all of your guests without the restriction of cables. A roaming band or wandering band is designed to move, entertain and help your guests relax and get fired up for your party. It’s music in motion!

What’s the Difference Between a Roaming Band, a Strolling Band, a Wandering Band or A Roving Band?

There is no difference at all. These are just different terms across the world of events and musical entertainment that all describe roaming bands - they mean exactly the same thing.

How Many Musicians Are in A Roaming Band?

Whilst many roaming bands perform with 3 or 4 musicians, The Travelling Hands perform as a 5 or 6 piece group to bring a bigger, richer and more rounded sound with 2 or 3 acoustic guitars, double bass, percussion and saxophone. We even have extra options to increase numbers too for even bigger performances! Click through to our roaming band extras page and you can find out more about the additional musicians you can book with The Travelling Hands, plus a range of extras we offer to clients to customise their bookings with us too.

How Much Does a Roaming Band Cost?

Costs can vary significantly between different roaming bands. Whilst you can find bands from as low as a few hundred pounds, be wary of thinking this is a bargain. Just like shopping for anything - if you see low costs - there are always good reasons why. Confidence is important in any purchase in life, and booking a roaming band is no exception. Well we have some good news. Rather than being a a new group or a band that offers roaming entertainment as an afterthought, The Travelling Hands were founded in 2011 and we’ve got to where we are now from over 10 years of events performing for some of the biggest brands on the planet as well as working with distinguished wedding and party planners renowned worldwide.

It’s been quite a ride, we’ve grown as a team, honed our craft, and we’ve moved through the ranks of live bands over 10 years with the aim of being the best in the business. Our starting prices and roaming costs can be found on our various events pages in the menu bar of the website that you’re reading this on right now. There are very good reasons why we perform for so many big brands and entertain in some incredible places such as Kensington Palace (and the HRP venues ) or The Mulia in Bali ( see here ). Simply click through to our events pages such as our roaming wedding band page , browse our packages and find out a little more about our events.

What Sort of Events Do Roaming Bands Perform At?

Roaming bands can perform at a wide array of events. From corporate events, to weddings and private parties. The two stand out most popular times are dinners and drinks parties. Locations can be anywhere and performances can be at anytime. The Travelling Hands have performed at 8am in Facebook’s offices in London and 1am in Lake Garda to celebrate a wonderful Scottish couple’s wedding. Options are unlimited and we can’t wait to hear about your event. Simply book a call with our founder Tom to tell us everything about your plans.

Can a Roaming Band Perform Outside?

Yes, yes and yes! Roaming bands are perfect for outdoor drinks and parties. The Travelling Hands have performed at wedding receptions outdoors, drinks parties in the V&A gardens, and even on yachts, river boats, castles and balconies. Roaming bands can perform anywhere and at any time. The only limit is your imagination.

Would a Roaming Band Work Well at My Wedding?

Roaming bands at weddings are a brilliant idea. The best time of day we recommend for performances at weddings is the wedding breakfast itself. Let’s just think about this for a second. Your friends and family are all seated together in one room for a few hours! We can help you make the most of this moment, and ignite your celebration through dinner. Other times are great too such as afternoon drinks, the break before your evening party or even brunch the day after your wedding too! When The Travelling Hands perform at weddings our goal is to help your guests unwind, relax and party at whatever time of day we perform.

Can a Roaming Band Take Requests?

We can’t answer for other roaming bands, but all roaming bands SHOULD take requests. We certainly do in The Travelling Hands. Our performances are designed to get your guests singing and dancing with epic songs featuring well known lyrics that you and your guests will love to sing along with too. That means if we can use our musicianship to play some of the song you’ve requested whilst we move around (even if we’ve never played it before) then we will always do what we can.

What Style of Music Does a Roaming Band Perform?

The Travelling Hands roaming band perform a great blend of songs from different genres and different decades. A musical journey from rock n roll 50’s classics, that can change to Tina Turner the next minute, followed by the Backstreet Boys, then perhaps a feel-good song from The Beatles. Simply put - we perform the world’s greatest hits at the world’s best parties. No decades are off limits.

