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Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 00:04
Hello folks and another very warm welcome to the Supplier Spotlight Podcast. My name is Liam Ball. I am your magical wedding host, also known as the Gentleman Magician. And as always, this podcast exists to shine a light on some of the very best people in the wedding industry: suppliers who can bring skill, atmosphere, and genuine care. to a couple’s wedding day. As always, if you’re enjoying this podcast, please do like, share and subscribe. It genuinely does help people to make better, more informed decisions for their wedding day. Now today’s guest is a professional wedding violinist, somebody who understands how live music can instantly transform a space. From the delicate emotion of a wedding ceremony to relaxed drink receptions and elegant background ambiance A violin brings warmth, sophistication, and beautiful music in a way that is almost impossible to replicate in any other way. Now, she’s known for refined performances, for versatility, and having a beautiful adaptability to make music suit the moment wherever and whenever it is. So it’s a huge pleasure to welcome to the Supplier Spotlight podcast from music by violin, Caroline Jory. Hello, Caroline. How are you?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 01:25
Good morning. Good morning, Liam. Yes, I’m very well. Thank you.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 01:28
Absolutely fabulous. How is Live treating you?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 01:32
Well, it’s a bit of whirlwind. Normally, generally over the winter months, one would appear not to be that busy, but in practice the opposite. Lots of wedding opening days, wedding shows, gearing up for a very busy season, which is absolutely brilliant.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 01:48
There’s always something going on in the wedding industry, isn’t there? It’s uh it it really does never stop. Um so let’s let’s kind of cut right back I always like to do right back to the beginning with uh with sort of what you do as a as a wedding, because a a violin is is an incredibly difficult instrument to to pick up, to learn and to master. And you’ve done all of those things in spades. So how how did how did you first get into into playing the violin? What what brought you to it? And how did that then transition into being a wedding violinist?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 02:20
Right, well let’s go back to the beginning. I was age seven at primary school, and the headmaster was just doing a little bit of music auditions, I guess. and said to my parents, I think Caroline’s got a good ear for music. Would she like to learn the violin? It could have been any instrument, to be honest with you. But I had started to play the violin, bit scratchy obviously at the beginning, but with a lot of perseverance and with the blessing of my parents who put me in my bedroom right at the very back of the house so they couldn’t hear me scratching. I started to develop and learn to play and went through my grades. And by the time I was sixteen, I’d managed to pass my grade eight violin exam, which is absolutely brilliant. And I studied then at Junior Department at the Royal Corps of Music in London for about two years. So that is kind of how I started and progressed. I classically trained as well from the beginning, right up until the age of about 18. So for about 11 years I studied.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 03:25
Okay. So so studying violin up until you were 18 and And did you just start doing weddings immediately or did that come later?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 03:36
No, not at all. I started then I was involved with sort of local orchestras and some productions, musicals and things like that locally. Did quite a lot of orchestra work and some string quartets. We was involved in that. And then to my parents’ absolute horror, I decided I didn’t want to do music as a career. So complete to their shock horror, I just felt that I I couldn’t compete, I guess, with all the international performers So I decided I wanted a complete change and did music for fun and had a complete different career change. I went into working a legal department for a law firm doing a natural union law. So totally different and still played in the background. And then I had my daughter 17 years ago. And thought I’d really like to get out of the rat race of London and try my hand in and see if it will work and try and make weddings my career. So for about two years, I worked in London part-time bringing up my daughter. And I started to do some wedding shows to see how it would go. And it really took off in a really big way. So I still had some refresher lessons as well and practiced very, very hard. And then luckily, for the past 13 years, I’ve been now performing full time for weddings. So it’s really taken off, and I’ve seen my business growth and streets of strength. So I’m really very quite proud of the fact that, yeah, I’ve now managed to get to this level.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 05:13
