On the Eighth Day of NSN's Christmas

My true love gave to me; musicians that are locally based. Where possible, we match good quality musicians with the location. This fits with our green policy of reducing carbon usage with travel.
For the client it has the following benefits:
1. Costs are reduced because travel costs are kept to a minimum.
2. It is more likely the musicians will be familiar with the venue.
3. At a time where there is snow and people can't travel - this would be avoided because the musicians don't have to travel far.

on 19th December, we provided musicians for a wedding. Half of the guests didn't arrive due to the weather, but our singers were there - early!!

For more information go to http://www.nsn-productions.com

On the Seventh day of NSN's Christmas

My true love sent to me...

the reassurance that NSN will send the entertainers you have booked. We heard over Christmas of a venue unhappy that a flamenco guitarist was sent instead of a harpist by another entertainment company. Not only was the client unhappy, but they also paid a premium rate for a harpist. This does not happen with NSN!

For more information go to http://www.nsn-productions.com

On the Sixth Day of NSN's Christmas...

My truelove sent to me... the reassurance of confidentiality. We have a number of corporate clients who do not wish the world and his dog to know they are celebrating Christmas. We do not discuss our clients with other clients or use them as marketing tools.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23786715-secret-santa-parties.do

Our musicians and entertainers are professional, and have confidentiality agreements, so there is no chance of anyone revealing where they have performed.

For more information go to http://www.nsn-productions.com

On the Fifth Day of NSN's Christmas

Have a white wedding! Well we have our wonderful Gospel Singers, transforming a White Wedding tomorrow. They'll definitely be singing "Winter Wonderland".

More information from http://www.nsn-productions.com

On the Fourth Day of NSN's Christmas

My true love gave to me....

A beautiful String Quartet.

A string quartet is perfect for weddings; corporate hospitality where a high quality of background music is required, and for parties.

Go to http://www.nsn-productions.com/stringquartet.html for more information.

On the Third Day of NSN's Christmas

My true love gave to me.

A Jazz band. We offer a variety of different jazz options - from a jazz soloist to a trio; quartet or even more.

http://www.nsn-productions.com/id53.html

On the Second day of NSN's Christmas

My truelove sent to me: A violin and cello duo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tylyr7dojWY



Go to http://www.nsn-productions.com for more information

On the first day of NSN's Christmas, my truelove gave to me..

The Romantic Tenor, to serenade and transform your event. http://www.nsn-productions.com/the_romantic_tenor.html

For more information go to http://www.nsn-productions.com

The Best tips for organising a successful office party

With continued budget cuts, the traditional ‘jolly’: the Christmas party is more likely to have to be organised by you: the PA, secretary or Office manager Saints. Here are some top tips to ensure your Christmas party is enjoyed by all.

1. Visit the venue and taste the food. Don’t get fobbed off with a ‘Christmas package’ that has inferior food.
2. Preparation; you cannot do enough! Organise a check list of things to do; schedules with timings and briefings of your team.. Use expert help from your venue, caterers and entertainment for their advice where required.
3. Send out invitations in good time, with a clear date to reply by. You don’t want to waste money by over catering for absent people. Factor in chasing up responses before the last date to respond to. Ensure there is an option for ‘dietary requirements and access on any invitation.
4. Alcohol. Check what your budget is and offer accordingly; perhaps each guest could be served ½ bottle of wine: the bar is free for all guests for the night, or that all drinks have to be paid for. Let guests know beforehand to warn them.
5. Budget Christmas Parties. Even if the party budget has been drastically cut, it is still possible to have a good event. Cancelling it could affect morale. Ideas for a low budget party include keeping it in house and arranging caterers to do snacks; self organised entertainment such as ‘Secret Santas’ and singing seasonal songs or even limiting the event to a ‘drinks’ party with nibbles.
6. Entertainment: Some venues you choose will have entertainment: such as a disco included. You might wish to organise after dinner entertainment such as surprise singing waiters or a magician Ask the entertainment agency for advice on what will work in the venue with the budget you have.
7. Prepare yourself: it is going to be a long day, with you being on duty throughout the party. Eat before hand and make sure you drink plenty of water. Enjoy yourself: and also the messages of thanks and congratulations after the party!

Susan Heaton Wright from NSN Productions Limited, which supplies live entertainment for corporate and private events. http://www.nsn-productions.com 0844 576 3015

Hatfield House Wedding Fair - Showcase

After an excellent wedding fair at Hatfield House on 25th October, when we met a number of wonderful prospective brides and also some excellent suppliers, I am delighted to showcase a couple of short videos of a couple of our musicians.

The first two videos are of our String Trio. They also go out as a quartet.

We also had Peter, one of our most experienced musicians, playing the piano. Peter has played at many wedding ceremonies and receptions. He is classically trained but also performs improvised jazz of favourite and requested pieces.

