The New Monopoly prides itself on making your special event perfect.
We have provided this list
in the hope it will answer some questions we receive on a regular basis about the New Monopoly.
Q. My significant other and I have selected a song for our first dance, but it is not on your general song list. Will The New Monopoly be able to perform our special song for us?
A. Yes, if the request is made * in writing * at least 90 days prior to the engagement, we can prepare your special song for you. Each new song we perform requires extensive advance preparation, so it is vital we receive your request as soon as possible. Additionally, you may request any number of songs that appear on our current song list. We do, however, limit the number of requests that are not on our song list to one per engagement and encourage you to pick songs from our already large and varied selection. We will be happy to play a CD of other requests on our breaks or at any pre-determined time during your event.
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Q. I am concerned about the volume while my guests are eating dinner.
How loud is The New Monopoly?
A. We are more than happy to accommodate all volume guidelines and
work within any parameters you may have. Our sound engineers have
designed our audio system from the ground up to have a minimal
amount of excess noise. In other words - we have taken special
care to ensure the band sounds terrific at all volume levels.
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Q. Does The New Monopoly really sound as good live as it does on its demo material?
A. In short, Yes. We have spent countless hours over the course of our time together to acheive a consistent sound every engagement. We also take pride in how closely our arrangements match the original recordings, and how well we can adapt to performing different eras of music. Swing, doo-wop, Motown, disco, new wave, current tunes, and ballads - each style is performed with top-notch proficiency.
We also did not (as many groups do) overdub, or add to, our demo material beyond what you will hear live. Everything you hear on our website is exactly what you will hear at your engagement. For those who have not heard us yet - you will be plesantly surprised at how good a live band can sound. Ask around!
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Q. I am holding my reception at a particularly small area. I know the band is eight pieces - will you be able to accommodate a small stage area?
A. Believe it or not - yes. Our representatives provide all of our clients with a rider detailing the stage size normally required. We will, however, with advance notice, arrange to have a smaller system brought in for the evening - and reduce the stage size normally allocated to each performer. While we prefer a larger area to work in (it can be tough perform our full show on a small stage), we will absolutely work with any stage area your venue may have to offer.
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Q. What kind of lights does the band use?
A. The band uses 12 Martin moving head fixtures plus specials when needed. We chose these because they do not require bulky stands, and they also allow us to use one fixture to access the entire spectrum of color if we only have space or power for a smaller space. These are the same brand and model of lights you see on television when national groups are performing. We provide this superior lighting package at no additional cost. No other group in this area provides this level of system without charging a signifant premium.
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Q.What are those ear pieces your singers wear during your performances?
A. In order to eliminate the need for bulky stage monitors (speakers that point back at the band for us to hear ourselves while playing or singing) we opted to purchase what are known as in-ear monitor systems. Wireless just like our microphones, these Shure wireless in-ears monitors allow us to hear ourselves consistenly. Most national artists seen on television or performing live concerts use this same system. We can leave the stage to join the audience, or switch stage positions for show presentations and still hear ourselves perfectly. And best of all - the elimination of stage monitors allows us to perform MUCH quieter than other groups - and the stage looks more attractive, also!
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Q. The New Monopoly has such a large song list that I am concerned I will not be hearing exactly the type of music that I want. Is it possible to pre-arrange the group's set list so that I hear only those songs I really enjoy - and the group avoids those selections I do not particularly want to hear?
A. Absolutely. Our set lists are completely flexible and can be tailored to your specific tastes. Special set list requests must be made * in writing * at least 60 days prior to the engagement or the client agrees that the New Monopoly will select appropriate material for your event based on the needs of your specific audience. Due to the extensive nature of our song list, not all songs are in current rotation. Therefore, we require advance notice to make sure all of your selections are sounding their best!
One of the biggest mistakes we see when couples select songs for their wedding is that they pick a set of tunes that may be appropriate for "around the house" listening, or they pick only tunes from a particular decade. The best advice we can give is to keep the song list as flexible and open as possible. By all means, select the core group of tunes you would like to hear, but keep in mind that on any given night certain songs are going to be a "hit" with a particular crowd and others are going to "just lay there." Part of what you hire when you contract The New Monopoly is our expert ability to "read" your crowd and give them an exciting night of dancing all evening. If you block out too many tunes, that job becomes very difficult.
A specially formatted ".pdf" song list is available for download on our Song List page so that you may check off the songs you would like to hear and then fax your responses to our representatives. Be sure to include your name and the date of your engagement on your requested play list.
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Q. How long has New Monopoly been together in their current form?
A. While some members of our group had worked together prior to this group being put together, New Monopoly has been working consistenly since 1999 (as of 2009). The average length of time each member has been with us is eight years. Three of our members are original, having been on stage for "day-one". The most recently joining member joined us five years ago, but was involved in New Monopoly's creation - having almost 50 years of personal experience in professional music - nationally, regionally, and locally.
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Q. Does the New Monopoly have any merchandise (such as tee-shirts, hats, etc.) available?
A. Yes - We just recently made an agreement with our distributor to offer New Monopoly merchandise. Click here to order your monopoly logo hats, t-shirts, etc. now! We do not currently offer CDs or cassettes, though we are working on a full-length album at the request of our fan base.
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Q. What is the plastic screen you sometimes have around your drummer used for?
A. This plexiglass "clearsonic" screen is one of the methods we use to keep our stage volume at a reasonable level. By using the screen, our front-of-stage sound engineer can more efficiently control the volume you, the audience, hear.
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