How Long Does a Roaming Band Perform For?

Most roaming bands perform for 2x45 minute sets or occasionally 3x30 minute sets. This gives great statement entertainment ideal for a range of parties and events. 2x45 minutes is the set length The Travelling Hands offer as standard to our clients., but 3 x 40 minute sets is also possible to extend your party package for longer.

How Far Do Roaming Bands Travel for Events?

The only limit is your imagination. The Travelling Hands have performed their roaming sets at parties all over Europe and destinations including Bali and The Caribbean too.

How Long Does It Take a Roaming Band to Setup?

Most roaming bands can be ready to perform incredibly quickly. An outfit change, a quick tune up of instruments, and a few vocal warm-up exercises and they will be all set! Typically The Travelling Hands roaming band will be fully set within 30 minutes after they arrive, but as standard for UK events they will arrive at least 1 hour before they are due to begin. There’s no difficult load in, no huge sound systems to unpack and setup, just the musicians, their musical instruments and their classic British suits from Marc Darcy .

What Time of Day Is Best for A Roaming Band to Perform?

If you head through to our wedding, parties or corporate pages you will find options to download guides for each of these types of events and where best to place The Travelling Hands roaming entertainment. We’ve used our 10 years in the industry to carefully examine these events to help you plan music perfectly from start to finish, and we also examine the best places for The Travelling Hands roaming sets to feature too. For most events the role of a roaming band is to get your guests fired up and ready to party during dinners and drinks. We would suggest heading to our blog post hear to look at times in more detail - What Is a Roaming Band?

How Do Roaming Bands Entertain at Corporate Events?

Corporate events come in a range of shapes and sizes, and roaming bands can fit into them at a variety of times. Drinks receptions are the most popular performance times for roaming bands alongside dinners. However, The Travelling Hands have performed at many other times at corporate events each year. We’ve performed in front of several thousand guests in Portugal, we’ve performed on boats in Paris, Geneva and London, we’ve entertained in uniquely shaped venues too such as the top of the BT Tower as it revolves, we’ve even performed in 3 different restaurants in Malta within 45 minutes. Once again anything is possible to help create some musical magic during your event.

How Many Guests Can a Roaming Band Perform For?

The flexible nature of roaming bands means that they’re suitable for a range of events and a huge range of audience sizes too. Roaming bands can perform for private family dinners of only 6 guests offering intimate performances for the most exclusive evenings. On the other side they can roam through a corporate event for several thousand guests with amplification too.

Can Roaming Bands Perform with Amplification?

Yes. The Travelling Hands do this at many events each year. So how does this work? We can work with sound production teams to perform with wireless microphones and instrument packs. This means that we can still roam your event and play our sets close to different guests, but everyone can enjoy the music at the same time. The sound is relayed through the speakers throughout your event space lifting the experience for you and your guests. Another alternative of course is to have the band static in one place such as on a stage. Every now and then we have clients who would love the band to perform in a traditional format on stage. We've done this in The Victoria & Albert Museum and The Natural History Museum for example. When we do this, our percussionists Ollie switch their snare drums over to cajon to give a bit more bite to the rhythm section.

What Is a Sound Limiter, and How Does This Affect a Roaming Band?

A sound limiter is a device used to control volume levels in venues. Some venues don’t have these at all (and volume is not a problem you have to worry about). Where venues do have these, the most common form is to have a sensor permanently attached to a venue wall that measures sound levels. These can be set at different levels at different venues (eg some venues will allow a higher sound limit than others - measured in decibels).

When the volume goes above the set limit for a certain amount of time, the limiter will then cut power to certain power points in your venue. Yep - this means the power to a band can be completely cut which is bad for the party (and the gear too). So this means a band or DJ needs to test the sensitivity of a limiter during sound check to do their best to avoid triggering the sound limiter during their performance, whilst also not playing so quietly that it affects the party mood.

For roaming bands such as The Travelling Hands - this is not a problem. Their acoustic roaming sets either don’t involve power for unplugged sets, or will be managed by a professional AV company for amplified performances. The biggest tip we can give - before signing on the dotted line with your venue, ask them if they have a sound limiter installed and at what decibel level too. If you discover this after you’ve signed - don’t panic. Just find out the level and make sure your band or DJ is aware of this too.

