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What type of music does Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite
Dance Band or Orchestra play?
1920s & 30s Hot Jazz & Swing featuring Sydney's
only authentic 1920s & 30s-style dance band singer.
"There’s nothing like stumbling across an artist
who is fresh, original, filled with musical integrity,
and especially one that has a unique perspective
on the familiar. Australian Jazz vocalist extraordinaire
Greg Poppleton is such an artist; one whom this reviewer
can’t say enough great things about," JazzReview.com
(US). The Orchestra plays authentic arrangemnts of
jazz & dance music from the 1920s to the 1940s
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Can Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band or Orchestra play
for my wedding, corporate event or private party?
Absolutely. We have a long list of satisfied private
and corporate clients. You can read their comments
in the side columns of the Home
page, Sound Samples page
and Book the Band page. We
will enhance the atmosphere & excitement of your
occasion. Our 1920s & 30s music is great to dance
to and is never loud, whether you want the Band or Orchestra for
background, dancing or both
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How big is the Band or Orchestra?
There are five Band sizes & two Orchestra
sizes you can choose from to suit your needs.
All include Greg Poppleton's exclusive, authentic 1920s
& 30s Hot Jazz & Swing vocals. The band sizes are
2, 3, 4, 5 and 6-piece. The orchestra sizes are 7 and 9-piece
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I'm not sure what size Band or Orchestra I need. Can you help?
We'll gladly help you make the choice that's right for you.
Simply request your quote by clicking Book
the Band. Our singing bandleader, Greg Poppleton, will
send you your quote with a range of Band or Orchestra sizes and times.
Just choose the Band or Orchestra size listed in your quote that's best
for you and confirm your booking
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Our function is oudoors and there is no electricity.
Can you still play?
Certainly. Our CLEAN GREEN
Fully Acoustic Band often plays for outdoor weddings
and corporate events. Our Green
Acoustic Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band is
a compact four-piece featuring Greg Poppleton singing through
a 1929 megaphone, backed by trumpet, guitar & double
bass. We're often hired to play before and after music at
outdoor wedding ceremonies and to add colour to outdoor
corporate events. Greg Poppleton & his Green
Acoustic Bakelite Dance Band was chosen by North
Sydney Council to play at their Sydney Harbour Bridge
75th Anniversary Celebrations. Woollahra Council used
the Green Acoustic Bakelite
Dance Band to launch the rebuilt art deco Rose Bay Promenade.
And Divine Events hired Greg Poppleton's Green
Acoustic Bakelite Dance Band for a day of 1920s
inspired fun for Red Bull at Neilsen Park on
Sydney Harbour. Our Green Acoustic
Bakelite Dance Band can play each set in new locations during
your event should you desire. However, the band does not
rove while it plays
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What's the minimum and maximum time I can book the Band or Orchestra
for?
The minimum time is one set of 45 minutes. The maximum
times are 2 x 45 minute sets for the Duo;
3 x 45 minute sets for the GREEN
Acoustic Band; 3 hours for the Trio
or Quartet; 4 hours for the Quintet
and 5 hours for the Sextet & Orchestra
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I'm not sure how long I want the Band or Orchestra to play for. Can
you help?
No problems. Simply request your quote by clicking Book
the Band. Our singing bandleader, Greg Poppleton, will
send you your quote with a range of Band or Orchestra times and sizes.
Just pick the length of time you want the band to play for
that's right for you
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Does booking the Band or Orchestra for 3, 4 or 5 hours mean that
the Band or Orchestra plays for three, four or five hours straight?
Not at all. The standard set structure for all professional
bands is 45 minutes of playing followed by a 20 minute break.
Of course we tweak this structure around your running order.
For example, a set may be lengthened to an hour so that
the Band or Orchestra continues playing up to your speeches or presentation.
This is one of the details that can be discussed in the
pre-event meeting at your venue with our singing bandleader,
Greg Poppleton. The pre-event meeting is part of our service
and is absolutely free
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When does the Band or Orchestra arrive to set up?
One hour before downbeat. This time is not charged to you.
Your fee is only calculated from the time the Band or Orchestra starts
playing till the Band or Orchestra stops playing
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What if I want the Band or Orchestra to set up earlier?
Then an additional fee for the Band or Orchestra members' time must be
charged
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What if I want the Band or Orchestra to play for longer?
This often happens and the Band or Orchestra will always be happy to
oblige you. If you know before your function that you want
the Band or Orchestra to play for longer than agreed in the original
quote, a new quote will be calculated for you based
on standard rates. If you decide during the function
that you need the Band or Orchestra to play longer, then our reasonable
overtime rate will be charged. You will find the overtime
rate for the Band or Orchestra clearly stated in your quote. Simply ask
Greg during your event if you need the Band or Orchestra for longer.
