Tag: band

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Corporate Event Greenville Hot As A Pepper Party Upstate Wedding

Need a band for your corporate event in Greenville or Upstate SC?

Hot_As_A_Pepper_BandHot As A Pepper is filling up the calendar for 2014 and all that is missing is your corporate event, festival or party!

If you are in the planning stages (or know anyone who is) for your event and booking entertainment is one of the tasks that you dread, don’t worry, we’ve got this!

Hot As A Pepper can bring a professional live band to your event and we can handle all the entertainment details from the music, to the audio, to the lighting, and even to the stage if so required.

Whether you are booking for a small party of 50 people, or an outdoor festival of 5000, we’re ready to go!

Our music is upbeat and covers a wide variety of styles from classic to current rock, to beach, disco, funk and even country. With our very large song list, we can switch gears on the fly and play music that moves your people.

Laid back or high energy, casual or formal – we’re the music group for you! Check out our Electronic Press Kit (EPK) and you will see a video that demonstrates a few different styles.

Want to book us? Please call 864-979-1224 or use our CONTACT FORM for more information.

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Band Chris Eller Drums Event Fun Guitar Hot As A Pepper John M. Hoyt Party Simpsonville Upstate

Megan Hoyt joins members of Hot As A Pepper for a tune at Fridays by the Fountain

Back a few days ago, Hot As A Pepper played a fun outdoor event called “Fridays by the Fountain” in Fountain Inn, SC.

The attendance was down a little due to Darius Rucker performing a few blocks away at the Charter Amphitheater / Heritage Park in Simpsonville, SC, but that didn’t stop us from doing what we do best – create a fun and funky groove that had people literally dancing in the streets!

In the middle of the show, my daughter, Megan, came up on the stage and performed a song called “Price Tag” with just me on acoustic guitar and Chris Eller accompanying us on drums. It was a joy to share the stage with her. Now, if we can only get her to come sing some backup and a few dance numbers!

Here she is…. Megan Hoyt…

If you would, please be kind and “like” her video on YouTube.

– John M. Hoyt – Bass Guitar / Vocals / Technology / Roadie

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Want a band for your next party but cannot afford it?

Here’s a common issue…  Someone wants a band for their 40th birthday party and they can’t afford it. Bummer! And an iPod just won’t cut it!

The cost of the band isn’t the only issue either! Besides paying the band for their appearance, there may be other expenses, such as renting a venue, sound and/or lighting. If the band is a popular act, they may have a rider that covers everything from transportation, accommodations, refreshments and assistants. They could require a particular size stage, union stagehands and more.

So maybe booking a band of that caliber is a bit much. Even a local band can set you back a grand, and you still have to have a place that is large enough, has enough power to provide for their audio and lighting gear, and keeps them warm / cool and dry. And, all without the neighbors calling the police for loud noise.

Here’s a suggestion – work with a local band to find a venue who might subsidize your party!

How would that work? Simply put, your party will only last a couple hours, right? A bar, club or restaurant has live music starting around 8 or 9 in the evening generally, and some as late as 10pm start times.

You might be able to work with the band and venue to secure the facility for your party from  6 to 8, or 7 to 9. The venue pays half the band’s fees and you pay half and you both get exactly what you want! You get a party at a great location, with a band all to yourself, or at least mostly to yourself, and then the bar or club gets the benefit of the band playing until they close.

The band may charge slightly more for this, as their play time is increased, but they are getting two gigs and only moving gear once.

The venue may be more than happy to entertain this idea as you are bringing 50 of your closest friends to their place, and providing them with some sales. You can probably secure a deal where they let your party have discounted booze, or a drink special.

If this sounds like something you are interested in and you are in the Upstate or Greenville SC area, give us a call and let’s talk! You might just end up with a band for 25-30% off AND have a great location for your party!

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Band Event Fun Greenville John M. Hoyt Live Entertainment Reception Wedding

Have you booked a band for your Greenville wedding reception yet?

It’s already March, and so many weddings are planned, right down the last detail. The dresses have been purchased months in advance, the cake and catering have been finalized, and even the groomsmen have been fitted for their tuxes.

But have you picked a band yet? You’re not using an iPod on shuffle are you? Or some DJ who was suggested by a friend of a friend?

If you have decided that prerecorded music is for you, at least insure you have a great sound system. Rent one from one of the reputable places around the Upstate that has a subwoofer to make the bass actually something you feel, instead of just hear. That will be certain to help a little.

