F.A.Q.

Below is a list of our more frequently asked questions. If you have other questions about us, please contact us.

How much room do you need?

We are flexible, but the optimum is about 12’ x 16'.

What are your electrical needs?

Optimum would be two standard A/C outlets. Please let us know ahead of time if you have any questions or concerns about this.

How far in advance should the band be booked?

Lead time is usually at least a couple of months. It is best to book a band as soon as you have decided which one you want, to minimize the chance that the band is already booked on your date.

How does the band schedule breaks?

One 15-20 minute break per hour is the standard. We are aware that the flow of an event doesn’t always exactly fit this schedule, and so we try to make adjustments where necessary. Please keep in mind though that playing music is hard work (even if it’s also fun!), and it helps us to pace ourselves and to plan our song selections if we know ahead of time when our breaks will be.

How early do you need to arrive to set up the band?

It depends... some venues are easier to set up in than others; some events require more equipment than others; etc.  Please let us know the details of your event, and we will be happy to give you a precise answer.

Do you play special requests?

Sure, if we can. Keep in mind, though, that we try to stay within a particular style of music, so if you’re looking for a band that’s going to play hip hop or heavy metal or disco, we're probably not what you are looking for. What we can do is play requested songs, in our own way. So, if there’s a special song that you want to hear, maybe we could work it up and perform it in a way that the Tijuana Brass might have done it, or perhaps in a bossa nova or other latin-influenced style . To hear an example, go to our Audio Clips page and listen to song number 11. That is a current song, which we adapted to the Tijuana Brass style.

What does the band wear?

That depends on you and your event. For casual affairs, we can wear a variety of colorful Mexican guayabera shirts with khaki pants; for medium fancy we recommend tuxedo pants with ruffly tux shirts and string ties (which is how the Tijuana Brass often dressed); for formal affairs, we can wear tuxedos with vests and bow ties.

Are you available to do gigs outside of the Washington, DC area?

Yes!!

How about music during the band’s breaks?

We have an assortment of CDs of appropriate music that we can play during the breaks. If you have a special CD that you would like to hear, just let us know. Another option that many people prefer is the option of silence during a band's breaks.

Do you pick the songs?

If you have any special requests, or songs you definitely don’t want to hear, please let us know. Otherwise, you can just leave it to us. Knowing which tunes to play at each stage of the event is a big part of what we do, and we’ve been doing this a long time.