The appropriate additional fee as per your quote will be
discussed with you. The Band or Orchestra will continue to play into
the extra time on your approval
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We've picked the date. How can I check if the Band or Orchestra is
available?
Simply click live dates. You
might find that there is a hold on your date or that your
date is taken. Don't worry. Still click book
the band and ask for your quote. The party with the
hold may lift it for you if their circumstances have changed.
We'll find out and get back to you ASAP. If Greg Poppleton
& the Bakelite Dance Band or Orchestra are already booked
to play elsewhere, we can form a number of Bakelite Dance
Bands out of our pool of A-list 1920s & 30s-style Swing
& Jazz musicians to play the best hot jazz & swing
for background and dancing at your occasion. We aim to make
booking our 1920s & 30s music as easy as possible for
you
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Someone else has put a hold on my date. Can I still
request a quote?
Absolutely yes. Click Book
the Band and fill out the enquiry form. When we receive
your enquiry we immediately contact the party who already
has your date on hold. They may release the hold to you
due to changed circumstances. We relay their decision to
you the moment we receive it. We know how important speedy
communication is when organising a function. All correspondence
in this process is private and confidential. Your details
aren't given to the other party. The other party's details
aren't given to you
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Someone's already got my date. What can I do?
Click Book the Band and
fill in the enquiry form to request a quote for the day
you want. It often happens that the Band or Orchestra has multiple bookings
on one day. We can be sure to accommodate you
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I haven't settled on a day yet. Can I still get a quote
for the Band or Orchestra?
Of course! Click Book the
Band and fill in the enquiry form to request a quote.
We'll send you a quote for your approximate date. When you
have a firm date, simply e-mail or call Greg to put the
Band or Orchestra on hold for you. Or secure your date by paying your
deposit
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I want a special song played. Can you play it for me?
We'd love to. The song must be from the 1920s & 30s
because we are the 1920s & 30s Hot Jazz & Swing
specialists. If your song is not on our playlist, we may
still know it. If we don't and you really, really want it,
we will learn it for you. There may be a fee charged to
you based on the amount of work necessary to find the music,
chart it and rehearse it. This fee will be discussed with
you and formally quoted for your approval before we proceed
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How do you maintain my theme during the Band or Orchestra breaks?
As another free part of our service, our singing
bandleader, Greg Poppleton, brings along CDs of 1920s &
30s Jazz & Swing from his extensive collection. He plays
these softly through the PA during Band or Orchestra breaks to maintain
the atmosphere you have so carefully built
And if you have some favourite CDs you want played in the
Band or Orchestra breaks, please bring them and Greg will play them for
you
Greg Poppleton is Australia's longest-running Swing Radio
DJ. His Phantom Dancer Radio Show, on-air over 2SER-FM
Sydney since 1985, won Best Music Show 2007 in the
National CBAA Radio Awards. It also won a BASF Hi Fi Radio
Award way back in 1991. The Phantom Dancer plays swing,
jazz and dance from live 1920s-60s radio & TV. You can
hear the show twice weekly in Sydney over 2SER-FM and worldwide
over 2ser.com: Tuesdays 12 noon (0200 GMT). Repeated
Sundays 6:30am (Saturdays 2030 GMT). Greg also made
some Swing documentaries for ABC Radio National in
the 1990s
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Do you play other music besides 1920s & 30s Hot
Jazz & Swing?
With great pride we say no. We are unique in Sydney as the
only Band or Orchestra with authentic swing singer that captures the
soul of 1920s & 30s Hot Jazz & Swing. It's our specialty.
It's the music we love. And no one does it better
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I'm worried not everyone will like 1920s & 30s Hot
Jazz & Swing
Everyone appeciates music played well by accomplished musicians
no matter the style. And we are accomplished musicians who
play the music of the 1920s & 30s with originality,
feel and integrity. You obviously like the idea of 1920s
& 30s Hot Jazz and Swing at your function. You may even
be excited by it. So treat yourself and book
Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band or Orchestra. You'll
be surprised how many of your guests will thank you at the
end of the night. They'll be very happy that you stuck to
your guns
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Can the Band or Orchestra play for part of the night followed by
a DJ?
Yes. It's an option some corporate and wedding clients take.
The Band or Orchestra plays for two or three hours, until speeches, a
presentation, or to the end of dinner. Then a DJ takes the
party into a whole different direction. You must book the
DJ separately through another company
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I want exhibition 1920s Dancers or 1930s Swing Dancers.
Can you recommend any?