We also have our fantastic Romantic Tenor, who will entertain guests during a drinks reception, as well as performing at the wedding ceremony. He has a wide variety of songs, including populars songs made well known by Russell Watson and Andrea Bocelli as well as well as Operatic pieces.
If you would like further details of any of our musicians, including quotes and repertoire lists, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0844 576 3015 http://www.nsn-productions.com

Downloading music illegally

Reading the article below brings mixed emotions:

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6894090.ece

We have all, at some time, recorded music that we haven't paid for. However, as a musician I know there has to be support for the musicians and composers that write and perform the music. If you go onto Youtube, there are plenty of videos with backing tracks of illegally used music.

The PRS has enforced licenses that venues have to pay for, to play recorded and live music. At least this results in a small amount of revenue for the musicians and composers.

But the internet is another beast entirely, and how can you regulate it. If it were any other business, people would be squealing. Imagine walking into a solicitors and taking 2 day's work of a contract being written; or an accountancy company and walking with your accounts and not paying. Yet the equivalent is someone performing music without paying the musicians and composers.
As the company director of a live music management company, I am fully aware of the impact of illegally downloading music - and also performing it. I had a row with a journalist who was writing about 'cheap' weddings. She suggested you download the songs you want onto an ipod and play those. Not only did it prevent a live musician being booked but there was no discussion about a PRS license being bought... This is just as illegal and immoral as the school boy who downloads and shares tracks.
I wait with hope that this will be resolved quickly.

Save our Office Parties!

Yesterday, the BBC featured a news item, stating that 1 in 5 businesses are cancelling their Christmas parties this year due to the down turn. I have heard of employees of large multi-nationals who have been told their party is cancelled: although they wryly say that senior management is still having THEIR jolly.
Here is the article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8326009.stm

What a blow; what a demotivator for employees that have worked extra hard during the downturn, to be told their annual party is cancelled. What does this do for morale? Given that there are tax benefits for entertaining staff, is a total ban on parties a necessity?

My friend at the multi-national was mortified that her party had been cancelled. Normally, she and 200 colleagues have a day's jolly costing £40K+. She admits this could easily be scaled down: even to using the in-house caterers and having a small party. It is the principle that she and her colleagues are so angry about. There is a difference between 'Tightening up your belts' and demotivating staff through cancelling everything.

There is an alternative, and employees: managers, and business owners need to embrace this. Evidently there are not the budgets to have lavish parties (more the pity), but there are ways of still having a party by downscaling the event. You won't lose the employees confidence.

I have no wish to talk other suppliers out of work in this economic time, but reassessing a menu, venue and theme could reduce costs significantly. If you were to go to senior management with your case for the party and come up with some cost saving ideas, you could give them ideas. For example: reducing the time at the venue; altering the menu; restricting the number of free drinks; looking round for more cost effective entertainment. These are all cost cutting opportunities. Also, if you were to explain that it is the party you want, and you understand that it will be less grand than last year - but "Please Sir, could we have a party?".

If there worst comes to the worst, organise your own departmental party: either in-house (drinks): everyone bringing a dish and drinks; down the local pub, or at someone's house. But let's NOT lose the office party!

We have plenty of ideas for Christmas party entertainment; many ideas do not cost huge amounts of money http://www.nsn-productions.com/xmas.html

I will also post an article I wrote about entertainment for Christmas parties.

Wedding Fair at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire on 25th October

We are delighted to be exhibiting at the Hatfield House Wedding Fair on Sunday 25th October from 11am - 4pm. From our perspective, we are showcasing some of our excellent musicians and giving ideas to brides as to how to incorporate live music - and transform the event. Among the musicians that will be performing are:

• A string quartet
• Cellist with backing tracks
• Pianist
• Classical Guitarist
• The Romantic Tenor
• Soprano Soloist
• Magician

We will also be playing music of our other musicians and will be available to discuss any ideas, requirements or suggestions with you.

We are always delighted to come up with practical solutions with live music, and work with a range of budgets, venues and ideas.

The wedding fair is in the Old Palace of Hatfield House. Hatfield House is in Hertfordshire; just a mile from the A1M. The location is of significant historical interest; the Old Palace was the hunting lodge of Henry VIII and his daughter Elisabeth was brought up there. She found out she was going to be Queen of England whilst at Hatfield.

Normally, at this time of year, the extensive grounds are closed to the public, but on this day it is possible to walk around the estate which is stunning at the moment due to the Autumn trees. The restaurant will also be open for snacks and lunch.

The Wedding Fair has a wide variety of suppliers exhibiting all sorts of services for brides: from florists to Mother of the Bride outfits. In addition to this, there is an "Escape Zone" for bridegrooms to chillout. There is a TV with coffee and papers in there!

Do come along: we're stand 33 in the Old Palace.