Yeah. I think, do you know what? And I think this is something that I think many people don’t realize, and I think it’s across all of the arts, is that the crippling self-doubt about am I good enough? I can’t be as good as this person, or that person is so much better than me. And and it it’s it’s kind of it’s destroying sometimes, isn’t it?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 05:37
Absolutely. And I remember doing my first wedding show, and I was absolutely petrified, thinking, oh my goodness, people won’t like me. I’ve got to kind of try and speak to the public, which are really big You know, it’s huge, isn’t it? To try and kind of sell yourself, I guess, and have that confidence. And there was a guy who was running the wedding show, and he came up to me and he went, You’ve just got to own it. and act like you’ve been doing it for a long time and just try and, you know, just go for it. So which is what I did. And I haven’t really looked back, you know, at least having a lot of confidence. And to be able to kind of go out into the big wide world and try. You have to sell yourself, I guess. And you know, and That’s kind of yeah, where I’m at now.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 06:29
I think that’s another whole part of it, isn’t it? Is the confidence. There’s so many people I see who go, gosh, I could never have the confidence to do this or to do that or to And I think again what people don’t realize is that every single person who is out there doing those things has at some point felt that way. I I remember when I used to sort of when I was in the army, so you’re talking twenty six, twenty seven years ago, about longer than that now, yeah, but twenty twenty seven years ago, um, I’d I’d walk up to to sort of I used to get um to get commissioned and ordered to go into the officers’ mess to do bits of magic for some of their functions. And I was terrified because I think, oh, they don’t really think I’m very good and I don’t know what to say and And and and it was it was it that it was terrifying. But of course, confidence is one of those things that comes from doing, and the more you do something, you better you get at it, and therefore your confidence grows.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 07:21
Absolutely. I always remember it was one of them I was heavily pregnant with my son, and it was one of the first kind of big performances that I was doing. And I actually it was for a wedding breakfast and they had cameras on me. And we were all ready to go and the weather had taken a turn for the worse and it started snowing. And my violin doesn’t like really extreme cold weather. And so the video was about to play, the the couple were just about to walk in, and my string broke. Right at the very crucial moment of the start of my performance. So that was absolutely horrifying to me. And I had to say I’m really, really sorry. Went out of the room, sorted it out, and had to come back in all smiley, but inside I was absolutely a mess.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 08:07
Yeah.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 08:08
And everyone was really lovely about it. But yeah, that was very embarrassing and very awkward. But it was a bit of a story to tell, I guess. And I gave my string to the couple and said. Hopefully that’s good luck for you.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 08:22
Yeah, that’s right. Because I mean, of course, there are so many things that can just crop up in the moment and happen. That are absolutely out of your control. And then, of course, you’ve you’ve got to deal with it. And I think, do you know what? I’d I mean, there are I used to know somebody really well who was a who was, in fact, a professional violinist some years ago. And all of these kind of things would come up, and it would be like, you know, how much do you think my violin is worth? And I’d be like, God, Couple hundred quid should be like yeah no 25 grand and it’s like what’s what it it’s it’s crazy right because I mean these these instruments are I mean, obviously, you see professionals like yourselves going out of there doing what you do, and it looks like you’re absolutely thrashing the life out of it to make this beautiful, wonderful music. But of course what they don’t realize is that this is such a a delicate, sometimes really temperamental instrument, right? And of course the expertise comes from knowing how to get the most beautiful music out of that wonderfully complicated yet oh so simple piece of apparatus and machinery.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 09:30
without anybody realizing that inside you’re going, Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God Well, it’s especially if you’re performing and you I always check my instrument totally and utterly before, you know, before I actually Do any performance. And in this particular instance, the string was just started to break. And I was right in the middle of flow of I think it was just before the bride came in, and there was no time. So you just have to improvise. Luckily, it held. Yeah. But yeah, inside, I’m absolutely panicking, thinking, Give me Sister Go any moment. And you have to. just improvise and play on different strings with those notes and make sure, yeah, no one would know, but and you have to quit smiling through it. Yeah, in weather, if I’m performing outside for reception drinks and it’s really hot and sunny, that can be really temperamental to the tone and it goes seriously out of tune. Yeah. Yeah, so there’s just and in the winter time as well, yeah.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 10:32
