Frequently Asked Questions

• Who are you?
• Who are your musicians?
• How much should I budget for live music?
• How far ahead should I book my music?
• How much does a live musician cost?
• What do your prices include?
• How much gratuity should I budget for?
• Can I book via email alone?
• Can you provide references?
• Who designed your website?
• I can’t get the mp3’s on your website to work or I would like a CD to play in    my car and share with friends and family. Can you send me one?
• This sounds perfect for my event! How do we get started?

Who are you?

We certainly invite you to look at our About MPE page for more detail but Music People Entertainment is a booking agency owned and operated by Paul Phelps representing musicians in the Southeast Michigan area as well as providing production services in Austin, TX, the "live music capital of the world." The company was founded in 2001 with the intention of representing the best classical and jazz musicians in Metro Detroit for private events. Since then, MPE has enjoyed both an enthusiastic reaction from our customers as well as a reputation for both excellent attention to detail and sterling musicianship. As a result, we have expanded to include booking public events as well as a very small handful of musicians and DJs who share our desire to make every single event truly magical no matter the genre of music they are performing.

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Who are your musicians?

You will be pleased with both our service and our musicians’ performances and we work very hard to make sure that the music will make your event truly magical. All of our musicians have either been working with us for years and have routinely enjoyed only positive reviews from our customers or are recently added to our roster as a result of peer recommendations, positive reviews from venues, and a thorough auditioning process. As our name suggests – we are interested in our musicians’ talent for performing Music, ability to Entertain, and just as importantly, their quality as People.

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How much should I budget for live music?

The rule of thumb has been to budget a percentage of your overall wedding budget for music, whether it be a DJ or a live band. We encourage not waiting until late in the process to choose your music. The right band or DJ can make or break your reception and our musicians are generally busy throughout the year.

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How far ahead should I book my music?

We book as many as 18 months ahead for some events but the majority of our musicians book 6-9 months ahead. Is your event sooner than that? Call us and not only may we have your date available but we may be able to book for less!

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How much does a live musician cost?

This is the question we are asked most often! Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. There is a great disparity in what one musician may require compared to another. Factors include not only the popularity of a musician but also the distance they may need to travel to get to your event, the day of the week, the time of day can sometimes be a factor, and much more. Please call us as we can usually give you an accurate quote during our first phone call. Many of our customers are surprised how inexpensive live musicians can cost!

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What do your prices include?

Our prices include EVERYTHING the musicians will require to perform for you and your guests. There are NO HIDDEN CHARGES whatsoever. The only items not included are gratuity, which is encouraged but 100% at your discretion, and for musicians booked for your reception for three sets or more we ask for meals when possible and appropriate but do not require them.

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How much gratuity should I budget for?

We recommend 10-20% depending on how pleased you are with both our service and our musicians’ performances during your event. This is a recommendation, and we have certainly experienced amounts outside of this range, and we advise you to use your own discretion, especially with especially high and especially low priced performances.

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Can I book via email alone?

Yes, but we can get a much more thorough understanding of what you are dreaming of by speaking on the phone. As well, a conversation allows us the opportunity to learn all we can to give you a thorough quote on the costs involved in having musicians at your event. There are some musicians we work with who are not represented on this website at this time and we can introduce you to them over the phone and in follow-up emails.

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Can you provide references?

Yes. We have many past customers who have been enthusiastic about both our service and our performances. We are pleased to put you in touch with them at your request.

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Who designed your beautiful website, logo, letterhead, and CD packaging?

Thank you. Atlantis 57 Studios continues to be the only graphic design firm we will work with. We highly recommend them to anyone not competing with us!

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I can’t get the mp3’s on your website to work or I would like a CD to play in my car and share with friends and family. Can you send me one?

Absolutely. We have CD samplers that include many, but not all of the musicians we work with. We will be pleased to mail you a CD-R of any tracks that are not included on the sampler. Please call us today and we will be pleased to send you a CD or more today!

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This sounds perfect for my event. How do we get started?

Call us today! Our phone is on nearly 24-7 and if you reach our voice mail because we are on the other line we will be sure to call you back as soon as we can.

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