HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a string quartet in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A string quartet in Ireland costs €600–€1,500 per booking, typically around €900. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a string quartet in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers string quartet work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — private Parties — string quartets are perfect for private celebrations, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or holiday parties.
- How does experience of the musicians change the price?An expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of the performance change the price?The hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the repertoire change the price?A clear answer here gets you a firmer quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Corporate Events — for corporate functions, string quartets can enhance the ambiance, making them ideal for networking events, product launches, or gala dinners — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a string quartet job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Public liability insurance at the level YOUR VENUE requires — ask the venue first, then the supplier, because the venue sets the number; For anything with a structure or a ride, the inspection or test certificate; A written contract with the date, the hours, the set-up time and the overtime rate; What happens if they are ill — a named arrangement, not reassurance; Whether they have played your venue before, and what the power and access are like; PAT testing on their equipment, which many venues ask to see.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers string quartet work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — private Parties — string quartets are perfect for private celebrations, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or holiday parties.
A good answer: An expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A clear answer here gets you a firmer quote. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Corporate Events — for corporate functions, string quartets can enhance the ambiance, making them ideal for networking events, product launches, or gala dinners — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a string quartet job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew — reception Entertainment — during receptions, string quartets can perform a variety of genres, from classical to pop music.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the string quartet starts, and an itemised invoice after — ceremony Music — string quartets provide elegant music for wedding ceremonies, including processional and recessional pieces.
Getting the quote right
- Experience of the musicians — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour.
- Duration of the performance — the hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job.
- Complexity of the repertoire — a clear answer here gets you a firmer quote.
- Travel distance — fuel and time on the road are built into the price.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: experience of the musicians — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour
- They will not talk about it: duration of the performance — the hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the repertoire — a clear answer here gets you a firmer quote
- A price for the string quartet before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the string quartet has begun
What a string quartet costs: €600–€1,500 per booking
The figures are for the job, per booking, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Wedding string quartet and Corporate event string quartet each carry their own band. String Quartet price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
String quartets near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstExperience of the musicians — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour — that is what the string quartet is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneDuration of the performance — the hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the repertoire — a clear answer here gets you a firmer quote — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherTravel distance — fuel and time on the road are built into the price — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the string quartet is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, check if the musicians have formal qualifications in music performance.
- Ceremony Music
- String quartets provide elegant music for wedding ceremonies, including processional and recessional pieces.
- Reception Entertainment
- During receptions, string quartets can perform a variety of genres, from classical to pop music.
- Corporate Events
- For corporate functions, string quartets can enhance the ambiance, making them ideal for networking events, product launches, or gala dinners.
- Private Parties
- String quartets are perfect for private celebrations, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or holiday parties.
- Wedding String Quartet
- Specialises in performing romantic pieces during wedding ceremonies and receptions.
- Corporate Event String Quartet
- Provides elegant background music for corporate functions, enhancing the professional atmosphere.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a string quartet: questions people ask
The cost of hiring a string quartet can vary based on factors such as location, the experience of the musicians, and the duration of the performance. Additional costs may arise for special song requests or travel expenses.
String quartets usually perform for 1 to 3 hours, depending on the event. It's common to book them for specific segments, such as the ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception.
Many string quartets can accommodate last-minute bookings, but availability may vary. It's advisable to contact them as soon as possible to secure your preferred date and time.
Some string quartets may offer packages that include additional services, such as soloists or sound equipment. It's best to inquire directly to see if they can accommodate your specific needs.
String quartets typically do not provide sound systems or lighting unless specified in their contract. They also usually do not handle event coordination or logistics, so those arrangements should be managed separately.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
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