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Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions About Us

How big is the band?

How long does it take you to set up?

How much space do you need?

Will I need a DJ?

How do you dress?

Can we choose the setlist?

Can we ask you to learn songs for us?

Do you provide lighting?

Can we use your PA system for speeches?

Booking Us

Where do you travel to?

How much do you charge?

How do I book the Dutty Rascals? What is the process?

Can I see you live before I book?

Do I need to provide the band with food and drink?

What if one of you falls sick on the day?



How big is the band?

The Dutty Rascals are available as an acoustic duo, acoustic trio, 4-5 piece (various options) or larger depending on your requirements. Best thing to do is for us to have a chat about what you want and budget and we can go from there. For the Create Your Own Band option additional instruments can be added to our core 4 piece (female vocals, bass, guitar, drums/percussion) from the following:

  • Saxophone
  • Violin
  • Piano/Keyboard
  • Male vocals

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How long does it take you to set up?

It usually takes us 1 hour to set up but we like to reserve 1hr 30mins so that we have a buffer. We always start by setting up the PA in case your schedule is delayed so that we can provide background music in the case of an overlap.

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How much space do you need?

The Dutty rascals can perform outdoors or indoors - with or without staging. However, as a guide, we need the following:

  • 2/3 piece: 4m x 3m
  • 4/5 piece: 5m x 3m
  • 6-8 piece: 6m x 4m

If you have less space available, or the space available is in a funny shape, don't worry. Have a chat with us and we will probably be able to work out a way to fit!

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Will I need a DJ?

It really is up to you and we can discuss your requirements to help you make a decision.

In between sets we usually play songs through our PA system to keep the party atmosphere going. So, if you are happy to have a combination of live music and music that we play through the PA, you shouldn't need a DJ as well.

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How do you dress?

Usually we dress smartly but if you have a colour scheme that you would like us to fit in with, just let us know and we will do our best to accommodate. If you have a themed event we can do our best to fit in with that but can't make any promises!

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Can we choose the setlist?

If you have song preferences please do let us know - we love your input! However we strongly advise against picking all of the songs and arranging the setlists due to the fact that over the years, we have learnt which songs work in a live situation, and which ones don't. Furthermore, although we arrange our set list beforehand, on the night we tailor it to respond to the atmosphere. Through years of trial and error we understand when certain songs should be played to keep the party alive - once people lose interest in being on the dancefloor, it can be hard to get them back! Either way, we are happy to discuss all requirements with you.

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Can we ask you to learn songs for us?

Of course! We will always discuss all of your requirements beforehand. Should you require a number of specific songs that are not included in our repertoire, there may be an extra charge however this will all be openly discussed with you so you can make an informed decision.

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Do you provide lighting?

Yes we do, unless your venue has specific lighting that you don't want us to interfere with. Usually we have a single colour that illuminates the stage but are happy to tailor this to your atmosphere e.g. for some locations and times of day, some subtle fairy lights work better.

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Can we use your PA system for speeches?

If your speeches fall within our booked time, then this is not a problem. We control the PA system in terms of sound levels and volume but you are welcome to use a microphone. If this is something that is needed please let us know beforehand. If your speeches or requirement for the use of a microphone is outside of our booked time, let us know and we can give you a quote for early or later set up. Other than speeches which have been agreed to beforehand, we do not lend out our PA system or any other equipment during the booking.

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Where do you travel to?

We are Surrey based but are happy to travel UK wide.

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How much do you charge?

This is a really hard question to answer as it depends on so many factors such as:

  • Location
  • What sort of band line up you want
  • Your event date (e.g. Mon-Thur are cheaper than Fri-Sun)

Get in touch to get an accurate quote.

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How do I book Dutty Rascals? What is the process?

It is really easy to book the Dutty Rascals and we will guide you through every step.

  1. Get in touch - email us, complete our contact form or call us and we will get back to you between 24-48 hours. We can discuss your requirements and ideas. Email: contact@duttyrascals.co.uk Tel: (+44) 07904 838156
  2. Making the booking - booking is confirmed once the booking contract has been completed and the deposit has been paid. Deposit amounts depend on the value of the booking but it is around 50% of the total fee. Take a look at our Terms & Conditions to find out more.
  3. Planning - now comes the exciting part! We will discuss in detail about your event and requirements and ensure that we touch base within 3 weeks of your event date. We are available at any time so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
  4. On the day - we will arrive with our sound engineer (who will stay for the duration of the booking) to start setting up. We will work alongside your timeline to ensure we are as unobtrusive as possible. Once we have set up, we will need a sound check prior to the performance but again, we can work with you to make sure that the timing is convenient.
  5. After the event - as I am sure you have found feedback from our clients useful, we would like to offer the same to our future clients. This is why we get in touch to request feedback after the event about your honest thoughts about your experience with us.

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Can I see you live before I book?

We would love you to! Click here to see our upcoming public gigs. If you come along, please feel free to have a chat - we'd love to meet you.

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Do I need to provide the band with food and drink?

Yes please! We don't expect or need a three course meal or alcohol but with our journey time, the business of setting up, and often long waiting times, it is hard for us to organise food and drink while we are working. We do therefore really appreciate refreshments.

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What is one of you falls sick on the day?

Although the musicians you see on our website are the musicians that work for the band, there are occasions where one of us falls sick or one of us cannot make the booking due to other plans. We always work closely with a selection of other musicians ('deps') so if this happens, we will always have someone suitable to replace any of our members. Our reputation means a lot to us - it is our bread and butter - so you can be rest assured that you will be in safe hands if we have to substitute any of our members for deps.

In the very unlikely event that the band has to cancel the booking (it has never happened) we will endeavour to find you a suitable replacement band as similar to us as possible, or provide a full refund of all monies paid (including the deposit). This is extremely rare, and as mentioned has never happened before.

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I have a sound limiter at my venue - is that a problem?

The short answer is that, they can be. Sound limiters are usually set to a particular level and should the band play louder than the set level, the power cuts. This sounds like a great way to stop the band from being too loud but as you will see if you do some research, too many of them are too sensitive, or set too low. We would advise asking a venue beforehand whether they have one and what level it is set to. Even better if you can avoid venues that have them - we are not a too-loud band and always have a sound engineer with us who can adjust the levels while we perform.

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What is PAT and PLI and do you have it?

PAT stands for Portable Appliance Testing and PLI stands for Public Liability Insurance. Your venue may ask for our certificates which are no problem to supply - just let us know.

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