About
Regent is a string quartet for hire in Footscray, VIC.
Four players, four chairs in a semi circle, and about three metres by two of floor space. That's the whole footprint of the Regent String Quartet, who work out of Footscray and cover a wedding ceremony end to end: background music while guests arrive, the bridal entry, the signing of the register, the exit, and whatever's needed afterwards. Their repertoire runs the standard quartet writing across Baroque, Classical and Romantic, then keeps going into pop, rock, jazz, nostalgia numbers and film and television themes. Corporate work is regular too. So are cocktail parties, dinners for business, trade shows and conventions, the launch of a book, engagements, anniversaries and the Christmas function. One thing worth planning for: real instruments hate weather, so shade or cover is part of the booking, not an afterthought.
The show
For a wedding, the quartet covers the ceremony from start to finish. Fifteen minutes of background music while guests arrive and find their seats, the processional for the bridal entry, music through the signing of the register and the photographs that go with it, the recessional as the couple leave, and playing on afterwards. Away from weddings they're regularly booked for corporate events and private functions: cocktail parties, business dinners, book launches, conventions, trade shows, exhibitions, engagements, anniversaries and Christmas parties.
On the day
Three metres by two of level ground is enough, with the four chairs set in a semi circle. Those chairs need to come from the venue and must be without arm rests. Lighting matters if the ceremony runs late. The important one is cover: the instruments are valuable and moisture and direct sun both damage them, so the quartet can't play in even light drizzle or full sunlight without shade. Most venues can supply market umbrellas or something similar, and it's worth sorting when you book rather than on the morning.
