Frequently Asked Questions
HIRE A REAL BAND
WHO YOU SEE IS WHO YOU GET! A set group that always plays together.
We are a band, not an agency, which means we play together all the time, and the musicians you see at our showcase will be the musicians at your event. Companies that can “build your dream band of 5-16 pieces" aren’t really bands at all - that's an agency or collective model that books multiple events any given day and send freelancers together to try pull it off - often playing together for the very first time!
The Storytellers has 15 years of history, well earned chemistry and we bring killer dance parties to every event we play.
This is what you want for your amazing once in a life time (and likely very expensive) party!
Trust in the old school model of set bands, which is exactly what we are.
Unlike many other bands or agencies in New York City, most of us started out as friends in music school and after grad school, we found that most of us had moved to NYC to tackle the big apple. While we all have Broadway, jazz, rock and other projects, we also have a mutual love of dance hits, cover songs and 'B' sides. Herein the band was born and has been going strong since 2010.
Our experience as musicians extends well beyond the realm of weddings and corporate events. Members of our organization have performed in concerts, tours, television shows, on Broadway, as well as recordings with Adele, Rag’n’Bone Man, Charles Bradley, Lukas Graham, Quantic, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Frank Ocean, BB King, Gavin DeGraw, Solomon Burke, Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Ben E. King, Clarence Carter, The Four Tops, Ice T, Maceo Parker, The Spin Doctors, Snarky Puppy, Ben Folds, Jon Bellion, Twenty One Pilots, and Michael Bolton, to name a few.
YES, the band you see is the band you get! Don't be fooled by 'collectives' and huge agencies that randomly throw players together to pump out as many bands as they can. Come see a Storytellers show, meet us, get to know us and we'll see you on your big day. Who you see and meet is who you get. Our owner Candace will be with you from the first phone call to the last song of your event.
Of course! You can't have a fully functional team without alternates, but they are not always warming the bench. We often pull in our alternates for weddings and club shows to keep everyone fresh, but it's a very small pool of players, literally 1 or 2 back up persons for each position. We can't let the ship sink if one person is out sick.
We believe that planning the entertainment aspect of your party should be stressless. Storytellers NYC has developed a hard-earned reputation for excellent communication, organization, attention to detail, and professionalism. As important it is that we provide with you an exceptional musical presentation, it is equally important that we provide you with exceptional service during the planning stages. We have significant experience not only in the entertainment industry, but also in the events industry. We’ll utilize customized online planning documents that you can access 24/7 to help us track all important band-related details pertaining to your special day. There are a lot of moving parts involved in planning a big party, but we strive to take the mystery out of putting them into place.
Throwing the ultimate dance party is our passion, so we love to play hits ranging from today’s top songs to favorites spanning every decade: 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s. We’ll customize our playlist to your personal preferences: whether that be mainly Classic Dance, current hits, 90s R&B, classic rock, or a true mix of variety – we deliver the best party you could imagine. Be sure to check out our massive (and ever-expanding) song list!
Yes, we encourage you to come see one of our live shows or showcases. Who you see and meet is who you get! In other words, we're a set band and there will be no surprises at your event - the band is set and our regular players will be at your party.
Yes! One or more musician can play music during the ceremony and or cocktail hour. Most clients choose to hire a guitarist or pianist to provide an elegant ambiance. Because our band includes so many formally trained jazz musicians, couples often request our jazz trio featuring sax, piano and upright bass for cocktail hour.
We have a large and fully rehearsed library of ceremony music ranging from Bach to Beatles to modern hits. We can put together an ensemble that suits your vision for your ceremony and best suits the music you choose. We’ll write custom arrangements for any songs you’d like for your ceremony.
Absolutely! Despite our lengthy song list, people often ask for special dance songs that are not included in our standard repertoire. We ask that you provide us with any special requests one month ahead of your event so we have time to fully prepare.
The band dresses in formal attire unless otherwise requested.
Sure! We are based in Brooklyn, NY and have performed hundreds of weddings in the tri-state area. However…this hasn’t stopped us from traveling as far as Washington DC, Chigaco, or even St. Thomas!
Yes, our lead singers will act as emcee for your party. In addition to the entertainment industry, we have significant experience in the field of corporate event planning. That same level of service will be provided to you as we work closely with you and your venue or catering team to develop a schedule that enhances the flow of your event and MAXIMIZES dancing throughout!
Storytellers NYC is fully insured and proof of insurance can be provided to your venue.
You pay no tax on our services and pricing always includes standard main stage sound system and production crew. We strive to be as transparent as possible with pricing. There are never any hidden fees.
Our sound engineer brings in the sound system and lighting for the band stage area at the reception.
We do not carry a stage (no bands do! image storing that in a walk up apartment in Brooklyn!!)
A stage can be rented through local A/V or staging companies, and your venue can likely refer a preferred vendor to you.
From our founders Candace & Sara:
“Aside from being highly personable, our band as a unit provides infectious energy and flexibility at our shows. The performance is completely customizable to suit what YOU envision for YOUR event. We never lose sight that the party is all about you and your wedding day. As musical directors, our approachable and detail-oriented natures will ensure the success of your party and make working with us an stress-free experience. No questions, no matter how big or small, will be left unanswered, and you will be able to sit back enjoy the biggest night of your life. As one groom put it: ‘we walked in the room, sat in the back, and were taken by the fact that everyone was having such a great time. We couldn’t believe this was our own party.’ It’s our goal to provide this to each and every couple that we work with.”
– Candace DeBartolo and Sara Jacovino (Co-Founders)