Classical Guitar
Professional Performance & Instruction
Christopher Rude, Classical Guitarist
West Salem, WI 54669
ph: 608.498.7761
Chris
First of all, thanks for making your deposit and for choosing me to be a part of your event!
Once you have received your first statement, you are ready to move to the next phase. The process of planning and contracting the music for your event is outlined below in five easy steps. Please read carefully and contact me with any questions or concerns.
1. Collaborate with your future spouse, friends, family, and officiant to design a practical and meaningful ceremony. Variables to consider are length, style, tone, personalization, anticipated environmental conditions and alternative plans, in case environmental conditions change.
2. Read my sample wedding contract and familiarize yourself with its terms, conditions and limitations, especially those regarding outdoor events. Contact me with any questions or concerns. This sample contract will closely resemble our final agreement, but nothing is final until you approve, sign, and return our official contract.
3. Decide how and where you want to include music in your event. Typically, there will be prelude music, one or two processionals, a recessional, and some postlude music. Other options include music for special seatings, interludes (solo music or accompaniments for speakers, singers, unity ceremonies, etc.) and secondary recessionals.
4. Determine your PA system needs: A "standard" sound system is included with all wedding packages, but is designed and intended for my sole use and is not expandable for additional microphones, multi-media inputs, etc.
*If you have need of microphones and support equipment for your event, I offer additional PA equipment and services at very competitive rates. Visit my Ceremony Sound Systems page for more information.
**Many couples fail to budget and make provisions for this aspect of their event. To avoid last minute confusion and disappointment, it is strongly recommended that you consider this challenge sooner, rather than later. You are free to rent microphones and PA equipment from any vendor you choose, but you will need to arrange for someone to deliver, set-up, operate, remove and return that equipment at your own cost.
If you have not already brought your special requests to my attention, please do so right away. I will quickly evaluate your request and respond as quickly as possible.
*Some requests are easy, some are challenging, and some may not translate well to the classical guitar at all. If I determine that your request is not practical or viable, I will provide alternative advice and suggestions. If your request is challenging, and requires significant preparation time and effort, then an arrangement commission fee may be necessary. In that case, you will be asked to approve the fee before the work is completed.
1. Use my Ceremony Music Organizer to help you organize your thoughts and make selections for your ceremony.
2. If you have purchased a Gold Package or a Platinum Package, decide if you have any requests to be played during the entertainment period/s. Use my Repertoire page to help make selections, if you are so inclined. Otherwise, I will make appropriate selections at the event, based on the desired mood, themes, etc.
3. If you don't find everything you need in the Ceremony Music Organizer, try looking through my complete Repertoire page. This is an updated list of everything I currently play, complete with links to all available audio and video samples.
4. Write down your selections and have them ready for our consultation by phone, which will take place somewhere around 30 days before your event.
Email chris@rudeguitar.com or call me at (608) 498 7761 to arrange a consultation by phone. The consultation requires 30-45 minutes. It's better if the bride and groom are both present for the call, but it's not essential, as long as most of the important decisions are already made. Please provide a phone number for me to call at the appointed time.
*I am typically available for consults on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, after 8pm, and I can also make time most weekend mornings. During the summer, my weekday schedule is much more open.
I will call the number you provide at the appointed time, and take you through the contract planner step-by-step. Please be ready with all the details of your event including:
-Names and phone numbers of relevant participants, including planners, officiant/s, day-of contact persons, accompanists (if relevant)
-Addresses of the party responsible for remaining payment, event property/properties
-All musical selections for the event
-Logistical details for your ceremony
-Changes that have been made to your plans
After consultation is over, you will still need to complete the following tasks:
Request that your officiant arrive at the event no later than 30 minutes before it begins, and let him or her know that I need to collaborate with them immediately upon their arrival to solidify final details, make adjustments and assign cues for the ceremony. Let me know if there is any problem with this arrangement.
After consultation, you will receive a .pdf document of our final contract. This is done last, so that it can include all the details of your event without having to be constantly amended over several months. The terms and conditions of this contract will be identical to those of the published sample contract unless you have specifically requested amendments.
Once you have received the contract, you should read, approve, sign, and return it to me either electronically or physically to the address provided. Signed contracts must be in my possession no later than 10 days before the event. Our agreement is not final, and you have no legal guarantee of service until I receive your signed contract.
Your most recent statement contains your balance due, along with payment terms and payee information. Please read it carefully and proceed accordingly.
-AND-
(This method applies only to balances not based on a "cash payment discount")
Check payments must be in my possession no later than 10 days before the event, to allow ample time for processing, depositing and bank fund clearance. Payments not received by this deadline will no longer be accepted by check and must be paid in full upon his arrival at the event, in cash only.
-OR-
c. (Day of Event) Pay Remaining Balance in Cash:
If you have agreed to a cash balance payment, or if you have missed the 10-day check submission deadline, then please plan to have someone pay me in cash, upon my arrival at the event. Checks and other promissory instruments are not acceptable on the day of the event, only cash--no exceptions.
Copyright 2010 Christopher Rude, Classical Guitarist. All rights reserved.
Christopher Rude, Classical Guitarist
West Salem, WI 54669
ph: 608.498.7761
Chris