Tag: hire

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Band Block Party Event Festival Fun Greenville Hot As A Pepper Live Entertainment Music Party Upstate

Time to plan those neighborhood block parties!

Summer Block Party BandThe weekend was a beautiful preview of what spring has in store for us with temps almost touching 70 degrees.

It has some of you thinking about throwing a neighborhood block party or other outdoor event, and what goes perfect with parties? Hot As A Pepper!  We’re ready to play for your individual gathering or your multi-neighbor party.

Why book a band for your block party? Because live entertainment builds excitement and energy. It can get people dancing and interacting in ways a boom box can’t!

Bands are fun and dynamic, take requests and help keep the momentum going.

What does a band need from you?

  • A level place to setup. Hopefully 10×12 ft or larger.
  • Cover for the band and equipment is always nice in case of rain, or to help prevent sun stroke if in the heat of a summer day.
  • Reliable power in the form of a 20 Amp outlet nearby, or a couple 15 Amp circuits.
  • Neighbors who are understanding that sound actually extends past your property line.
  • Food and beverages – don’t forget to feed your entertainment, they perform better!
  • Clear communication regarding setup, start and end times.

How much does it cost to hire a band for a block party?  That depends on several factors.

How long do you need entertainment for? Are you providing the sound system or is the band? If it is going be at night, are lights going to be desired?  Do you want an actual stage?

If you would like to talk about the details, please give us a call at 864.979.1224 or use our CONTACT FORM. We will be happy to give you a quote, and we can also handle every last detail of the entertainment for you, so you don’t even have to think about anything other than what potato salad recipe to use!

We travel within a few hours of the Greenville and Upstate SC area!

 

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Band Chris Eller Event Fun Function Greenville Horns Hot As A Pepper John M. Hoyt Live Entertainment Music Party Reception Upstate Venue Wedding

Hot As A Pepper band receives accolades for playing an Upstate wedding reception

Hot As A Pepper loves playing wedding receptions and parties! Why? Because we get to hang out with people who want nothing more than to have fun, and more importantly, we get to share in a very special moment in a couple’s lives!

One couple, Todd & Joy, had seen our band perform at one of our favorite venues to play (The Spot on The Alley in Seneca) and decided that we would compliment their wedding day well, so they booked us for the wedding reception.

Their wedding director, Dee, was incredible, tending to every last detail, and making the venue (The Lighthouse) look more beautiful than it ever had for other events we have played there.

My Daughter, Megan Hoyt, played piano for the ceremony music and afterwards, sang and played piano and guitar for the cocktail hour music. I even sat in with Chris Eller to accompany her on a couple songs.

Then, Hot As A Pepper fired up and played a few special songs we had learned for the bride and groom’s first dance and the father/daughter dance, etc…. After which we saw a non-stop dance party until the last chords rang out. During the breaks we kept the crowd going with some popular line dance songs that had been requested.

Mission accomplished! It was an amazing night for the band!

Yesterday, we received this posting from the newlyweds on our Facebook Page:

Client supplied photo of guests enjoying some Hot As A Pepper!
Client supplied photo of guests enjoying some Hot As A Pepper!

Todd Scharich > ‎Hot As A Pepper:

Thank you to Hot As A Pepper for providing a memorable night of entertainment at our recent wedding at the Lighthouse! The dance floor was full all-night long, with great selections of all genres from beach music and through every decade including current hits. The band was a pleasure to work with and we look forward to seeing them again soon. Thanks to Chip, John and the rest of the band!

I guess I don’t have to tell you… This is the icing on the cake! When you can do what you love doing, such as your band playing for a wedding, and then get positive feedback that people loved your work, it just doesn’t get better than this!
Thank you to Todd & Joy for trusting in Hot As A Pepper to play for their wedding. We wish you two a long lifetime of happy times and great music! We want to play for your anniversary parties!
– John
John plays bass for Hot As A Pepper and writes nonsense such as this blog post and silly comments on the band’s facebook page.  The band is available for your wedding reception, party or other event in the Greenville area and out a few hours. We can provide a smaller “core” band of 4 or 5 people, or we can add our horns and an additional vocalist to cover just about any style of music you may desire!
Need cocktail or dinner hour music? How about ceremony music? We can handle all that. Give us a call, or use this FORM to get info on how to book or hire Hot As A Pepper!
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Band Corporate Event Event Festival Fun Greenville Horns Party

Greenville SC Main Street Friday was super duper fun!

Our horn section, “The Habanero Horns”, made their public debut last Friday to a few thousand of our closest friends at Greenville’s Main Street Friday show.

Ed Wimberly and Ryan Kouvolo did a bang up job and we have had people complimenting them for days!

If you would like to book Hot As A Pepper for your corporate event, or a wedding, or maybe your high school reunion, we can plug in the horns for just a little extra and they will take it to another level!

Here’s our favorite song from the Main Street gig:

Hot As A Pepper is ready, willing and able to book your shindig!  Let’s talk about that…

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Band Event Fun Function Greenville Hot As A Pepper John M. Hoyt Live Entertainment Music Party Spartanburg Upstate

Planning a sorority party or fraternity function and need a band?

Hot As A Pepper has become a HOT commodity in the fraternity and sorority scene. Seems that students can really get into dance music like disco, beach, funk and rock which is exactly what we bring!

Why not book us for your next college event? We’re fun, we’re funky, and we’re ready to help you dance the night away.  Call us today at 864-979-1224 or use the BOOKING link!

Here’s a recent sorority gig down in Clemson…   On stage, the crowd was just about the same level when they sang along as our monitors! Seems like they were having a blast!

Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”

The Beatles “Twist & Shout”

We can handle all the entertainment needs so you don’t have to think about that part! From the stage, to the lights to the audio, to the music during breaks – we’ve got this!

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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 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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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!

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Band Bar Charity Club Corporate Event Event Festival Fun Greenville Hot As A Pepper John M. Hoyt Live Entertainment Music Party Reception Simpsonville Upstate Wedding

We’re booking gigs all around the Upstate – Greer, Simpsonville, Clemson, Greenville, Piedmont!

Our calendar is filling quickly thanks to good friends spreading the word about a band that wants to bring fun and funky live music entertainment to your Upstate SC gig!

We have several tentative bookings, but as it stands, here are the current confirmed performances:

Sept. 22 – Woodburn House / Ashtabula Plantation semi-formal – Private Event
Sept. 29 – Sippin’ In Simpsonville – Oktoberfest (ROCKTOBERFEST!) – Public Event / $15 in advance, $20 day of.
Oct. 5 – Private event at the Embassy in Greenville
Oct. 13 – Quaker Steak & Lube in Greenville for “Guard Your Life” event – Public Event
Nov. 3 – Poker run charity fundraiser at Pop A Top in Piedmont, SC – Public Event
Dec. 8 – Rhythm & Brews in Greer, SC – Public Event

We’ll work on getting our calendar up to date and possibly change the format of it so it is easier to see at a glance, as well as get notifications.  Facebook events will be added for all public events.

Would you like to hire Hot As A Pepper to provide music for your festival, dance, graduation, reunion, wedding reception or rehearsal, engagement party or some other reason? Please call us at 864.979.1224 for more information!