Frequently Asked Questions

"Thank you for Rhythm City's fantastic performance at my wife's birthday party. The comment I heard all night was how you were the best band our friends have ever heard! Moreover, this was the same comment I heard from our friends in town from Boston, New York, Washington, Atlanta and Charleston."
Thanks, Jeff S. " Rick and I wanted to thank you and the band members again, for a WONDERFUL job. I cannot tell you how many people have asked us who our band was! Everyone thought you were fantastic, and as you probably noticed, no one wanted to leave the dance floor the entire night. - We would certainly recommend your band to anyone who asks. Thanks again!
Liz and Rick"

Home - Gigs- Song List - Club and event list - The Players - Links -

FAQs about Rhythm City

ATQs about Rhythm City

What kind of music do you play? Dance music. Lots of dance music. Fast and slow dance music. Quiet and loud dance music. The best of Motown, R & B, Soul, Jump Swing, Funk and Disco dance music from the last millennium with a nice seasoning of Jazz standards, ballads and Blues. Basically a short history of Rhythm & Blues.

What kind of events and venues do you play? Any venue where fun people gather to have a good time (well, almost any venue). We perform mostly at events such as private parties, weddings, corporate and benefit events, festivals and of course some night clubs.

How many members are in the band? Seven fun individuals.

What is the instrumentation? Some of us switch around a little bit but we have Larry who plays tenor and alto saxophones and percussion, Conrad on guitar, keyboards and percussion, Thomas on keyboards, Ty on drums, David on bass and Ray on guitars.

How many of you sing lead vocals? Along with Pam on lead vocals is Conrad and Ray. On background vocals is David, Thomas and Larry.

How long has Rhythm City been around? Rhythm City was founded in 1982 by Conrad and his friends when they felt the urge to go out and play the songs they loved and had grown up on. They played all their favorite Motown, blues, soul, R & B and rock from the fifties, sixties and seventies. Although our repertoire has evolved over the years, the focus on performing the songs that we love remains and shows through with enthusiasm with which they are played.

How experienced are the band members? Quite experienced. From 15 years of professional performance experience to 15 years plus a whole bunch more.

Do you have a demo tape or video?
Along with all our pictures and printed promotional material we have a demo tape (or audio cdr) that we would be happy to send out upon request.

We made a very nice (and expensive) video several years ago and people were happy with it but we found that as our repertoire changed the cost of remaking or updating it was far too expensive. Most clients were making their hiring decisions based on the audio demo, our songlist, and by seeing us perform live (which we prefer).

Can I see you perform? Yes. Even though we do many private events we can always arrange for you to sneak a peek at some events if you can't make one of our public appearances.

How long is your typical show? We typically perform three 50 minute sets with breaks in between.

How do you handle breaks? We try to schedule our breaks to coincide with any other activities that may need to occur during the event. The break time is determined by the timing of the event but usually runs about fifteen minutes. If you don't supply cassettes or CDs of music for us to play during our breaks we will always play our own carefully "DJ'd" CDs.

Some people don't like loud music and some people only like one kind of music. How do we keep everyone happy?
When dealing with any art form, especially music, everyone has an opinion on what they hear and like. No band, DJ, orchestra or politician can please everyone and those that say they can are telling a little less than the truth.

What is true is that most groups of people may have a common "feel" to the music they like. An older crowd may like standards and swing and a high school crowd may like hip-hop or popular alternative for example. We will usually play some tunes that a wider range of people might enjoy but we are a dance band. This means that if you like us and want to hire us to perform for your grandparents 50th anniversary party you might find that we would run out of acceptable material before the night is over. In this case perhaps you might want to hire a different act. We'd be happy to recommend some of our friends whose music is more suited to a particular event.

One thing we have found over the years is that when we perform there may always be a few who want to hear this song or that song or think we should be playing just for them. We will try to accommodate requests (place them early please) but by the end of the night everyone always loves our show and thinks we were the perfect band for the occasion.