However, nothing, absolutely nothing, takes the place of a live entertainment! A band brings the energy level up! Especially a group that has a wide variety of styles that will appeal to a broad majority of your attendees.

Hot As A Pepper is such a band! We play a fun and funky mix of dance and rock, with some good old Carolina Beach, country, and even a reggae tune thrown in for good measure.

Our upbeat rock from the past and present is sure to move the younger crowd, while disco, beach and funk will get just about everyone else. For those who prefer country, yes, we can do a couple tunes for them too.

If you would like more information about how Hot As A Pepper can spice up your wedding reception, please give us a call at 864-979-1224 or use the contact form on our website!

Our rates are affordable, our show is exactly what you are looking for, that is, if you want something unique and fun!

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Hot As A Pepper Greenville Band News for January 2013

Hey, it’s been a while, but here’s some updates for you…

First and foremost, we have added a member, Chris Eller, who now is the guy keeping the beat going. He’s a pretty good guy, and a terrific drummer, so be sure to pop in and check him out at one of our next public gigs.

We’re booking again… We took some time and have been working up a bunch of new material and breaking Chris in. So, if there is a venue we need to be hitting up, please let us know! We’re hoping to start filling the calendar for March and onward, but there are a lot of dates in February we are available for too!

Need a T-Shirt? It’s time to have some new ones made up! This design is extremely popular. Hard to keep them on hand for the shows, but we’ll do our best.  If you know you want one, hit us up and have us reserve one in your size. $20 dollars for one, or get two or more for 30 bucks!

Notable upcoming gigs open to the public:

2013-04-13 Heart Walk Greer
2013-04-19 Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays
2013-05-10 & 11 Bovinova 3.0

Hope to see you there!

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Band Corporate Event Event Fun Function Guitar Hot As A Pepper Live Entertainment Music Musicians

Hot As A Pepper vs DJ for your event

HOT AS A PEPPER vs  DJ

What’s the advantage of hiring “Hot As A Pepper” over a DJ?

1. UNIQUE – there’s nothing unique in the music you already have on your iPod or CD. The artistry and talent that world class musicians bring to their performance is priceless, and becoming more rare all the time. Live solos on guitar, keyboards, bass and drums won’t happen with a DJ. Not to mention the Vocal interaction of a Front man during a song getting everyone involved with the song!

2. CREATIVE FLEXIBILITY – in real time, when they have to, live bands can extend, shorten, re-arrange, vamp, transpose pitch, modify tempo, and alter lyrics of songs to fit requests and respond to “spur of the moment” dance situations. Sometimes these tools literally save the day. DJ’s can’t do these things.

3. MEMORABILITY – a phenomenal, live performance will be talked about for many years, especially when they keep an entire audience engaged for hours. But who will remember a DJ after a month?

4. ENERGY & EXCITEMENT – most people rarely, if ever get to experience the raw energy and excitement of a sizzling, live performance up close and personal and when they do, they hit the dance floor with passion from the get go. But the DJ; standing at the table, rarely moves

5. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE – how entertaining is it to watch someone wearing headphones and pushing buttons?

6. COST – a DJ may save you money, or will he/she?  You will likely spend $200-$750 for a DJ – But that’s just for one or two persons.  A reputable live band will run $500-$1,500, but that’s for 4-5 talented musicians and a show! Comparatively, that’s a very good value.

7. REPERTOIRE – the Hot As A Pepper song list is adaptable –  it allows us to pace the crowd and engage the crowd with relatable songs for the moment! A live band is not necessarily limited in what they can play. Everything we play, we make our own. If that means staying true to the original – we do that… but if it means dressing it up for fun, we can do that!

8. COMPLETE PACKAGE – if there’s any song(s) the band doesn’t currently do that you want, You can request it us to play on mp3/CD.  So with our live band, you have absolutely everything!

Edited & re-used by permission from  MBBand / LA & Michael Benson

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Introducing Hot As A Pepper’s newest band member…

Galen Fowler – Keyboardist

It is with great excitement that we make this announcement…

After a long search, we have finally located the missing member of our band…  No, he wasn’t lost, we just had not found what we were looking for until now; A keyboardist who can sing, play guitar and chew gum at the same time!

