The Mutual Fun Band
About us
MUTUAL FUN is a versatile 4, 5 and 6-piece live band
playing a wide variety of dance music, from Motown to Classic Rock and Roll,
Oldies to current Top 40, even Disco, Country and Big Band music. Our amazing
versatility and wealth of experience has made us one of the most popular bands
in the Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, and the Virginia area. Our core
group has been playing together since 1992. Whether you prefer the classic
oldies or the hits from 70’s, 80’s, 90’s or today, MUTUAL FUN can do it
all. Our wide range of music makes us well suited for practically any occasion.
MUTUAL FUN always delivers the best in live entertainment. The Mutual
Fun Band features live musicians, singers and entertainers specializing in
weddings and private parties. You and your guests are sure to be dancing all
night long!
Planning that special event? Looking for the right entertainment? Whether you’re planning a wedding, dinner dance, corporate event or any special occasion, MUTUAL FUN brings you the best in live music.
In fact, speaking
of special occasions - We had the honor of playing a surprise birthday party for the
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and the event was attended by the
President of the United States!!
|
Radiant in a
scarlet Oscar de la Rental gown, Rice could be
seen on the dance floor getting jiggy to The Commodores' “Brick House". - People Magazine Dec 6, 2004 Condoleezza was nice enough to pose with the band. She
actually said to us “My feet never hurt so bad from dancing all night long!” |
The President making his rounds
“I want to thank
you for your support.
Now, about that new shopping mall you want to build,
I think we can work something out…” Also – “What a
great band, Huh?” |
Pictures taken at the British Embassy 11/13/2004
We’ve also been selected as the choice band for numerous
embassy functions over the years! In fact, we’ve played almost half of embassy
row!
Picture taken with Rear Admiral Raydon Gates, the Head of Australian Defence
at the Australian Embassy
July 29, 2006
MUTUAL FUN has not only played for numerous political functions, but many large corporate events as well. Our previous corporate clients include:
|
SAIC |
Dewey Ballentine |
Monarch Meetings |
|
University of Maryland |
Boys and
Girls Club |
Dewey
Ballentine |
|
Moore and Lee law firm |
National
Marine Manufacturers Assoc. |
Caring
Communities |
|
Reinhart Food Services |
Blue Print
Automation |
AARP |
|
Respironics |
Sleeptech |
And many,
many more! |
Many of these are repeat clients!
MUTUAL FUN has also performed thousands of wedding and parties. Mutual Fun performs anywhere in the Maryland, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania and Virginia area. Have function happening out of town? No problem! We have traveled to southern spots like Richmond or Norfolk, northern locations like Pittsburg, Philadelphia, even to Dover, Delaware and the eastern shore at Ocean City. Wherever you need music – MUTUAL FUN can be there. Mutual Fun is far from your “typical” wedding band – they are an extremely talented show band and party band that will make your evening memorable.
Looking for something smaller? Mutual Fun entertainers can
scale down to as small as four pieces and still provide a wide variety of
entertainment and music.
Looking for something bigger? Six pieces not enough? No
problem! We can add more horns to give you that REALLY big band sound. Or how
about more vocalists out front? Again, not a problem. We can make the band
exactly the way you want it!
What Mutual Fun Provides
Live Music
There is NOTHING like live music. No D.J. will ever compare to a live band that is dancing and singing live right in front of you. This is not Karaoke – this is the real thing! The energy of the group will get your audience up and moving! Our expert musicianship, strong vocal leads and harmonies create an authentic sound and feel to every style of music we play. We cover every style of music, and can be as laid back as you want, or as rockin’ as you need. We know how to keep the music light while everyone is eating, and how to pack the floor when they are ready to dance. We use no sequencers or taped backing tracks like some groups – everything you see with us is being actually played live.
Break Music
We provide a variety of CD music for you on our breaks at no
extra cost, so you do not need to incur the added expense of a D.J. to have
constant music. We can provide the music ourselves for the breaks, or if you
have specific material that you would like, simply provide us the CD and we
will be happy to use that instead.
Live Entertainment and Audience Interaction
Several of our musicians are wireless and can go out into the audience and interact with the guests. We also love to find those great party songs that people on the dance floor can all sing along to. This makes for a really fun party!
Lighting
We have our own lighting system including several trees of
lights, disco lights, strobes, lasers and even a fog machine (if the facility
permits – we once had the fire trucks come because no one knew there were smoke
detectors hidden in the ceiling!). We bring the nightclub to you! This really
adds a tremendous effect for those dancing. Not looking for something that
flashy? No problem, we also have simple lighting systems that will provide just
the right “ambience” without all the flash and glitz.
Sound
We provide the complete sound system for the evening. We
have sufficient equipment to cover even the largest halls or outdoor events. In
addition, we can handle all of the announcements, introductions, etc. for you.
