Hiring Jazz Bands in Sydney - Prices, Videos and What to Ask
There are 50 jazz bands on Entertainers for Hire in Sydney. This guide gathers what they have published about themselves, so you can narrow the field before asking anyone for a quote.
Start with the line-up
Size shapes almost everything else: how full the sound is, how much floor you give up, and what you pay. Among the Sydney jazz bands that give a size, the one you will see most is 6 people.
| Size | Where it works | Acts |
|---|---|---|
| 6 people | Big rooms where the goal is a packed dance floor | 6 |
| 5 people | A typical reception or function room | 3 |
| 4 people | A typical reception or function room | 3 |
| 3 people | Background music, ceremonies and compact spaces | 2 |
| 10 people | Big rooms where the goal is a packed dance floor | 2 |
What it costs in Sydney
8 of the Sydney jazz bands list a guide price. The one in the middle asks $1,000. Half of them sit between $600 and $1,500, and the whole spread runs from $300 to $2,200.
| Price point | From |
|---|---|
| Lower end | $600 |
| Middle | $1,000 |
| Upper end | $1,500 |
Where to start your shortlist
These have filled in the most detail, from biography and line-up to songs and price. That is the only order used here. It says nothing about who plays best.
By type, Sydney has 50 jazz bands in this listing.
Watch before you shortlist
26 of the Sydney jazz bands have a performance video on their page. A minute of real footage tells you more about how an act sounds and holds a room than any written description. A few to start with:
Songs Sydney crowds hear most
Counted across 28 set lists from Sydney jazz bands. It shows what a local crowd is likely to know, and gives you somewhere to begin your own must-play and please-skip lists.
| Song | Set lists |
|---|---|
| Fly Me To The Moon | 14 |
| Cheek To Cheek | 10 |
| My Funny Valentine | 10 |
| Night And Day | 10 |
| All Of Me | 9 |
| Autumn Leaves | 9 |
| Bye Bye Blackbird | 8 |
| It Had To Be You | 8 |
| My Baby Just Cares For Me | 7 |
| Ive Got You Under My Skin | 7 |
| Summertime | 7 |
| Blame It On The Boogie | 7 |
Events outside Sydney
12 of the 50 jazz bands here say how far they will go. 8 cover 200 km or more, some anywhere in the state or the country. 1 go somewhere between 50 and 200 km, and 3 stay within 50 km. For a venue out of town, name it in your enquiry: travel and a night's accommodation usually go on the quote.
Paperwork your venue may ask for
Venues often want to see public liability insurance, and anything involving children usually needs a Working With Children Check. In Sydney, 9 list public liability insurance.
Before you book
Jazz bands in Sydney: common questions
What should I budget for a jazz band in Sydney?
Half of the 8 jazz bands here that list a guide price sit between $600 and $1,500, and the figure in the middle is $1,000. Treat that as a starting point, not a quote. Your date, the hours you need and the size of the line-up move it, so ask each act to price your actual night.
Can I see a jazz band perform before I book?
Yes, for 26 of them. Their pages have a performance video you can play, which tells you more about how they sound and look in a room than any description can.
Will a Sydney jazz band travel to a regional venue?
Many will. 12 of the jazz bands listed here say how far they go, and 8 of those cover 200 km or more. Mention the venue when you enquire, because travel and accommodation usually get added to the quote.
How big should the line-up be?
In Sydney the most common size is 6 people. Go smaller for a ceremony, dinner or a tight room, and bigger when the goal is a full dance floor in a large venue.
What happens once I send an enquiry?
Each act you picked replies with a written quote for your date. Put them side by side, check what each one includes, then decide. Enquiring costs nothing and you are not committed to anyone.