More details http://www.nsn-productions.com

Choose your wedding suppliers with care

In the news there have been two features I have laughed at: then realised the significance. These involve a photographer who shot ghastly, unflattering photos of the wedding, and decorated cakes with spelling mistakes on them. Both could ruin your event. I have put the links below.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1220009/Half-baked-Catastrophic-cake-decorating-disasters-revealed.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8292164.stm

I have mentioned before that attending networking events results in people recalling 'horror' stories of suppliers letting them down at events. These two stories illustrate the importance of booking suppliers that are reliable, trustworthy and deliver the goods.
Of course, our expertise is in entertainment and live music, but our recommendations apply to other suppliers.
We always recommend you meet the suppliers and have ideas of the quality of service they offer. In our case, we offer sound samples; photos and recommendations from other clients. We also encourage the musicians and clients to have a meeting to discuss the music, to ensure there are no misunderstandings.
We also recommend you have a signed contract to ensure there are no misunderstandings.
The advantage of using a company like NSN PRODUCTIONS is that we are trusted and reliable. If there is a snag with a musician being ill - we will solve the problem without you worrying about it.

For more details of our services please contact http://www.nsn-productions.com

Music for funerals

Last week we organised music for a funeral. We do supply musicians for church service funerals but this was in a cemetery, and incredibly, there was no organ or piano there, so our pianist brought her own for the service.
The client was wanting a soprano to sing a song for the service. Her mother had loved singing and taken some singing lessons when she was young, so it was fitting to have a singer. As our initial conversation went on, it became apparent that there would only be 10 people in the congregation and that it would be best for the singer to lead the singing. Sometimes no one sings due to being shy or too upset. Finally, she suggested I arrange a pianist too, so that she could accompany the singing and create a positive atmosphere for the service.
Christine was so pleased she did and I received this email message from her afterwards.

"I was very pleased with both Hillary and Nicola (pianist and soprano singer). They really made the service,...it would have been so drab without them. My mother would have been very pleased. Nicola's beautiful voice and Hilary's accompaniment made the service all the more moving. Thanks very much for responding at such short notice!"
Best wishes Christine Aziz. Pinner New Cemetery September, 2009

We are always happy to discuss any music with people organising funerals and memorial services. We will always be sympathetic and where appropriate offer advice. We will provide practical advice: as with Christine's occasion, where we were able to provide a piano. We have also updated our website to include a lot of useful information and tips for people organising this. This includes suggested readings, hymns (if in a church) solos, anthems and ideas of instrumentalists. This is found at http://www.nsn-productions.com/musicforfunerals.html .

We are also very careful to send the most suitable musicians for these occasions, to ensure the occasion goes well.

Do contact us if you would like any information.

Ogmore by Sea

Ogmore by Sea

If you ask people of a certain age “Have you been to Ogmore-by-sea” they will be misty eyed: reminiscing about a school camp; muddy but the first experience of staying without parents. For other people it is the stunning sunsets viewed from the car park. It was the latter that my grandparents first experienced from their Combi. By chance they found this wonderful corner of Wales.

They decided to buy a house in Ogmore by sea, to commute to from Cardiff at weekends. Part of the plan was for the grandchildren to stay in the holidays; and we certainly did: only the Christmas holidays we stayed away, but we looked forward to our Ogmore visits.

The house was on the edge of Ogmore; we would climb over the garden wall to sheep fields where we walked straight down to the beach. We were 300 metres from the beach and the freedom was infectious. The beach was comprised of rocks: rock pools: coves: stones and sand. We came to name certain areas “Panama Canal” “Smugglers’ Point” etc.

Opposite the beach was Tusker Rock and we fantasised about swimming over there and putting a Union Jack on the island! I’m glad we didn’t, given the currents. We would be able to judge the tide from the size of Tusker Rock from the balcony of the house.

The views were amazing; on clear days we could see across to Somerset and Devon – Hartland Point being the most westerly point. Closer we could see Porthcawl and in the distance the Mumbles. At night all the lights were amazing: with lighthouses flashing and all visible from the kitchen table. We were also able to enjoy the beautiful sunsets from the comfort of the kitchen – although we would often walk down to the downs or view from the balcony.

The weather wasn’t always sunny! Foggy weather brought the Foghorn from Nash Point; something we still laugh about and there were very windy days where I would sit on the rocks and enjoy the energy from the waves at a distance!

We would be able to walk all the way to Southerndown, along the downs and eventually along the road for a small distance. Southerndown beach was safer (and cleaner) to swim and it was a more conventional beach to play on. Beyond that, you could walk through the gardens of Dunraven House to what I would call Echo bay and Fossil bay, both which had extraordinary strata of rocks and plenty of fossils to discover. It was also possible to access this from near Nash Point where you would walk along a small valley, which in spring was covered with primroses.