So, I mean, of course. I mean I th I mean of course there’s so much to to music, right? It and it’s I think it I I I I personally find it wonderfully magical that you’ve got eight notes. And yet you can make an instrument sing in such a way that is just mesmerizingly beautiful. And then of course anybody who’s kind of looked at music at any point or looked at the the the the the professional’s music at any point realizes that you can enter into different grades and of course you can you can get you know different levels of playing and Of course, the higher up the grade you go, the better the player you are, but also the harder it is. And of course, the the the the gap in in in competency at the top of that scale is is in some ways so small, but in other ways so vast, isn’t it?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 11:26
Absolutely, definitely. Yeah, from jumping, you know, I went through the motions of doing the grades, and that’s great, and doing all the scales and the arpeggios and the theory side of it. But yeah, to master, you have to kind of it’s from the heart basically, and you have to really feel the music. And if you feel the music, and it then comes through, and you can make the violin sing. And it’s an incredible instrument, you know, from the lower depths of the tone to the higher notes. But yeah, it it I’m still learning, basically. There’s always something Which to learn, whether it be the Boeing or like the different ways you can kind of yeah, pizzicato and and all sorts. So, yeah.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 12:11
All all these wonderful different parts of ILM music. So, in your opinion, and I certainly got my own opinion on this, but in your opinion, what would you say that violin music adds to a wedding day that other music, be it live or recorded, just can’t?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 12:29
I just think it evokes emotion. And there’s so many pieces of music that are very emotive. And especially, you know, if if you’ve got a a favorite piece of music and it is so lovely to incorporate that into someone’s special day and different you know, it vary you know, the piece of music can be so you can play around with music so much. For example, one of my clients wanted a really heavy metal piece of music And she said, Well, I really want to walk down the aisle, but I can’t walk down to Metallica like in its normal format, you know? So I was able to play around with it. and make it happen for them, you know. And the only sort of music I don’t generally play is heavy rapping or drum and bass. But on the flip side of that, somebody else has just asked me if I can do a really upbeat Becky Heel track that is a little bit like drum and bassy And she said, I just want the vocal with you on the top. And can you add the harmonies to that? So I’ve got some recording equipment at home. And I’ve been I’ve been sort of harmonizing and recorded about three different versions of melody on the violin, and it is stunning. And I’m really happy with it. And she’s absolutely loves it. So it’s a work in progress. that we’re getting there. So yeah, and it I find it so important for couples. It’s got to be so bespoke. You know, everybody’s unique, everyone’s music tastes are so different. And I would just want to make their day really, really special. And it’s nice to incorporate different pieces of music with family members Sometimes are no longer with us. You know, it’s a really nice tribute to them. Yeah. So that’s special. That’s really special as well.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 14:13
When when I mean, obviously, when you’re sort of going through your process with your clients, and we’ll talk about this in a minute, there must be a moment where you say, have you got any favorite pieces or any pieces that you don’t want to play? What what are your favorite pieces of music to play when somebody says, Oh, we’d really like this? And you kind of go Yes, I love Lambles.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 14:29
I love musicals.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 14:30
Yeah.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 14:31
So for me, any kind of type of musical, I love. I love Lamis Robbler. And I love Lenice. And any tracks from that, I absolutely adore playing that. So it’s a big smile on my face. So yeah, and it’s and again, it’s very important, but I always ask clients if they’re like giving me a little bit of a free range sometimes, they say to me, Can you fill in some gaps? We’ve chosen our favourites and I always ask is there music you don’t want them to perform because it might you know from I don’t know from a bereavement aspect or Something that triggers a bad memory. So that’s quite important as well.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 15:09
So, yeah, yeah, I guess so. And now, I mean, one of the conversations I remember having previously was that probably two of the most requested tracks on on a on a wedding day because of course you’re you’re there you’re playing and and it’s usually people’s come say oh could can you play this Is that two of the most requested tracks would have been Paco Bell’s Cannon and Game of Thrones? Is that still a thing?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 15:35
