A corporate Christmas party has one specific trap: the music must be festive without being kitsch. A playlist of carols in their original form lasts about forty minutes. Jazz arrangements of the same melodies last all evening, because they carry the mood without pushing it.
When to book
December is our busiest month of the year and dates are booked several months ahead. Fridays in the second and third week of December go fastest. If you have a choice, a weekday in the first half of December is the best option for both availability and planning.
Repertoire
We build the Christmas programme as a mix — a purely Christmas set would wear thin after an hour.
- Jazz arrangements of carols — Czech carols in swing and bossa nova settings.
- Christmas standards — the American evergreens that belong to the genre.
- Regular repertoire — jazz and swing standards making up most of the evening.
- Dance block — towards the end, if there will be dancing.
The ratio that works: about a third Christmas material, the rest regular programme. The result is festive without being one-note.
Advent events are not only parties
Besides parties, in December we play at client advent gatherings, Christmas markets on company premises and festive receptions. Those suit a shorter programme and a smaller line-up — a duo or trio.
Check a dateLine-ups and prices
Because December is our busiest month, the price depends on the specific date — Fridays and Saturdays before Christmas are the most sought-after, while weekdays in the first half of December work out better value. A standard evening is three 45-minute sets including our own professional BOSE stereo PA and transport within Prague; outside Prague CZK 7/km for a duo or trio and CZK 14/km for a quartet or quintet. Full breakdown in how much a jazz band costs.
Trio or quartet
Christmas parties turn into dancing later than expected — after dinner and speeches. If you are counting on dancing, choose a quartet with drums. For an advent reception or client gathering, a trio or duo is enough.
Practical notes on December
- Rooms are full. The band area in December tends to be smaller than planned. A trio needs 3.5 × 3 m, a quartet 4 × 3 m — check before the day.
- Heating and sockets. December rooms often have sockets taken by catering hot plates. We need one free 230 V / 16 A socket, draw up to 1.5 kW.
- Traffic. Prague is slow in December. We arrive 60 minutes ahead, which in December means leaving half an hour earlier.
- Outdoor advent events. Below 12 °C instruments go out of tune; we require solid cover and a heated space nearby.
A song on request
For a company anniversary, an award presentation or as a surprise for colleagues — we will learn a specific song to order. In December capacity is limited, so tell us as early as possible, ideally a month ahead.
About the author
David Kleňha is a jazz singer and bandleader based in Prague, performing across the Czech Republic. He leads line-ups from duo to quintet — jazzduo.cz, jazztrio.cz, jazzquartet.cz and jazzquintet.cz — and has played more than 320 events since 2015: corporate evenings, receptions, gallery openings, hotel and restaurant nights, weddings and festivals. More on his personal site davidklenha.cz.
Frequently asked questions
When should I book a band for a corporate Christmas party?
Ideally in September. Fridays in the second and third week of December go fastest. A weekday in the first half of December is the best option for availability.
How are December dates priced?
December is our busiest month, so the price depends on the specific date. A standard evening starts at CZK 15,000 for a duo, CZK 20,000 for a trio, CZK 27,000 for a quartet and CZK 33,000 for a quintet. Weekdays in the first half of December work out better value; Fridays and Saturdays before Christmas are the most sought-after.
Do you play only Christmas songs?
No. Christmas material makes up about a third of the programme; the rest is our regular jazz and swing repertoire. A purely Christmas set would wear thin after an hour.
Do you play at outdoor advent events?
Yes, but we require solid cover for band and equipment and a heated space nearby. Below 12 °C instruments go out of tune.
Will you learn a requested song?
Yes. December capacity is limited, so we recommend arranging a specific song about a month in advance.