One of the many adventures my cousins and I did was to cross the river at low tide, and play on the sand dunes. Of course the glamour of Porthcawl beckoned and we’d walk all the way to the town only to discover we were exhausted and someone had to drive round to pick us up! In later days, a £10 note was given to an older cousin for a taxi.

As time went on, Ogmore became more popular, and houses were built on the sheep fields. One such development completely overlooked Grandma’s house. To this day, I cannot understand how planning permission was given to the three story house, when the rules were for single stories only. It completely obscured the views we enjoyed and we no longer had any privacy. The Vale of Glamorgan planning department – or Mid Glamorgan as it was in the 1980s should be utterly ashamed for treating an elderly widow in this way, and I can only speculate that there was some underhand dealing to approve this ugly monstrosity. Given that the owners smashed all the glass in my Grandma’s greenhouse and that they built their house touching grandma’s garden wall, indicates that they weren’t going to win any best neighbour award. An elderly person is powerless against such aggressive behaviour.

However, I refuse to spoil my great memories of Ogmore. I spent many holidays there and when I was recovering from a serious illness, I spent a summer in Ogmore: breathing in the fresh air: walking on the downs and generally developing my strength. My husband and I would also spend Christmas there – enjoying the unique light on the beach.

Ogmore has changed from when my Grandma lived there. We sold the house in the late 1990s and have visited the village once since. Returning there brought back all the good and happy memories.
For more on visiting Wales go to http://www.visitwales.com

For more on live music go to http://www.nsn-productions.com

Charity Event for Grove House

Yesterday we organised live musical entertainment for Grove House, which is an organisation providing support and care for patients suffering from Cancer.
Our excellent opera singers were singing guests who surprised the 125 guests by suddenly singing! The event was a wonderful luncheon in a beautiful marquee with catering by top caterer Chris Berendt.
The singers were guests and had already mingled with the other guests for over an hour and were seated on different tables. This created a genuine surprise for guests, as they felt they 'knew' the people on their tables!
NSN support several local charities every year and are proud of their links with the work they do.

For more details of our Singing Guests please go to http://www.nsn-productions.com

How to contact Agents/music management companies

I am regularly bombarded by people wishing to go onto my books: or for me to represent them. I am delighted that there are so many people out there who are wanting to be involved in live entertainment, but sadly I can't respond to most of the requests. Here are some do's and don'ts for contacting us!

Dos:
1. Find out about our company first. We don't work outside UK at the moment; if you are based in Peru, it is unlikely we'll use you.
2. Check to see what the nature of our business is: we don't do tours, so we aren't interested in having information from artistes wanting us to promote them in UK
3. If you send an email, include links THAT WORK
4. Include good quality sound samples, biogs, photos as attachments or as links.
5. Tell us where you are from.

Don'ts:
1. Send CDs where artistes are singing out of tune. I'm an ex-opera singer and I refuse to represent people that can't sing.
2. Pretend we've had a conversation and then send information as a 'mate'. I do keep tabs on conversations.
3. Send a brief email with no other information other than your contact details. Why should I waste my time emailing you?
4. If we are interested, don't fob off our requests for sound samples/photos/biogs etc by saying 'go to our website'. We can't be bothered either: you send us the relevant information, or it's telling us that you aren't committed.
5. Say' We've never been asked for PLI or PAT testing before'. Tough; this is a requirement for working for NSN - and for many of our clients. Many venues and clients are wishing to pass risk on to musicians and other suppliers.

We are in the business of supplying live entertainment and working with excellent musicians and entertainers. Remember: we are a business, not a charity, and we want to work together!

Good luck

Your favourite song

We all have favourite songs that remind us of particular times in our lives: a special holiday; a special event; when we met particular people etc.
I read this in the Times yesterday.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6625330.ece

Music creates such a powerful emotion; it can make us happy, sad, energetic, lethargic. In addition to this, it can motivate, inspire and provoke strong memories.

When organising music for your event - whether it be a wedding, party or corporate event, the power of live music adds something special. It is not an alternative to recorded music being played on your ipod, but a 'living' experience. Use live music to transform your event - and to create some great memories for your future!

Contact us for more information http://www.nsn-productions.com

Ideal live music for outside engagements

We are in the garden party season; the wedding season and also the time when many businesses and organisations arrange parties. Although our country doesn't always have dry weather, most of the time, it is wonderful being outside. It is even more perfect listening to live music whilst enjoying the occasion; meeting other people; drinking good wine and eating delicious canapes.
Last week our wonderful Romantic Tenor serenaded guests at a wedding at Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire. He was located overlooking the lake and the atmosphere was so romantic. The feedback we have received from the client was overwhelming!!
This weekend our jazz trio will be playing at a private party at an exclusive private house in Berkshire. They are using a marquee in case it rains, but the atmosphere will be enhanced by the musicians and they will be able to up the tempo as the evening progresses so that guests can dance.