Paco Bell’s Cannon, not so much now. You know, I used to play probably about 10 years ago, it was the most requested. Listed song.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 15:43
Yeah.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 15:43
Bees Gays. Um, probably Christina Harrier House and Yeese is really popular. Okay. Um, so I mean, the Ed Sheeran classics.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 15:52
Yeah.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 15:52
They’re very, very, very popular. Elvis Presley Can’t Help Falling in Love. Again. But it’s beautiful, and I have different versions of it so as well. So, um, yeah, sometime if you want to really if Edgar Bribe wants to walk down the arch to it Yes. Absolutely stunning. If you want to walk back down the aisle to it, as you just got married, slightly more upbeat Belgian. So I had that. I got married a couple of years ago, and we had that as our walking back down the aisle. So, yeah, anything’s kind of pussy.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 16:23
I mean, one of my favorite things about seeing sort of live musicians: I spec a lot of violins at weddings. Is that you’ll see that playing a piece of music and you think, oh gosh, that’s wonderful. And then you’ll kind of see people going, oh, this is really nice. And you’ll get somebody else going, oh my God, this is that track from the so-and-so. And they’re like, is it? And they’re like, yeah. They go. Oh, oh, yeah. Oh, it is. Oh, you’re how wonderful. Because you you you get that, don’t you? You kind of get that moment where violin music is beautiful, and to some people, they’ll be like, Well, it’s violin music. But then others are like, no, no, no, but this is that very specific piece. And you must get to see people around where they start to get excited or they kind of, oh, yeah, that’s that wonderful track. And suddenly they kind of start, you know, having a little dad to themselves.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 17:07
I had um I did a wedding last week, last Tuesday, and uh the couple really liked quite heavy rock music and um they also love Lord of the Rings So I was able to perform concerning hobbits and they had like there was Metallica in there. The dad was a big Metallica fan and I played into the Sandman. And he was absolutely loving that. I love rock music anyway. So a bit of Guns N’ Roses, Sweet Child of Mine. And again, they wanted the more rockier version. So that was great, you know, and the guests were all singing along to it, standing up. I wish I could have filmed it because it was so cool. And right at the very end, everyone was joining in and it was like it was great. You know, it wasn’t like karaoke. It was really classy. And everyone was really having great time. So that’s great fun.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 17:59
Absolutely fabulous. What have been some of your sort of sort of standout all time favorite memories at weddings?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 18:07
Oh goodness, favourite times. I always remember there was a wedding breakfast I did. And again, you know, the They were some real favourites within their family, and they started getting up and having a little sing song, a bit of dancing. They were waving all their napkins around. And it was just great. It just happened. You know, I don’t couldn’t say anything to make it happen. It just happened. And there was such a really good buzz in the room, really good vibe. And everyone was getting up and enjoying themselves. So and that was like, you know, during the dinner. So yeah, it’s good fun. It’s a really good vibe.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 18:44
Awesome. It’s it I mean, music is just one of those things that really brings out emotion in ways that I don’t think anything else does, but sometimes in waste that people don’t expect, isn’t it?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 18:56
No, exactly. And I think sometimes, you know, especially with a wedding, all of the planning, that amount of time that it’s taken for couples and their families to be included. And then the emotion hits, you know, I start forming and as brides in waiting in the wings. And you look at the groom and mum mum you know, the mums generally kind of yeah, you can see the emotion in their eyes. And um, yeah, it it is a special moment. Um, and you can’t I wish I could bottle it up. Yeah, it’s just really special and it’s something that they’ve imagined and prepared for for quite you know quite a long time.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 19:38