How Do I Find the Right Band for Me?

The ultimate question. Here the most important thing to do is break down the decision into multiple parts:

Where will your roaming band be performing?
What time of day will they be performing?
What’s the occasion and the specific part of your day where you want them to perform?
What’s your goal of booking a roaming band for this moment? Is it singalong fun during your wedding breakfast, a gentle accompaniment or otherwise?
What style of music would you like to hear at this moment?

Break down your goals and this should help you find the right act for you. The Travelling Hands want to help you achieve your goals. We think it’s important for our clients to get to know us before they sign on the dotted line rather than just being ‘another client’. To do this, you can book a video call with our founder Tom to tell us about your party, wedding or celebration, your interest in roaming bands and your goals for your event too.

Wedding Breakfast Entertainment – Let’s Ignite Your Celebration

maxwebdesign@trilogysite.co (Camel Team) — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 14:24:51 GMT

The Dining Experience

When it comes to your wedding dinner, your favourite people in the world are all seated together for just a few hours. We don't get many opportunities in life like this, and we believe that the key here is to energise your guests, ease them out of their shells & to help them celebrate with you through these magical hours. The Travelling Hands roaming sets during this time are the performances that we are best known for. Here's how we do it...

Guest Psychology

There is a huge shift in guest psychology as the wedding breakfast arrives. At this time of day, the wedding ceremony has of course concluded, guests have had lots of time for their catch ups & they've likely enjoyed a glass (or more) of bubbly alongside a canapé or two! They are ready to welcome you into your wedding breakfast with a big cheer, enjoy your delicious menu and begin the celebrations.
Guests become much more relaxed at this time of day and we believe this provides the perfect opportunity to have some fun. The perfect musical entertainment here can enable your guests to fully relax, it can unite guests of different ages, and it can transform a sleepy meal into a celebration. Our job here is simple... we're here to ignite your celebration.

Immersive Entertainment

Our mobile nature allows to weave through different tables performing singalong numbers up close and personal to different groups of guests as they enjoy your wedding dinner. This is entertainment that can surprise and delight. Don't be surprised if you see a musician taking an empty seat as they sing to you, standing on a chair as a saxophone solo is performed, or even lay on the floor during a performance for some extra comedy value! This is entertainment where the rulebook has been well and truly thrown out the window.

The Songs!

Feel good musical entertainment at a wedding relies on a great setlist and great interaction. Here The Travelling Hands will perform songs from a range of decades and styles to ensure that guests of all ages are included throughout the setlist - with The Beatles to The Backstreet Boys you can expect the setlist to take some unexpected (but always fun) twists and turns. The world's greatest hits are performed through an interactive, engaging and immersive performance.
Our performances are organic, and so our song choice has to be too. Whilst we have a big list of arranged and rehearsed songs for your big day, the guests we come to through a wedding breakfast dictate the order of the songs that we play. So if we meet the grandparents or elderly relatives at one table, we'll know the right songs to play for them at that time; or if we meet a table of guests in their 30s, we'll know the right songs to play for them too! We often have requests from guests and we'll happily do everything we can to give guests a little soundbite of what they're after too for an extra special performance.

Timings & the Big Speeches

Letting your guests settle into the wedding breakfast is a great idea before there is a performance from The Travelling Hands. As they relax into their meal, it will create even more of a surprise for them at the time when we 5 or 6 chaps in British suits come marching into dinner to begin singalong numbers. Typically we'll perform 2 x 45 minute sets here or sometimes 3 x 30 minute sets to best suit your meal.
If you have speeches during your dinner, then we can also suggest putting one of our sets immediately after these have come to an end. After guests have been taken on the emotional highs and lows of the wedding speeches, they relax even further to celebrate your big day with you. This is a wonderful moment and if we were to offer one piece of advice here it's not to waste this moment! this is the perfect time to place a performance from The Travelling Hands. Guests have cheered, toasted and applauded your marriage. NOW is the perfect time to have some fun, and to capitalise upon this magical moment with feel good music for your entire wedding party!