We have a number of great options for musicians to play at your event. Visit our site http://www.nsn-productions.com

Don't break the bank by feeding your musicians

Today one of my client's called me to discuss what to feed the musicians that are playing at his wedding. For evening events, I normally recommend that musicians are given a hot meal because it is a long evening for them. However, the venue wanted to charge £35 a head for a pasta meal and soft drinks. Understandably the client wasn't happy at this additional charge.
I was able to get in touch with the venue and discovered they offer a 'suppliers'' meal which consists of a baguette, fruit, cake and soft drinks for considerably less. I agreed with the client that this was a suitable option and I have warned the musicians to eat a substantial meal during the day.
We do recommend that clients feed the musicians; not because it is a jolly for them, but because a 3 hour play session is actually more like 5 hours, and it is unlikely they can buy food there - or the sight of them eating ready prepared food doesn't look good! I heard of one musician (not one of mine) routinely bringing tinned sardines and he would prepare a sardine pasta salad, which produced an awful smell. This would have been avoided if he had been fed!
However, we wish to avoid the situation of clients spending a considerable amount of money on feeding musicians. Here are my tips:

• If the venue allows it, get someone in the party to put together an assortment of ready prepared sandwiches from M&S, with fruit, cake and soft drinks.
• If this isn't allowed, discuss with the venue if they have a 'suppliers'' meal available.
• If they don't; ask how much it would be to produce a simple vegetable pasta bake for the musicians.
  
• As a rule of thumb, afternoon playing, you serve sandwiches, for evenings, a hot meal.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to call or email me. Our website is http://www.nsn-productions.com

Tips for musicians

I regularly have enquiries from musicians who wish to be represented by NSN Productions Limited. Of course, we are unable to represent everyone, since we wish to ensure our present, and very good loyal musicians have the best opportunities to have work. However, I've compiled a list of tips if you wish to approach a music management company.

1. Find out about the company before you cold call or approach by email. Refer to some of this information when you approach the company.
2. All of our entertainers - including comedians and speakers to have Public Liability Insurance.
3. Have marketing material, including 'action' photos and .mp3 samples available to email. We are certainly not going to go to your website, or download samples: you must provide them for us.
4. Be prepared to be flexible over fees and also the size of the band. We have 2 bands comprising of 9 musicians AND 2 sound engineers. In these times, fewer clients are in a position to afford large bands when they can book smaller bands for less. No good music management company would send musicians out for a poor fee, but do be flexible.
5. Keep the music management company up to date with new repertoire lists, 'news' stories and new line ups of bands.
6. We occasionally have opportunities for promotions: either on the radio, in magazines, at exhibitions, etc. A good musician will jump at this opportunity and a good management company (such as NSN) will guide and advise to make the most of the opportunity.
7. It might seem tempting to 'double cross' your manager by approaching clients direct at a gig for future work. Most clients do not like this as they've built up a relationship with the manager. Management companies don't like it - or you distributing your own marketing material at their gigs. I assure you, you will have no further work from that manager. Don't promote yourself at a gig arranged by someone else. We have an arrangement that if a client or guest approaches the musicians, they forward the enquiry to me and they receive 10% of the fee if the gig goes ahead as a 'thank you'.
8. Give feedback to the manager, particularly if there was an unforeseen snag at an engagement. I keep a very open dialogue with my musicians to ensure the very highest quality of service is available to the client from start to finish. If there is a snag, I need to know about it to avoid a repeat, and also to discuss it with the client.
9. It goes without saying that punctuality is a must for all gigs. Rather arrive an hour early, than late and in a panic.
10. It also goes to say that you should be sober and have not taken drugs before or during an engagement. Again, if you do, you are unlikely to have repeat business.
11. If you meet an agent or manager at a social occasion, don't do the hard sell. Last week I was at a garden party, and an ex-colleague, who hadn't taken much interest in me, found out what I was doing. I had her following me around, doing the hard sell for 90 minutes: spoiling my afternoon. Her card went in the bin. Had she called or followed up the contact a couple of days later, rather than 'hitting' straight away, I would have been more interested in her.

In the end, I am human and my aim is to provide excellent service to clients, but also to be fair, open and supportive to my musicians and entertainers.