Experience
We can help coordinate the evening’s activities and even
provide the hosting for the event. We’ll take care of all of the introductions
and announcements for the evening. On average, we have over 25 years of experience
for each member of the group. We have played EVERY type of function imaginable
– From fancy, formal Balls and Embassy functions to casual outdoor Festivals
and backyard parties.
Courtesy of
Stephanie Miller Photography
Ceremony and Cocktail Music
Mutual Fun can be a one stop shop for all your music needs. Whether it be for keyboard based music or a live vocal performance for the ceremony, or keyboards and Sax for a cocktail hour, Mutual Fun can address all these needs. This not only can save you money, but simplify the entire event coordination by just dealing with a single vendor. .
Mutual Fun Players
A band is only as good as the players.
Click HERE to see the Mutual Fun Players!
Audio samples
To hear some audio samples from our CD, or to view some
video clips from our tape, click below:
Audio Samples
All audio samples are in .mp3 format. You need an audio
player tool to play these. You can use built in windows tools like Windows
Media Player or free third party audio players like winamp, realplayer,
etc..
The low bandwidth version is recommended for users with a
dial up connection. It has a much lower audio quality to maintain a smaller
file size. The high bandwidth version is CD quality, but it is recommended that
users have DSL or cable access to download, as they can be QUITE large!
Low Quality Bandwidth versions (Below) High
Quality Bandwidth Versions (Below – may need Internet Explorer to load)
What I
Like About You / Hey Jealousy What I
Like About You / Hey Jealousy
Get Down
Tonight / Shotgun Get
Down Tonight / Shotgun
Sentimental
Reasons Sentimental
Reasons
Dance
to the Music Dance
to the Music
Jump Jive
and Wail Jump Jive and
Wail
From
This Moment From
This Moment
Video samples
Video Samples
Low
Bandwidth (dialup) versions (Requires Real Media Player) Note: Audio and video quality is low to keep file size
smaller!
High
Bandwidth (DSL/Cable) versions (Requires Windows Media Player)
I Saw her Standing There Part1 (Live) I Saw her Standing There Part2 (Live) I Saw her Standing There Part3 (Live) I Saw her Standing There Part4 (Live)
I Swear Part 1 (Live) I Swear Part 2 (Live)
MyGirl Part 1 (Live) MyGirl Part 3 (Live)
Just
The Way You Are Intrumental (Live)
For more videos and ultra high quality video and sound,
contact us for a copy of our DVD! The DVD version has much more than just the
videos. It has slideshows, band interviews, and funny outtakes as well! And
best of all –it’s FREE!
Disclaimer: Some audio and video files
on this website and dvd may include the work of one or more former members of
Mutual Fun. Consequently, no representation, expressed or implied, is
created by such audio files that all performers in such audio files are
currently members of Mutual Fun.
Song list
We have an extensive song list that covers all the popular
music genres. This list below represents only a portion of our musical library
most commonly requested and played. If there is a song that you don’t see our
list but would liked played at your function, we would be happy to learn it for
you (assuming we don’t already know it!)
Click here to get a copy of our song list.
References
Click here to see all the great
Mutual Fun References!
Job Requirements
Playing
time and Breaks
A typical evening consists of a 4 hour job with 40-45
minutes of continuous playing time, and 15-20 minutes of break. During the
breaks, taped music will be provided so you will have continuous music
coverage. If you have an unusual schedule, filled with various activities, we
are happy to accommodate you.
Space
The band requires adequate space to provide room for the 6
musicians, sound and lighting system. This space is typically at least 8 feet
deep (12ft preferred) x approximately 25-30 feet wide depending on the band
size. We’ve played in very tight spaces before, and can do so for your job, but
it does prevent our mobility and crowd interaction. In any case, don’t let the
space requirements deter you – you can make it work whatever the size! A stage
is not required but you may want it simply for the presentation as it really
adds to the effect of the band. When playing outdoors, the space where the band
is located must be covered and protected from the elements and a flat stable
platform must be provided. The band requires access to this space up to 2 hours
prior to job start time that we use to load the equipment in, setup, and
perform a sound check.
Power
For a complete sound and light show, we require five (5) independent standard 15 amp circuits of dedicated power to sufficiently power all the sound and light equipment. This is a conservative number and includes sufficient reserve for unforeseen circumstances. Dedicated power means the outlets/circuits are solely available for use by the band, and are not shared by videographers, caterers, etc. If you are holding your function at a hotel, please coordinate with the Hotel manager as typically they can arrange a special power box to be setup for the band, or they have designed the stage area to have special, dedicated power already just for this purpose. If you are holding your function at a much older facility (like a historical building), or an outside tent (which we have played many, many times), the electrical situation may not be adequate in the same area where the band will be located. Regardless, we can run extension cords to other areas of the facility to get adequate power, and we can provide all the necessary cables, so don’t worry! This is usually the case with private homes as well – which we’ve also played many times. Regardless of the location or age, it is always important to check with the facilities manager and let them know of the power requirements ahead of time. Always be prepared. The last thing you want is a fuse getting blown right in the middle of your first dance because the caterer plugged a coffee pot into a shared power source that the band was using! Don’t laugh – I’ve seen it happen….
