COFFEE TONE
Frequently Asked Questions

The Foundations of Coffee Tone:

Coffee Tone was built around three favorite styles: Soul, Pop, and Funk*. These musical aesthetics formed the foundation of our repertoire in its early days.

Our Artistic Approach to Building Our Repertoire:

Today, our repertoire has evolved towards greater diversity, driven by the desire to share unique and meaningful moments with our audience. We aim to reach a broader audience without abandoning our first loves or compromising too much on music we care less about.

As a cover band, we do not perform original compositions. We play in event contexts where the goal is often to create an atmosphere, deliver a show, or host a festive concert with familiar songs that the audience can connect with, sing along to, participate in, or dance to.

Our professional approach as musicians is to interpret, with soul and sincerity, the most beautiful songs, both timeless classics and effective recent hits. These songs are carefully selected to create a thoughtful, well-constructed performance for most types of events.

We cater to three types of requests and thus have three types of repertoires to match the most common needs:

• The “Chill” Ambiance: For moments like welcoming guests or creating a calm atmosphere where the focus is more on ambiance than a full-on concert. This is an ideal setting for mingling, catching up, or debriefing after a conference.
  Our repertoire includes ballads and "happy feeling" songs like Lovely Day by Bill Withers, Lemon Tree by Fools Garden, or Wonderful World by Sam Cooke. The sound level is kept soft and adjusted to ensure the atmosphere remains pleasant and not intrusive.

• The Festive Dance Concert: A unique, high-energy moment, such as a company anniversary party or the dance portion of a wedding reception before the DJ set. This is the climax of an event, a moment to be remembered. Our repertoire for this scenario is entirely different. It is the result of years of work to create the most effective dance set possible. Many of our finely-crafted medleys are performed here, blending old-school and contemporary hits. The concert is designed to keep the dance floor packed and make the event unforgettable.

• A Crescendo Musical Ambiance: A mix of calm and festive, perfect for events like a wedding cocktail hour. The party hasn’t fully started yet, but we’re the launchpad for the celebration. This repertoire blends elements of the previous two, designed to gradually build the mood. At wedding cocktail hours, it’s common for guests to start dancing before the meal begins because it’s never too early to enjoy a dream evening.

The Styles of Music We Perform:

As professional musicians, we are first and foremost passionate about music, closely following all related fields. As specialists, we offer you a repertoire that we continuously improve through dedicated effort.

We draw our repertoire from the vast domain of international music, which includes numerous influences: pop, soul, funk, hip-hop, R&B, dance, Latin, gospel, jazz, folk, and more.

As you can see, the styles we perform are diverse. Our priority is to share an authentic and heartfelt moment with you.

However, no musician can master every style of music, as the variety is immense. Some styles require a lifetime of dedication to fully master.

For example, if you’re looking for a baroque music orchestra, a klezmer band, a gypsy jazz ensemble, or a death metal group, it’s better to reach out to specialists in those genres. Similarly, we are not a brass band, a salsa group, or a Brazilian music ensemble.

* To learn more about these three musical styles, check out the article on our blog.

We can indeed perform special song requests that we prepare specifically for an event, within the limits of our skills and the time we have available to accommodate the request.

Of course, depending on the effort required, a specific fee will apply.

During our discussions, we will assess the feasibility of your request based on the style of the song and the timeframe we have to prepare it. With our experience, we can also guide you and offer suggestions.

Common Scenarios for Song Requests:

• Wedding Ceremonies: During wedding ceremonies, it’s common for us to play 2 to 5 songs. You can select songs from our setlist that suit your preferences. However, if there’s a special song you love that holds particular meaning in your love story and it isn’t part of our repertoire, you can submit it to us. If it fits within our skills and style, we will prepare and perform it just for you!

• First Dance Songs: Similarly, you can suggest a song for your first dance to officially kick off the party.

• Themed Events: We occasionally receive requests for corporate events or private parties that require a specific repertoire. For example, an '80s-themed evening, a French chanson night, or a disco party.

  For this specific scenario, creating an entire themed repertoire requires significant preparation work, which will be reflected in the pricing.

We can perform in a roaming (mobile) format, but with some artistic constraints. The type of performance we provide differs between “stationary” and “mobile” setups.

Key Factors for Roaming Performances:

To perform while moving, two main factors are essential:

Instrument Portability and Sound Diffusion Method.