Yes. We are in contact with Sydney's two top 1920s &
Swing dance schools. Just ask Greg when you request
a quote
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I'm having a Gangster & Flappers Murder Mystery
Party set in the 1920s & 30s . It would add so much
to the function if the Band or Orchestra could provide music. Can you?
Gladly. Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band and
Orchestra work with two Murder Mystery companies to present
a combined entertainment of three hours duration. Great
for private parties, corporate socials and team-building
exercises. Just ask Greg when you request
a quote
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How much does the Band or Orchestra cost?
Our fees are industry standard. They are calculated according
to the size of the Band or Orchestra and the length of time you want
the Band or Orchestra to play. If you are holding your function outside
of the Sydney metro area, travel costs to and from Sydney
are factored in. If you are more than 2.5 hours out of Sydney,
overnight accommodation costs at MEAA standard must be added
to your fee
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What do I get for my money?
You get Sydney's hottest 1920s & 30s Hot Jazz &
Swing Band and Orchestra. Greg Poppleton is Sydney's only authentic 1920s
& 30s-style Swing singer. His Bakelite Dance Band and Orchestra is
staffed by the A-List of Sydney Swing & Jazz musicians.
All Band and Orchestra members have toured nationally and overseas. See
band to read all the
Jazz & Swing greats they have played with. The Band and Orchestra
has collective experience at 1000's of functions. Your guarantee
of excellence. That's a winning combination exclusive to
Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band and Orchestra. And we give
you free extras other Band and Orchestras charge you for
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What are the"free extras"?
They're free extras that add enormously to the success of
your function and save you even more money...
1. Free 1 Hour Consultation at your venue:
Once your booking is confirmed, our singing bandleader Greg
Poppleton will visit you at your venue at your convenience
absolutely free to go through all your requirements for
the day so that you won't have any worries at your event.
This free service is limited to the Sydney Metro area only
2. Free PA: Unlike most Band and Orchestras, we don't charge you
for the PA. Our PA is suitable for functions of up to 200
guests. And you can use our PA for your speeches.
Absolutely free - saving you hundreds and dollars
3. Band and Orchestra break music to maintain your theme:
Greg Poppleton, who hosts Australia's longest running swing
radio show, on-air since 1985, will supply 1920s & 30s
music on CD from his own extensive collection to keep you
entertained during Band and Orchestra breaks. And if you have your own
favourite CDs you want played, Greg will gladly play them
for you on his system. You can also plug your iPod into
Greg's system to play the songs of your choice. Absolutely
free
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What payment options can I choose?
Our easy and convenient payment options are fully outlined
in your quote. Get your free
quote now
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How can I see & hear the Band or Orchestra before I book you?
We've got two ways for you to do this. The best and
easiest way is to check out our sound
samples. There, you can hear sound samples from our
CD, "The Phantom Dancer" featuring the
6-piece band and recorded live in the studio. It was
specially recorded to accurately represent the band that
will be playing for you at your event. Most takes on the
CD are first takes. Also at sound
samples you'll see live footage of the 5-piece band.
(We're on stage in the footage taken by a fan on her phone!
- but we don't need a stage to play at your function). Or,
you can click live dates and
see if we are playing near you soon. Come and say hello
during a band break. Greg will be happy to discuss your
musical requirements for your occasion with you
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Can I buy your CD?
Yes, we recommend it. Our CD, "The Phantom Dancer"
is an album of 14 classic Swing songs unlike any swing album
you've ever heard. That's because they're played live in
the studio, all in one take, 1920s & 30s-style, by Greg
Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band of top internationally
touring jazz and swing musicians. "The Phantom Dancer"
can be bought on-line through our official retailer, CD
Baby via our Phantom
Dancer CD Website. And that's where you can also read
lots more about our CD, hear samples of every song, and
be eligible to download free bonus tracks when you
buy "The Phantom Dancer" CD
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Is buying your CD through your website safe?
Totally. Buying the "The Phantom Dancer" CD
is 100% safe! Our official retailer CDBaby
accepts all major credit & debit cards (Visa, Mastercard,
American Express, Discover) and guarantees secure online
shopping. CDBaby uses the most powerful privacy systems
available. Nobody ever sees your credit card info. It is
charged, and immediately erased - never stored on their
system at all
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I feel uncomfortable about using my credit card online.
Can I still buy the album?
Sure. Our official retailer CDBaby offers flexible
options to buy the "The Phantom Dancer" CD. You
can place your order by toll-free phone and fax
or by regular mail
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I don’t have a credit card. How do I order "The
Phantom Dancer" without one?
Simple. Our partner CDBaby accepts cheques, money
orders, international money orders and cash.