Can you provide music during a cocktail hour or dinner? Sure can. For a modest charge we can provide a pianist, jazz quartet or both for your enjoyment during cocktails or meals.

What other options do you offer? Occasionally people want continuous high energy music or a variety of music that reaches beyond our focus. In this event we can arrange for our favorite DJ to entertain during our breaks.

Will the songs sound like the originals?
Some more than others. Most of the music we play is as close as we can get to original with the instrumentation we have (unfortunately we can't bring the CSO strings to every gig). We do arrange most of our music into medleys which allows us to cover a wider amount of material and keep the energy level up by eliminating all those breaks between songs.

We are a band of real, live, human musicians (not DJs mind you) that get excited about the music we play. The excitement is contageous and creates a musical interaction with the guests at your event. This means that as your guests have more fun we kick the energy up which gets the crowd even more excited and on and on. If you ever wondered why a band and a DJ can play the same tunes but the parties with live music are always more successful - this is the reason. Interaction.

Can we make requests? Yes. If you would like us to learn a specific tune for your event we can usually do it if fits normal parameters. Obviously we can't perform something from an opera or classical work but most pop, jazz or standards can be arranged. Due to the fact that we only have a limited amount of time to work up music for performances every weekend, we have to limit this to one tune per event. We also need at least 30 days advance notice and a copy of the score or a tape of the music. Too often people are stuck with a CD playing instead us because they called us too late and left us no time to prepare.

During a wedding, who will act as Master of Ceremonies? Occasionally we get asked to do this and we're happy to oblige. Please arrange this in advance if it requires one of us to arrive especially early. More often though it is more effective if someone who is part of the circle of family and friends does this.

Will the band dress appropriately? Always. Tuxedos at weddings and other formal events and appropriate attire as requested or as the event warrants.

How good is your equipment?
Top of the line. Our equipment will easily cover most large hotel ballrooms. For very large stadium or outdoor events, if the venue doesn't supply sound, we will make arrangements for a professional sound reinforcement company to provide additional coverage.

Although we take care of our gear and make sure it is properly connected and tested, all equipment is subject to certain environmental conditions. If the electric service is weak, poorly grounded or noisy (neon signs or cheap light dimmers) it can affect the sound by introducing buzzes and noise. After many years of performing, we've honed and adjusted our gear and find we have noise problems very rarely.

How much room and power does the band need? We need a space that is 16 feet wide by 12 ft deep minimum (View our stage plot. Download our stage plot.rcstageplot.pdf). In a big room we need at least three good 20 amp circuits if you want an uninterrupted show (no blown fuses). Without our lighting equipment (daytime outdoors) or in a small room two 20 amp dedicated circuits will do. If additional sound and/or lighting equipment is requested we'll need more juice.

When and how will the band set up?
We usually set up well before the event begins and people arrive. Sometimes the timing of the event prevents this but usually as soon as the room is available our crew is there. We move our gear on wheels to prevent damage and never leave a mess behind.

If there is no elevator or dock access to the hall we may have to charge extra roadie/crew costs if the load-in and load-out is especially difficult or the event requires unusual load-in or load-out times. This is pretty rare and we usually know about the tough places in advance so you can be advised well ahead of time.

Do we have to feed the band or provide any accomodations?
Usually no. We always arrive well fed and properly dressed.

We don't require meals or dressing rooms unless we've been traveling a long distance or are requested to be at an event for an unusually long time. These kinds of special accomodations are never expected unless they have been arranged in advance with the buyer.

How far will you travel?
Our fee includes all travel within an hour drive from downtown Chicago. This is usually anything within the 312, 773, 847, 630 and 708 area codes as well as the western part of 219 and 574. We do perform frequently in downstate Illinois as well as in Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin but due to crew and travel costs we have to charge for each extra hour of drive time after the first hour.