See our website http://www.nsn-productions.com

Expanding our Services

We have recently been in discussions with business people/companies and organisations that are keen for us to increase the range of services we offer to potential clients. Existing clients trust us and are also keen for us to develop our brand further - and also to assist them in increasing their events and activities.
Two of the areas are in Comedy for comedy nights and also Public Speaking. For anyone that has arranged conferences, away days or business meetings, this is sometimes a minefield. Rather like the 'Oh, I wish I'd known about you when I was organising my wedding' is another 'chat up' line at business meetings.
At this stage I am contemplating how to combine our focus on high quality delivery - from customer care to the quality of the 'entertainment, whilst not stifling the creativity of the performers. After all the comedy speakers and public speakers are experts - rather like the saxophone soloist. In the end, my aim is for the client to be very pleased and for their expectation to be surpassed by the quality of service we provide.
I have a couple of options; of course the contracts produced should be as clear as for the musicians: specifying exactly what clients are expecting, but also I need to take real care in who I choose to represent. There is no value in a speaker 'trying out a new speech' because they have a 'booking' - that isn't satisfactory to me!
So.... watch this space. I am sure in a few weeks or months, I will have moved this concept forward, without compromising on the core value of NSN!
Go to http://www.nsn-productions.com

Message from the Musicians; the perils of working outside

Last week I met up with some of my musicians, for an informal chat and drinks. It is a valuable way of building up relationships and for them to have the opportunity to address any problems they might be encountering, or to give me advice. One of the string players told me that playing in direct sunlight potentially damages string instruments - including harps. Apparently it damages the varnish on the instrument. Given that one of my last postings was about entertainment outside, it is something to consider.
I would advise wedding planners/event management companies and clients to consider a shady area (with cover if the weather is iffy) to place musicians. This will avoid an unfortunate situation where string players are reluctant to play outside.
Also very cold situations (and I've done many of those in my time including a FREEZING church where I sang Poulenc's Gloria in a gale) are difficult; not only are instruments more difficult to keep in tune (and these include wind instruments) but musicians sitting down get very cold and their poor fingers become stiff (really!!) Information like this is always useful when planning where to locate musicians. For more information or to discuss your live entertainment requirements contact NSN via our website http://www.nsn-productions.com

Pop Divas and the power of Music Management Companies!

Over the last couple of days I have been managing the break up of a band we promote. It has been very painful for the musicians, and things have been said that I hope are forgotten.
The band is booked for future engagements and my first concern was for the clients; to ensure the quality of the service we provide, via our musicians is maintained at an outstanding level.
Artistic differences do occur with musicians, but as a highly regarded music management company, we wish to avoid disappointing the client in any way.
Fortunately, the clients went through NSN. If they had booked the band directly, it is likely that they would be in a position where they wouldn't get what they'd booked or paid for. I regularly hear stories from business acquaintances of bands letting down clients - particularly for weddings, due to band splits.
By using a Music Management company like NSN Productions, we are able to resolve any problems with the minimum of stress and worry to the client. This is one of the many additional services we offer as part of our customer care.
I would be happy to discuss any live music requirements with you and I guarantee your stress levels will be very low! http://www.nsn-productions.com

Entertainment Alfresco

In the summer we are (hopefully) going to spend more time outside. For the last two years our plans for barbecues with friends, family and neighbours have been sabotaged by the dreadful weather. However, I hear the Met Office have predicted a drier summer.
There are many people that arrange Summer Parties, weddings, anniversaries and business events outside. This is a great way to solve problems of space and are so wonderful IF the weather is good and the outside space stunning. It is also a great way to enjoy some one's hard work in the garden by admiring their flowers!
Entertainment works really well outside; there is little to beat a harp or classical guitar playing in the distance when you wish to create a romantic atmosphere. There are a couple of tips for ensuring the event is a success when you have live entertainers performing.

• Some entertainers require power for their equipment (sound desks, electric keyboards etc). Plan where they are going to access this from in the property and if necessary provide extension leads.
• Make sure the extension leads are covered so that no - one trips over them. It would be awful to have an accident outside, particularly in the dark.
• The entertainers might require lighting for when the evening gets dark. You will need to consider the power situation too. If it is a large garden or away from power, a generator could be required.
• Although many musicians and entertainers have sound systems, these work to a varying degree outside. The more 'subtle' instruments such as harps, guitars and string quartets benefit from being close to a wall. The sound can then bounce off the wall and create a wonderful atmosphere without interfering with the quality of the sound.
• I would always recommend putting jazz musicians close to a wall too - for the very reason that the sound will project further.
• For other instrumentalists, they are more likely to have amplification, which means they can be located in more areas outside. However, one warning is to ensure the sound levels are checked. If you are having a drinks evening outside, with people chatting, you don't want them to have to shout over the band who have put their volume up full!!
• Our Summers, as you know, are not always dry, and water is potentially dangerous with electrical equipment around. You need to have contingency plans to avoid any potential Health and Safety hazards; is there a fully covered area for the musicians to perform in? Could they play inside?
• Musicians do not like getting their instruments wet; a £30,000 harp will be damaged by rainwater. Again, consider a fully covered area for them to play under, even if it is drizzling.
• Check that the musicians are not located somewhere ghastly in the garden - such as next to the compost where there are flies and it smells! One business associate (but not a client of mine!) told me that at her wedding, the string quartet refused to play outside because of the flies. Strangely they were able to eat the 3 course meal they had insisted they had. The bride was still terribly upset - four years later...
• Make it clear to the musicians and entertainers that they will be required to perform outside, and put this in the contract. If necessary, insist they either view the location before the event, or arrive early so that they can suggest suitable areas to be located.