We would like to welcome Galen Fowler, who has been playing professionally since 1980.  He was the front man for The Majestics in the 90’s and more recently he was with Flashback The Party Band from Charlotte NC.  His specialty is the keyboard, however HAAP might be able to put up with him playing guitar from time to time.  Galen works in industrial sales.  He has a beautiful wife Barbara and three children, Raleigh, Andrew, and Jennifer.  Galen is also a huge fan of the South Carolina Gamecocks.  He will be a great addition to Hot As A Pepper.

Galen also opens the door for Hot As A Pepper to be Cool As A Cucumber for more laid back and intimate performances, such as dinner before the big event, and without question, he brings with him a large repertoire of music we could not have performed previously!

Please come out and see him in his debut performance this coming Saturday, November 3rd at Pop A Top in Piedmont where HAAP will be playing a benefit for the Charles Stokes family… We start at 6:00 PM….

John – Hot As A Pepper bassist

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Band Corporate Event Curtis Butler Event Fun Function Greenville Hot As A Pepper Live Entertainment Music Musicians Party Upstate

It’s Party Time! Book a band – TODAY!

It's Party Time!
It’s Party Time!

IT’S PARTY TIME!

This is the time of year where parties abound! Whether it be for the occasion of a Family reunion of some sort, a sports team’s important game or the three biggest holidays of the year; there are more than your fair share of reasons to host an event that will certainly uplift everybody’s spirits and enhance the mood for all.

Now, I can’t begin to tell you what kind of food to serve as each type of soirée is suited best by a different type of menu. I can’t tell you who to invite because lets face it… only you know who you want there.

Neither can I tell you where you should have it. Do you have your own party barn? Back 40? Favorite watering hole? Perhaps you’d consider renting out a site.

Is this thing gonna be formal? Themed? What’s it’s purpose? Do we bring Dates or will cousins suffice?

I gotta tell you… You sure have stirred a lot of questions and I’ve only got one answer: Hot As A Pepper is the band you need to call! Between the professionalism of the musicians and the experience there isn’t anything this group of guys hasn’t seen. We can play it… Make it FUN… AND ensure that the poor soul that decides to miss your event will be sorry!

Contact us for the times and dates you have in mind before someone else does!! ….namely that person whom you weren’t going to invite – you think they’d invite you to their’s???

We play parties in the Greenville South Carolina area and all over the Upstate. If your event is big enough, we’ll travel to you!

Curtis Butler – Percussionist

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Band Corporate Event Curtis Butler Event Fun Greenville Hot As A Pepper Live Entertainment Music Party Venue

SC Paralegal Association event at Embassy Suites in Greenville, SC

There are parties you look forward to and others, well… let’s face it – you just don’t know WHAT to expect! – Am I right?? Well, when Hot As A Pepper was contacted to play an event for the SC Paralegal Association at the Greenville EMBASSY on Verde, we thought Uh-Oh…. But – hey, we just surmised that EVERYONE likes to have a good time, Right?? Do they EVER!!

We had a BLAST… these are some hard working people who; by day, surely do not get enough appreciation for all the effort they put in, but what can be said but that they CERTAINLY know how to dole out the appreciation! These Guys and Gals know how to simply have fun!

Hot As A Pepper would have to admit that This gig was one for the memory books! Even though the long day had taken it’s toll on a few; most of the attendee’s stayed on and really let their hair down, danced and sang along as each song was played effortlessly by this seasoned group. From requests and acappella renditions to Rockin’ & Groovin’, there wasn’t a song that didn’t have someone’s toes tapping or singing along!

We had so much fun we were asked to play their 2013 event; invited to play a private party and are going to be actively plugged to be regulars at a local watering hole! Sounds like a successful night if you ask me!

Don’t miss out on your chance to see & hear Hot As A Pepper – or better yet, BOOK them while you can! You can use our CONTACT FORM or call 864-979-1224 for more information.

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The Clemson fraternity semi-formal event we were hired to play in Pendleton SC was fun!

A Clemson University fraternity hired Hot As A Pepper to play their semi-formal event last weekend at the beautiful and historic Woodburn House in Pendleton SC.

There was food (prepared by a fraternity member), lovely young ladies and dancing. LOTS of dancing!

You can find a couple of the videos under our Videos link.

Is your fraternity or sorority planning a fun event where live music entertainment may be of interest? If so, our band wants to play it!  Please give us a call at 864-979-1224 or use our contact form to request a quote.

Wherever your college / university is within a couple hours of The Upstate, we will go to you and bring party fun with us!