Travel to further parts of the country (or world) can be arranged but of course we would have to include all air fare, lodging, equipment rental and other travel charges in our fee.

Will there be any changes in band personnel by the time of our event?
Barring any illness or act of God, no. Should there be any personnel changes (this is very rare) we know well in advance. One thing we're very proud of is that the players in Rhythm City really love the band and change very rarely.

This is what sets us apart from so many of the orchestras you may have seen or heard about. We are a band. The people you see on this web site or in our promo are the people you will see on stage. Most orchestras have a leader and maybe a core rhythm section but every time you see them there will be new faces reading scores as they play. This is not a bad thing and they can usually play a huge variety of music but to us it just doesn't have the life and energy of musicians who only have to focus on entertaining and playing the music they love.

Don't be fooled. There really is a difference between a guy conducting jobbing musicians who stare at charts and a tight, sharp band standing up and enjoying what they play.

How do we book the band? Simple. Call us up (773 238 0033), discuss the arrangements and we'll get a contract right out. Send it back with a deposit (usually 50%) and we're all set. If you like you can review our contract. You can print it and sign it and send it back with a deposit if you wish but we do really like to speak with our clients throughout the process.

How far in advance should we book the band? Obviously, in order to insure that you get the exact date and times that you want, contact us as far in advance as possible. A year is not uncommon if you want to be sure to get a specific date. Don't let those last minute jitters stop you from trying to book us on short notice though. Often dates change, occasionally cancel or sometimes we just have a day that stays open. You won't know unless you contact us.

How much do you charge? Ahh, the big question. It depends (you knew we would say that). We are a busy act and are booked well into next year which means we set our rates by demand. Like most businesses, we are subject to market forces which means some days of the week are more desirable than others. Typically Friday or Saturday night private events have the highest rate (other than New Years eve). Overtime is per half hour which may be arranged at anytime before at the last song. If you would like to know what we charge just send us an or give us a call (773 238 0033).

Are there any other extra charges? No. Everything will always be completely documented in a contract for our mutual understanding and protection. If you request additional lighting, sound reinforcement, DJ services or anything that requires additional personnel, rental fees or travel, lodging etc., this must be contracted and arranged in advance. We will never pop any "oh-by-the-way" charges on you ever.