Whatever happens, I am sure you will have a fantastic event. If you need any advice, or to discuss your event, go to http://www.nsn-productions.com

The benefits of having a work experience student

Last week I had the pleasure of welcoming Emma into my office to assist me with a number of publicity projects. Emma is a student at the University of Hertfordshire, in her second year. She is hoping to have a career in PR or journalism. With the job market for graduates being scary, she was keen to gain some real hands on experience of working in a small company.

Before last week, friends of mine were saying "What will you get her to do?" and "Well, she won't be able to do anything - you know what young people are like.."
Well I was a young person once, and I didn't know what to do in an office. I was given a chance and we lived in a different world 20+ years ago. This was my chance to give something back - and also to get something myself.

Emma and I had met beforehand to discuss the placement and for us to be clear about what we both wanted to get out of the experience. Before Monday, I planned some tasks I knew she could do; these included setting up some new media databases, writing 2 press releases and chasing up some journalists that I had sent articles to.

On the first day Emma wrote a great article - but it wasn't a press release. She learnt from that and tweaked it. Within a day she'd managed to get it included on local websites for an event we were involved in. She also had new contacts at local newspapers and had invited them to the event.

Emma also went through my existing media list and checked it: adding new contacts with their special areas of interest. We also discovered some news wire websites where we could add press releases.

These are all tasks I would not have got round to doing so it was a genuine benefit to me. Emma was able to follow through a complete Press campaign with some great results. It is unlikely she would have had that experience working in a larger company.

It was an invaluable experience for us both and I would strongly recommend it to any small company. All of the universities are desperate for placements for their undergraduates and new graduates. Go on; take the plunge and give a young person a chance to gain some valuable experience!

Remember your trousers!

I am sure you heard or read about the Opera Star Bryn Terfel forgetting to bring his trousers to perform in a concert. Oops! A link to the article is below.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/5140272/Bryn-Terfels-night-at-the-opera-with-no-trousers.html

Bryn Terfel is an outstanding singer who has performed on the international stage for many years. He is highly respected as a musician, colleague and friend to many people in the profession. Due to his charm he was able to resolve the problem without performing in his shorts!

But what would happen if a similar occurrence were to happen at your event??? Or perhaps there is a misunderstanding about what musicians should wear for an event?? We recommend that you are always very specific about the type of clothing you wish the entertainers to wear. If you would like them to wear a particular colour: specify it. We have found that people's understanding of "Formal" "Smart" and even "black Tie" varies. During the day, orchestral players at concerts are less formal with ladies wearing short dresses. If you would like a formal appearance, be very specific!

With NSN PRoductions' contracts, these points are clearly stated for the musicians, and in addition, we draw this to the attention of the client to double check!

For more tips and information on NSN PRODUCTIONS LIMITED go to http://www.nsn-productions.com

Live music Tip! Picking the right entertainment for different age groups

When you are arranging an event - whether it is a private event: wedding, anniversary party, birthday party, or a corporate event, always consider who your guests are going to be and what type of live entertainment they want.
A 21st party will be full of very young people and Noise is what they like! But a wedding or anniversary party, where there are people of different ages - who might want to chat to each other, do not want to shout over a loud disco.
We often provide entertainment for organisations where the majority of guests are male. That's fine: we know that there should be some young pretty female entertainer! But if the guests are more mixed, it is worthwhile considering having some handsome YOUNG men too! These events also require guests to 'Network' and they don't do that well when the noise levels are too high. We always do background music except for after dinner entertainment!
Go to http://www.nsn-productions.com for more information on our services

Added value with live music

Last week we met one of our clients. Like many organisations within the hospitality industry, they are being heavily hit by the down turn. They had made a conscious decision to reduce costs between New Year and Easter to reach their targets. However, this had resulted in fewer covers at their restaurant and complaints from regular clients.
They had made the decision to cut 'the extras' - live music, flowers and small touches like chocolate with coffee. They realised, after looking at their results, that people were still wanting to dine out, but that this would be every couple of months (at this high end venue) rather than every week. However, clients were expecting the extras as part of the deal; why spend extra when you didn't feel it was a special occasion?
The client has recognises that these extras will attract clients back to enjoy the whole experience. The covers for their restaurant went down from 90 to 35 (average) when live music was temporarily cut. We are looking forward to being actively involved in increasing their numbers from next month!