All orders can be phoned, faxed or mailed. You'll find all
details in your shopping cart
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When will my CD arrive?
For Australian orders, our partner CDBaby uses
Priority International Mail. Delivery times vary
from 5 -10 days. To ensure the FASTEST delivery possible
for International orders, please select UPS Worldwide Express.
Orders to other locations outside the US may take from 7
to 30 days. Please note that due to Customs and other delays,
orders to Italy and Canada can take a long time to arrive.
CDBaby strongly recommend using UPS Worldwide Express to
these destinations
In the USA, your order of 1-4 CDs is shipped via the US
Post Office Standard Mail and takes about 3-10 days to arrive.
For 5 or more CDs, your order will be shipped via UPS Ground
and takes 1-7 days depending on where you live in the US.
Need it faster? UPS 2-Day Air and UPS Overnight are available!
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Can I order "The Phantom Dancer" without
the plastic jewelbox folder?
Absolutely. CDBaby can remove the plastic "jewelbox"
around the CD and send you just the CD and paper artwork.
This saves you postage and cuts delivery time, as your order
usually won't be opened by customs, either
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What happens if my CD arrives damaged in the mail?
Just let us know and we will send you another one immediately.
Free of charge
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Can I buy more than 1 copy of "The Phantom Dancer"
CD with one order?
Easy. If you buy more than one "The Phantom Dancer"
CD right now, you will get a 10% discount on every
CD. You pay only $13.49 per CD! Buy 5 or more copies
of the album, our retailer CDBaby will send them to you
priority mail. So team up with your friends and save
$1.50 on every CD!
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How much does it cost to ship the CD?
For CDBaby shipping charges, please click here
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I prefer buying Mp3s to CDs? Can I buy "The Phantom
Dancer" CD as an Mp3 Album?
Yes. For only $10.99. Place your order for "The
Phantom Dancer" Mp3 album through our official
retailer CDBaby and you get a zip file with
a folder containing all 14 songs as 14 Mp3 files
for easy use in your computer, iPod, or Mp3 player.
You get a JPG of the album cover and a text file
full of info from "The Phantom Dancer"
page: song titles, notes, and links. The one thing that
won't be in your zip folder is a text file of the 8-page
booklet that comes with the CD. That's why "The Phantom
Dancer" Mp3 album is priced for you at only $10.99
The MP3 audio files are very high quality, about
200kbps VBR, encoded using the “LAME” Mp3 encoder
on its audiophile settings
Will my Mp3 of "The Phantom Dancer" play
on any hardware?
Yes. And your "The Phantom Dancer" Mp3
album will be available for download from your CD
Baby account forever. There is no DRM or tracking
on the Mp3 files. We trust you to support "The
Phantom Dancer", and tell your friends to buy a copy,
too
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Where can I buy other CDs by Greg Poppleton?
If you buy "The Phantom Dancer" CD NOW
you will get a free download of the entire "Greg
Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters" CD-EP!
The 4-track album contains more classic songs of the Swing
Era sung by Greg Poppleton backed by swinging stride piano,
vintage drums and temple blocks. After you have placed your
order through our official retailer CDBaby we will
send you an e-mail with a secret URL where all 4 songs from
the now rare "Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters"
CD-EP can be easily downloaded to your computer. So place
your order NOW and download all of the rare "Greg
Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters" CD-EP that
started it all as a bonus! This is a limited time offer!
Only available on ThePhantomDancer.com!
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I want to book the Band or Orchestra now. How do I do it?
Simply click Book the Band.
Or you can phone. In both cases a fully detailed quote will
be e-mailed to you. We can also post the quote to you should
you want. Your quote will tell you how to confirm your booking
so that the Band or Orchestra is locked in and ready to entertain at
for your function
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How do I confirm my booking?
Easy. You'll find the simple two-step process outlined in
your quote. Get your quote now
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Do you charge a Cancellation Fee?
No
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Do you charge GST?
No. And that saves you 10%
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I feel uncomfortable using e-mail. I don't want spam.
Can I still book the Band or Orchestra?
Certainly. Firstly, you're 100% safe when e-mailing
Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band and Orchestra. We will never
rent, share or sell your name to anyone else! But if you
don't want to e-mail us , that's OK. You are most welcome
to make your enquiry and book the Band or Orchestra by phoning Greg 7
days a week, 9am - 9pm on 02 9519 4195. Or you can call
Greg on his mobile: 0438 194 195. Greg will then post a
fully-costed quote to you at your address. These details
are also listed here
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My question isn't answered on this page. What should
I do?
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact
us. you can send us an e-mail
or call us 61 2 9519 4195
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