Home - Gigs- Song List - Club and event list - The Players - Links -

FAQs about Rhythm City		ATQs about Rhythm City
What kind of music do you play?		Dance music. Lots of dance music. Fast and slow dance music. Quiet and loud dance music. The best of Motown, R & B, Soul, Jump Swing, Funk and Disco dance music from the last millennium with a nice seasoning of Jazz standards, ballads and Blues. Basically a short history of Rhythm & Blues.
What kind of events and venues do you play?		Any venue where fun people gather to have a good time (well, almost any venue). We perform mostly at events such as private parties, weddings, corporate and benefit events, festivals and of course some night clubs.
How many members are in the band?		Seven fun individuals.
What is the instrumentation?		Some of us switch around a little bit but we have Larry who plays tenor and alto saxophones and percussion, Conrad on guitar, keyboards and percussion, Thomas on keyboards, Ty on drums, David on bass and Ray on guitars.
How many of you sing lead vocals?		Along with Pam on lead vocals is Conrad and Ray. On background vocals is David, Thomas and Larry.
How long has Rhythm City been around?		Rhythm City was founded in 1982 by Conrad and his friends when they felt the urge to go out and play the songs they loved and had grown up on. They played all their favorite Motown, blues, soul, R & B and rock from the fifties, sixties and seventies. Although our repertoire has evolved over the years, the focus on performing the songs that we love remains and shows through with enthusiasm with which they are played.
How experienced are the band members?		Quite experienced. From 15 years of professional performance experience to 15 years plus a whole bunch more.
Do you have a demo tape or video?		Along with all our pictures and printed promotional material we have a demo tape (or audio cdr) that we would be happy to send out upon request. We made a very nice (and expensive) video several years ago and people were happy with it but we found that as our repertoire changed the cost of remaking or updating it was far too expensive. Most clients were making their hiring decisions based on the audio demo, our songlist, and by seeing us perform live (which we prefer).
Can I see you perform?		Yes. Even though we do many private events we can always arrange for you to sneak a peek at some events if you can't make one of our public appearances.
How long is your typical show?		We typically perform three 50 minute sets with breaks in between.
How do you handle breaks?		We try to schedule our breaks to coincide with any other activities that may need to occur during the event. The break time is determined by the timing of the event but usually runs about fifteen minutes. If you don't supply cassettes or CDs of music for us to play during our breaks we will always play our own carefully "DJ'd" CDs.
Some people don't like loud music and some people only like one kind of music. How do we keep everyone happy?		When dealing with any art form, especially music, everyone has an opinion on what they hear and like. No band, DJ, orchestra or politician can please everyone and those that say they can are telling a little less than the truth. What is true is that most groups of people may have a common "feel" to the music they like. An older crowd may like standards and swing and a high school crowd may like hip-hop or popular alternative for example. We will usually play some tunes that a wider range of people might enjoy but we are a dance band. This means that if you like us and want to hire us to perform for your grandparents 50th anniversary party you might find that we would run out of acceptable material before the night is over. In this case perhaps you might want to hire a different act. We'd be happy to recommend some of our friends whose music is more suited to a particular event. One thing we have found over the years is that when we perform there may always be a few who want to hear this song or that song or think we should be playing just for them. We will try to accommodate requests (place them early please) but by the end of the night everyone always loves our show and thinks we were the perfect band for the occasion.
Can you provide music during a cocktail hour or dinner?		Sure can. For a modest charge we can provide a pianist, jazz quartet or both for your enjoyment during cocktails or meals.
What other options do you offer?		Occasionally people want continuous high energy music or a variety of music that reaches beyond our focus. In this event we can arrange for our favorite DJ to entertain during our breaks.
Will the songs sound like the originals?		Some more than others. Most of the music we play is as close as we can get to original with the instrumentation we have (unfortunately we can't bring the CSO strings to every gig). We do arrange most of our music into medleys which allows us to cover a wider amount of material and keep the energy level up by eliminating all those breaks between songs. We are a band of real, live, human musicians (not DJs mind you) that get excited about the music we play. The excitement is contageous and creates a musical interaction with the guests at your event. This means that as your guests have more fun we kick the energy up which gets the crowd even more excited and on and on. If you ever wondered why a band and a DJ can play the same tunes but the parties with live music are always more successful - this is the reason. Interaction.
Can we make requests?		Yes. If you would like us to learn a specific tune for your event we can usually do it if fits normal parameters. Obviously we can't perform something from an opera or classical work but most pop, jazz or standards can be arranged. Due to the fact that we only have a limited amount of time to work up music for performances every weekend, we have to limit this to one tune per event. We also need at least 30 days advance notice and a copy of the score or a tape of the music. Too often people are stuck with a CD playing instead us because they called us too late and left us no time to prepare.