Typically, only ensembles with portable acoustic instruments can truly roam. These instruments must also be loud enough to maintain a balanced sound.

A brass band is the perfect example of a group designed for roaming performances. They consist mainly of wind instruments (trumpet, saxophone, trombone, tuba, sousaphone, clarinets, etc.), sometimes accompanied by percussionists using shoulder straps or harnesses that allow them to play while walking.

Some instruments, such as the acoustic guitar or vocals, are naturally much quieter. Others, like the electric guitar or bass, require amplification, meaning they need a power source.

A singer with a guitar can roam, but their performance will only be effective in an intimate setting with a quiet environment. If paired with a saxophone, for example, the sound balance may be uneven.

There are ways to roam with an amplification system, but they require additional equipment, which we will discuss below.

Our Roaming Performance Options

We offer different types of roaming performances, each affecting the way we deliver our music.

• Fully Roaming Music Performance
  
  

  There are two possible setups:

  • 100% Acoustic Roaming Band
    This setup naturally limits the instrumentation: vocals, guitar, saxophone, trumpet, and handheld percussion. Brass instruments can adjust their volume to avoid overpowering vocals and guitar, but the sound will be intimate and close-range. A full drum kit cannot be included in a roaming performance.

  • Amplified Roaming Band
    COFFEE TONE has the necessary equipment to amplify mobile musicians. A fixed multi-point sound system is set up, with various audio sources depending on the venue size and technical possibilities. All musicians use wireless microphones (HF systems).
    
    This setup allows the inclusion of an instrument like an electric bass and ensures a more balanced and evenly distributed sound across a larger area. 
    
    Example of wireless equipment for a singer.
    Example of a wireless system for connecting a guitarist.

    However, musicians must remain within the sound system’s coverage range, and the setup requires a more complex technical installation.

• Semi-Roaming Music Performance
  
  A fully roaming performance has one downside: it prevents us from including two key instruments essential to our musical style—drums and keyboards. To work around this, we offer a semi-roaming option, where the band performs in a fixed location but remains quickly movable.

  Battery-powered amplifiers: these allow for a more balanced sound, making it possible to include a percussionist (cajón) and an electric keyboard. The band can perform in one spot for about 15 minutes, then move about 50 meters and play again, repeating as needed. Although the volume remains modest, this setup stays truer to our standard performances.

  Fixed amplification with wireless systems: this option allows for a more powerful sound projection. The downside is the increased technical complexity of the setup.

• Hybrid Show with Fixed Musicians and Roaming Singers
  
  For high-end events, the band can remain on stage while singers equipped with wireless microphones move freely through the audience.

The technical aspects of sound and lighting are crucial to our performance.

The scale of the sound and lighting setup generally matches the scope of your event.

That’s why, when you contact us, it’s essential to provide detailed information about your expectations, the type of event you’re organizing, and the available resources. This allows us to offer the most suitable service for your needs.

Technical Coordination

For some public or corporate events, a dedicated technical provider is responsible for the setup. In this case, we only need to provide a technical rider detailing our requirements.

For other types of events, we can provide a customized sound and lighting service tailored to your venue and event specifications.

If you need guidance on what to prepare, let’s discuss your event details, and we’ll help ensure the best possible sound and lighting experience!

Coffee Tone has no location restrictions for performances. We perform throughout France and internationally.

Although the band is based in Lyon, we can also arrange performances from Paris, as some of our musicians either live there or travel there frequently.

Additionally, our team regularly travels for events, even in locations far from our base.

Our experience in public and private events has allowed us to collaborate with trusted partners who share Coffee Tone’s philosophy.

We offer performance packages that include:

• DJs
• Videographers
• Photographers
• Professional sound and lighting technicians

If you have more specific requests—such as dancers, stilt walkers, actors, or magicians—we can also reach out to our network. We can either provide an all-inclusive package or simply connect you with the right professionals.

Additionally, while we can often perform with multiple Coffee Tone teams on the same date, there are occasions when all our teams are fully booked. Sometimes, your request may be highly specific, such as a French guinguette-style repertoire with an accordion. In these cases, we can recommend reliable bands that specialize in the style you're looking for.

During our performances, we can play playlists before, after, or during breaks in our show.

We have Coffee Tone-style playlists available for background music.