In any case, regardless of the facility, we will scale our
show to fit within the available power limits and there has never been a
facility or location that we could not play. However, meeting these power requirements above will
provide the best show possible!
Songs
Although we have a vast song list, we are more than happy to
learn a couple of tunes for your special function. Maybe there is a special
song that you heard when you met your (soon to be) spouse, or a special song
for the Father/Daughter dance. We have played many, many songs over the years
and most of them are not reflected on our current song list. If you have
specific selections from our song list that you want us to play – or NOT play,
be sure to let us know in advance and we’ll be happy to accommodate you!
Attire
Most functions call for more formal attire. No problem! We
have several different tuxedo ‘looks’ that can be accommodated. If your
function is less formal, that’s no problem either. We will appropriately dress
in ‘smart casual’. If you are REALLY looking for something laid back and completely
informal, tropical Hawaiian shirts fit us just fine! Just let us know the style
you wish us to present.
Ashburn Summer Kickoff
See – We don’t HAVE to wear stuffy tuxes if you don’t want
us too!
(but we have no problem with them either)
Olney Summer Concert Series
If you don’t specify attire –you get this by default!
Ok – All (Mutual) fun aside, 99% of the functions we play we wear tuxedos, so don’t worry about our presentation!
Photo provided by L
Hewitt Photography
Food
Moving equipment, setting up, and playing takes a lot of
energy! To keep up with this, it helps to be fed. Food is energy! This is not
so much a requirement as a consideration. Our day starts long before the guests
ever arrives and continues long after they are gone. We don’t expect to be
served the filet that all the other guests are eating, but if a hot meal could
be provided it is very much appreciated! Just no mayonnaise for Jim – He can’t
stand it!
Helpful Tips
Here are some helpful tips we would like to pass along from
our many years of experience in this entertainment business to help your event
go smoothly:
Plan the room layout accordingly –
Where is the dance floor going to be? The band should be
located in the same area. Is the dance floor inside in one part of the
building? If so, then don’t put the band outside or in another room if you can
help it. You want the band to be where the people will be partying. Ideally,
the band is located right in front of the dance floor – not off to the side or
in a corner where we can’t interact with the dancing crowd.
Which table will be located right in front of the PA
speakers? Hopefully not the oldest couple in the room! Generally, it’s best to
put the younger people nearest to the band (typically to the immediate right
and left of the stage in front of the speakers) as they more easily adapt to
sound at that location. Of course, no matter who is in the room, we can adjust
the volume accordingly.
Think about the timing of the activities –
Are you having an awards ceremony or speeches 15 minutes
after the band starts? You don’t want to break the rhythm and energy of the
people dancing. Usually, it’s best to coordinate these types of activities with
a planned band break. Don’t forget – there’s 15-20 minutes of break time each
set that is perfect for these types of events. That way, you get the most music
for your money! If you need more time, no problem! We will work around whatever
schedule you have.
For wedding receptions, it helps to group several of the
reception activities together (i.e. cake cutting, flower toss, Father/Daughter
dance, family group pictures, etc.) This prevents the dancing flow from
breaking up too frequently. It also helps the photographer coordinate his
activities as well.
Consider the audience –
Is this a younger crowd that wants to hear more current
dance or rock material, or an older crowd that prefers more slow songs and
dinner music? If you can identify the type of people ahead of time, it helps us
prepare a more appropriate song list sets as well as layout the sets to suite
the audience taste. Of course, we can easily adjust our song sets dynamically
to what the crowd is best responding to.
Cost
A live band does not cost as much as you might think. When
you consider the savings of the extra costs for lighting sound systems, DJs, MC
hosts, etc., that can really add up. Our fee is very reasonable and extremely
competitive with other bands in the area. In many cases, we also book direct
which means you are not paying an extra agent fee (which is a cost savings to
you). The fee we charge depends on the date, type of function, facility,
location of the event, time of day, and event duration. It helps to know what
budget you are trying to stay within, as we can scale down the group size to
reduce our fee and match your budget. Contact us for more information.
Additional fees apply if you need one or more people to play
for a cocktail hour prior to the function, require the band to arrive or be
setup prior to 90 minutes before the music starts, or require additional
playing overtime.
A 20% non-refundable deposit is required to hold a booking
date. This ensures that we will not book another gig during that time period.
The balance is due at completion of the event.
Dates
Click here to see upcoming Mutual Fun Performances!
Contact Information
Here is how to get in
touch with us:
Rob Hoffman (and for all booking
inquiries)
Other
Links