During a wedding, who will act as Master of Ceremonies?		Occasionally we get asked to do this and we're happy to oblige. Please arrange this in advance if it requires one of us to arrive especially early. More often though it is more effective if someone who is part of the circle of family and friends does this.
Will the band dress appropriately?		Always. Tuxedos at weddings and other formal events and appropriate attire as requested or as the event warrants.
How good is your equipment?		Top of the line. Our equipment will easily cover most large hotel ballrooms. For very large stadium or outdoor events, if the venue doesn't supply sound, we will make arrangements for a professional sound reinforcement company to provide additional coverage. Although we take care of our gear and make sure it is properly connected and tested, all equipment is subject to certain environmental conditions. If the electric service is weak, poorly grounded or noisy (neon signs or cheap light dimmers) it can affect the sound by introducing buzzes and noise. After many years of performing, we've honed and adjusted our gear and find we have noise problems very rarely.
How much room and power does the band need?		We need a space that is 16 feet wide by 12 ft deep minimum (View our stage plot. Download our stage plot.rcstageplot.pdf). In a big room we need at least three good 20 amp circuits if you want an uninterrupted show (no blown fuses). Without our lighting equipment (daytime outdoors) or in a small room two 20 amp dedicated circuits will do. If additional sound and/or lighting equipment is requested we'll need more juice.
When and how will the band set up?		We usually set up well before the event begins and people arrive. Sometimes the timing of the event prevents this but usually as soon as the room is available our crew is there. We move our gear on wheels to prevent damage and never leave a mess behind. If there is no elevator or dock access to the hall we may have to charge extra roadie/crew costs if the load-in and load-out is especially difficult or the event requires unusual load-in or load-out times. This is pretty rare and we usually know about the tough places in advance so you can be advised well ahead of time.
Do we have to feed the band or provide any accomodations?		Usually no. We always arrive well fed and properly dressed. We don't require meals or dressing rooms unless we've been traveling a long distance or are requested to be at an event for an unusually long time. These kinds of special accomodations are never expected unless they have been arranged in advance with the buyer.
How far will you travel?		Our fee includes all travel within an hour drive from downtown Chicago. This is usually anything within the 312, 773, 847, 630 and 708 area codes as well as the western part of 219 and 574. We do perform frequently in downstate Illinois as well as in Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin but due to crew and travel costs we have to charge for each extra hour of drive time after the first hour. Travel to further parts of the country (or world) can be arranged but of course we would have to include all air fare, lodging, equipment rental and other travel charges in our fee.
Will there be any changes in band personnel by the time of our event?		Barring any illness or act of God, no. Should there be any personnel changes (this is very rare) we know well in advance. One thing we're very proud of is that the players in Rhythm City really love the band and change very rarely. This is what sets us apart from so many of the orchestras you may have seen or heard about. We are a band. The people you see on this web site or in our promo are the people you will see on stage. Most orchestras have a leader and maybe a core rhythm section but every time you see them there will be new faces reading scores as they play. This is not a bad thing and they can usually play a huge variety of music but to us it just doesn't have the life and energy of musicians who only have to focus on entertaining and playing the music they love. Don't be fooled. There really is a difference between a guy conducting jobbing musicians who stare at charts and a tight, sharp band standing up and enjoying what they play.
How do we book the band?		Simple. Call us up (773 238 0033), discuss the arrangements and we'll get a contract right out. Send it back with a deposit (usually 50%) and we're all set. If you like you can review our contract. You can print it and sign it and send it back with a deposit if you wish but we do really like to speak with our clients throughout the process.
How far in advance should we book the band?		Obviously, in order to insure that you get the exact date and times that you want, contact us as far in advance as possible. A year is not uncommon if you want to be sure to get a specific date. Don't let those last minute jitters stop you from trying to book us on short notice though. Often dates change, occasionally cancel or sometimes we just have a day that stays open. You won't know unless you contact us.
How much do you charge?		Ahh, the big question. It depends (you knew we would say that). We are a busy act and are booked well into next year which means we set our rates by demand. Like most businesses, we are subject to market forces which means some days of the week are more desirable than others. Typically Friday or Saturday night private events have the highest rate (other than New Years eve). Overtime is per half hour which may be arranged at anytime before at the last song. If you would like to know what we charge just send us an or give us a call (773 238 0033).
Are there any other extra charges?		No. Everything will always be completely documented in a contract for our mutual understanding and protection. If you request additional lighting, sound reinforcement, DJ services or anything that requires additional personnel, rental fees or travel, lodging etc., this must be contracted and arranged in advance. We will never pop any "oh-by-the-way" charges on you ever.