You can also play your own playlists from your computer or phone. We just need to agree in advance to ensure the necessary technical setup is available.

If a DJ is present, they typically handle the background music, and we do not manage this aspect.

It is important to remember that playing a playlist is not a substitute for a DJ performance.

A DJ mixes live, selects tracks both beforehand and in real-time based on the energy and reactions of the guests. Their transitions are more seamless and carefully crafted, considering the style and tempo of the previous songs.

A playlist, on the other hand, is simply a pre-selected list of songs that plays in order.

☝ ⤕ Music Enthusiast or Not, Balance Is Key
It is essential to find the right balance between live music and background music to avoid overwhelming guests with continuous music. Alternating live music with background playlists, such as during dinner, helps create the perfect atmosphere.

Our performances are customized to fit the specific needs of your event. Since we cater to a wide range of event types, our set durations vary.

However, certain formats tend to be more common because they are the most practical and effective for different occasions.

Common Performance Durations

• Public Concerts (e.g., for a municipality): Typically between 1h15 to 2h, rarely longer.
• Corporate Reception (welcome music): Usually between 30 minutes and 2 hours.
• Private Party (e.g., birthday): The show typically lasts 1h30 to 2h.

Weddings usually involve three key musical moments where we perform:

1. Wedding Ceremony: Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour, we typically perform 2 to 5 songs, with 3 being the most common: entrance song for the couple, a moment of reflection, illustration, or transition, and final ceremony song.

2. Cocktail Hour / Vin d’Honneur: Duration: 1 hour to 2 hours, more relaxed and elegant background music.

3. Dance Party: Duration: 1 hour to 2 hours, more energetic and dynamic repertoire than the cocktail set.

We discuss performance time in advance to determine the best schedule for your event. We can split our playing time into multiple sets throughout the day or evening. Breaks can be filled with playlists, managed by the sound provider, the DJ, or by us—depending on prior arrangements.

For events requiring more than 2 to 2.5 hours of live music, we recommend having at least two singers, bringing the band to a minimum of 5-6 musicians. Why? Singing for more than 2 hours straight is highly demanding, and alternating between singers helps prevent vocal fatigue.

If you're planning a long event, let's discuss the best format to ensure the music stays high-quality and engaging throughout!

Generally, we are able to organize everything through email and phone exchanges.

We receive many requests, so we cannot systematically travel to meet in person or conduct site visits.

Instead, we rely on captioned photos and/or commented videos that we ask you to send us. This helps us prepare the event as effectively as possible.

However, depending on the scale of the event, the type of service required, and its logistical complexity, a meeting and technical site visit may be useful or even necessary. This is decided on a case-by-case basis.

For corporate events or private parties where audience interaction is desired, we can organize games based on songs.
Live music quiz, fill-in-the-blank lyrics, spot the mistake, performing live with the band on selected songs, etc.
We are open to your ideas and can advise you on what is possible and enjoyable to include in your event.

As mentioned, each performance is unique and depends on several factors:

• Number of musicians (band composition)
• Performance duration and total presence time at the event
• Technical requirements
• Preparation time needed for the event
• Location and travel costs (transportation, accommodation, etc.)
• Special song requests or custom arrangements

We can provide you with a personalized quote as quickly as possible.

Depending on the type of event we are performing at, there are three main scenarios:

• Events Where the Technical Setup Is Managed by the Organizer, this applies to certain corporate events or public concerts.
  
  In this case, we bring only the backline (our instruments, without the sound and lighting system). For some distant events, part or all of the backline may be rented by the organizer.

• Events Where We Provide Our Own Sound Equipment and Technical Team
  

  In these cases, we are fully self-sufficient, and the technical setup is billed according to the event’s needs. This is common for weddings and private parties, but it can also be requested for municipal concerts or corporate events.

• Events Requiring Extensive Technical Resources
  

  Some events require significant technical resources, and the organizer may wish to entrust us with both artistic direction and technical management. After consulting with our partner technical providers, we can assess the feasibility of the project. If needed, we can bring our own technical provider, who will supply the appropriate sound and lighting equipment based on the event’s requirements.

  
  Note: Some venues already have sound and lighting equipment. However, a live music setup is different from a HI-FI system or a multi-speaker setup in a meeting or conference room. We ensure in advance that the equipment available is suitable and high-quality for our performance.