The Summary

You deserve to party all day on your wedding day, so why wait until the evening? Don't let guests fall asleep during your wedding breakfast with a gentle playlist. This is the time for your celebration to really begin!

Find out more about The Travelling Hands' wedding performances online here .

What Is a Roaming Band?

max@maxwebdesign.co.uk (Max Saidi) — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 14:15:05 GMT

What is a roaming band? How does a roaming band perform at weddings and events? When are the best timings for a roaming band's performances?

Let's take a deep dive into roaming entertainment and find out exactly what a roaming band can do for you! But first...a quick note from The Travelling Hands founder Tom.

Hello and thanks for reading our blog...I founded The Travelling Hands in 2011 and I manage every performance that we attend. I work directly with our clients to make sure their weddings, parties and events are enriched with music, laughter and fun through our immersive performances.

I’ve helped hundreds of couples, individuals, event managers and party lovers worldwide to celebrate in style & we would love to help you celebrate in style too! Now.....back to the blog...

The Basics

Simply put – a roaming band is able to offer musical performances and simultaneously stroll (or roam) with acoustic instruments through almost any area of your venue, providing music that travels directly to you and your guests. This is singalong entertainment on the move. The Travelling Hands offer their roaming entertainment with acoustic guitars, double bass, saxophone, mobile percussion and multiple vocalists in their team to bring harmonies and extra volume as they perform energetic feel-good hits from a variety of decades to entertain guests of all ages. From The Beatles to The Backstreet Boys or Simply The Best to Sweet Caroline, this is singalong entertainment for everyone.

The Difference from A Stage Band

Without the restrictions of a stage, The Travelling Hands performances can be up close and personal with your guests no matter if they are relaxing in an afternoon champagne reception, enjoying a sumptuous wedding dinner, or even reminiscing on the night before during a post-wedding day lunch. The mobility of the band enables performances in these moments of a celebration that can often otherwise be overlooked as an opportunity for live performances.

Afternoon Drinks Receptions - The Gentle Set

Whether a champagne reception at a wedding or an afternoon corporate party, this is naturally a more gentle time of day. Often guests are catching up and saying hello for the first time. Throughout these moments, music becomes a great accompaniment to slowly ease guests out of their shells as they enjoy their conversations and relax into the day. Here, The Travelling Hands' roaming entertainment can slowly move through your guests bringing acoustic songs to different groups as they settle into your event.

Dinner Time - The Party Set

The most popular time for a roaming band performance is during dinner at special celebrations. Guests are generally much more relaxed during this special meal. At weddings for example, catch ups are complete by this time, the afternoon drinks have started to sink in, and your guests are in a celebratory mood. At this point, The Travelling Hands can ignite a celebration. By providing great singalong entertainment through dinner, guests young and old are united via feel good immersive performances with no boundaries.

From standing on chairs to even performing whilst lying on the floor, The Travelling Hands can really accentuate the relaxed atmosphere at this time of day to fully break the ice, and transform a gentle meal into an immersive and epic dining experience with singalong entertainment. The fast transition of song styles from 50s rock n roll into some 80s pop and then perhaps from Whitney Houston into Frank Sinatra adds to the unpredictable fun even further. This is energetic entertainment where the rulebook has been well and truly ripped up and thrown out of the window.

Think of The Travelling Hands here as the ‘hype team’ for your celebrations – taking guests by surprise and transforming a dinner into an epic sing-along party.

The Summary

From the gentle accompaniment of afternoon drinks to the exciting possibilities of performances during a wedding dinner – a great roaming band can play off your guests’ emotions at different times of the day, elevate the atmosphere to heighten their experience, and transform typically gentle moments like dinners into unforgettable parties!

For those who want to celebrate at their events from start to finish, for those with party-loving friends or colleagues who love a singalong, and for those who simply want MORE fun – the roaming entertainment of The Travelling Hands may be just what you’re looking for.

Could The Travelling Hands be a great fit for your celebration? Click the link below to book a call into Tom's diary – let’s have a chat, tell Tom more about your plans and see if The Travelling Hands can be the perfect match for you!