Partnership opportunities with NSN

We are increasingly creating partnerships with other business organisations that use live music to attract clients. Of course, from our point of view, we are sending musicians out to work. But increasingly we are using our PR girl, Emma to provide local interest stories which provide publicity for the other business as well as our own.
For example, one of our musicians, 'The Romantic Tenor' has been performing on a regular basis at The Dutch Nursery in Brookmans Park in Hertfordshire. In press coverage, his blog and ezine, he mentions these appearances. More recently in radio interviews, he has mentioned future appearances, which have included those at the Dutch Nursery.
Likewise, our relationship with Hanbury Manor has meant we always include coverage of when our musicians are performing there. It is a boost for NSN, our musicians, but of course is free publicity for Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire.
This service is part of our Five Star customer care and extras we include for businesses. To discuss your business requirements on how we could develop a partnership, do not hesitate to call.

Passion and Creativity leads to Positive Thoughts and the Discovery of Possibilities

Last week the world class musician, Benjamin Zander led the DAVOS Conference in a performance of Happy Birthday. The conference had featured various economists and leaders spreading doom and gloom. Was each speaker trying to out-do the bad news??
Benjamin Zander blew away the black clouds that had descended by energising the delegates and leaving them with more positive feelings - and the energy to explore 'possibilities' rather than 'prepare for the recession'.
How did he do this? Through music! He invited everyone to sing Happy Birthday in a variety of ways - engaging everyone to contribute, laugh and feel part of a community. Everyone left feeling uplifted and willing to consider changing the current economic situation.
Zander is not the only person to run such a positive presentation within a conference or away day: NSN PRODUCTIONS regularly deliver 'icebreaker' presentations and workshops to energise delegates and teams.
This is what some of our clients have said:

"It's the best team building exercise; it reduces tension and is extremely uplifting. I thought it was a fantastic idea and definitely something I would like to use at some point in the future. I've talked about you to a number of people.! Deb Leary, CEO Forensic Pathways Ltd - at the WEConnect Conference 2008

“The vocal workshop was amazingly restorative”

“The activity had the potential to build upon later in the programme as an example of active team working”

“The vocal workshop was a really nice touch”.

Chartered Management Institute Conference

“Thanks again for yesterday. The Ladies all enjoyed your presentation; the event was buzzy from the word go and was a great success.” Sally Brett, BDO Stoy Hayward LLP

“I am writing to thank you very much for entertaining the attendees of our Ladies’ Dinner last week. It was a great idea to do some singing and generally wake us all up after all that sitting, eating and beverage consumption. I know that others enjoyed themselves, it was good fun and something a little different to the usual run of the mill. It was a pleasure to see you last week and thank you once again for your contribution in making the evening such an entertaining event.”

Veronica Cooper, Hertfordshire Institute of Directors October 2007

So: if you want your conference or awayday to make a genuine change to the way your employees or delegates think - consider using NSN's Services to make a REAL change.

The Romance of the Romantic Tenor

The Romantic Tenor is one of our most popular artists. He is now making regular appearances at high quality venues where they are wanting a partnership. The Romantic Tenor's fans are either booking tables or arranging to go to these venues, in order to hear him sing. This is great business sense for the businesses that are in partnership with NSN PRODUCTIONS LIMITED, because we always publicise where and when our artists are making public appearances to their fan base.
Our business partnerships have recorded increases in revenue when our artists are performing - particularly as we support them by marketing the appearances within our own databases. Despite the downturn, these figures are being maintained.
Do call us on 0844 576 3015 or info@nsn-productions.com to discuss partnership opportunities.

Brighten up the 'Gloomiest Day' of the Year

Today is, apparently, the gloomiest day in the year. Although I thought it was last Monday which had a strange, grey light all day. I am sure if you tell the population that 19th January is the glummest day of the year - it will be!!
So, how about this: 14th February is going to be a happy, romantic day, where people are going to feel good about themselves. They are going to spend a little money - not too much - having a lovely meal or entertainment and listen to some wonderful live music. This could be a classical guitarist, serenading in the background, or a jazz duo playing in the distance. Perhaps you will drink some bubbly - Prosecco is great and not too pricy. But it is the live music that will make you feel uplifted.
Why not contact NSN, to see how we can enhance your evening - whether you are having a private party or organising an event.
www.nsn-productions.com

A 'beautiful' evening - created by NSN Productions

Before Christmas, a prestigious organisation requested high quality Live Musical Entertainment to enhance a dinner they were organising. They wanted guests to be able to listen to non-intrusive entertainment during a drinks reception and during the meal, and for there to be a 'cabaret' style entertainment whilst guests had coffee.
We arranged for one of our highly talented musicians - a harpist, to play seasonal and well known music for the start of the evening. She used a subtle sound enhancement to ensure her playing was audible without being too intrusive.
After the meal she performed a 15 minute cabaret style accompanying herself whilst singing. This went down a storm.
To receive information on this performer call 0844 576 3015 or see our website www.nsn-productions.com