Yeah, I mean, I’ve yeah, I’ve definitely got, you know, sort of string music and and violin music specifically that, you know, sort of if it’s in a playlist and I’m kind of driving down the road and and and for and it sounds weird to say right, but it might come on and I’m like And I’ve got no skip because I know I’m just gonna I’m just gonna stop paying attention, right? I can’t because it it speaks like string music speaks almost straight to the heart. And when you’re in a live environment, even more so, because you can you can almost feel the reverberation of that music coming off the instrument, and it’s just like, oh, this is you can bask in that, right? And I think I think people sometimes just don’t realize that. So let’s let’s kind of wind it back to the wedding business a bit uh and a bit more so specifically business. So um somebody out there right now, they think, hey, I love the sound of Caroline, I’m going to go and check out her website. And they fill an inquiry form and they say we’re and what kind of a process are they going to expect to see from you and what sort of steps are you going to be guiding them through?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 20:38
So generally, I get an inquiry. It can come through as an email, obviously, on socials or on my website. And I you know, first of all, check to see if a date’s for him So I can only generally do one wedding a day, unless because a very early wedding or a twilight wedding later on, but generally just one wedding. So that is the first process to see if I am available. Hopefully I am. And if I am, then I kind of go back to them and say, this is what I can offer you, the different packages I can offer you. But I’m not one size fits all. So it’s a very much a couple’s it’s their choice, their day, and see where they envisage me fitting into their special day, I guess. And then seeing what sort of music they like as well. I get asked to play lots of different music. There’s I have a repertoire which is not exhaustive because it’s just a guide basically, so couplers can choose exactly what they want and the different type of music they want. And then we’ll go from there. And then yeah, I kind of say to them, right, this is the amount of PCs that you can choose that will fit the time, the required time. And yeah, I guess learning new PCs is a challenge sometimes, but a good one. And yeah. So whether it be for a ceremony as guests come and sit down, take their seats. He’s performing as bride walks up the aisle for the signing of the schedule with the witnesses and Frederick wants to take them at that point. And then a really nice upbeat piece as they walk down to reception greens inside or outside. Generally last for about an hour, hour and a half. or for their wedding breakfast. So I can be playing for some hours. Yep. But I’m used to that. So yeah, and I absolutely love Love that.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 22:30
Fabulous. And are you able to offer sort of add-ons, like, you know, a quartet or a trio if needs be?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 22:36
Do you know, I don’t generally get asked. Because a lot of clients say to me, Well, we wanted, you know, someone that could play along to piano, and some of the tracks that I play alongside, they’re professionally recorded. And some are piano tracks, some are guitar backing, some’s orchestral. So I have a very different you know, it’s very it keeps the the uh listener and you know, really kind of embraced into the music because it’s a very varied, um, like, you know, backing that I can offer as well. So I have performed with a couple of pianists when required to do so. I’ve never you know, I used to play in string hall text, but not not so anymore. I suppose it’s just time factor really. But yeah, if I was asked I played along with a Saks player who is well known in the area, and we did a little set reception drinks. That was really good fun. So, yeah. So, anything is really possible, but don’t ask that. I don’t get asked that often to do that.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 23:39
Yeah. What’s interesting, actually, one of my takeaways. And I think I hadn’t I hadn’t actually quite considered this is because I think you know a violinist violin music you turn up you play a violin but of course you you’ve got you’ve got a sound system with backing tracks and and you know you you’re you’re not just adding string music you’re adding an entire sort of fully enveloping ambiance, aren’t you?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 23:59
Definitely, yeah. And I have different sets of equipment. I can be performing in maybe three, maybe four areas during the day. So I have to have lots of equipment with me. I’ve got quite a big car, thank goodness, to take it all with me and set up in the various locations. So yeah, it’s the post PA system that I have. Yeah, with you know that is quite it’s brilliant, you know, it really, really is. Um so I’d very fortunate.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 24:30
So, I mean I I I certainly know from experience of of sort of just loving string music and violin music specifically that you can take the same exact piece of music, note for note, and you can play it with different Almost different levels and feelings of emotion, right? So, how do you balance the differences in in the emotion in a room between say a a ceremony versus a drink reception versus a wedding breakfast where you want different feelings in the room, but maybe you’re going to be playing lots of similar styles of music across
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 25:06
Across the board, well, I always say to couples, you know, it’s very personal, but for me, like priest ceremony is very romantic, kind of type of music. So, um, to set that ambience. And then, you know, you can have the same piece of music, but, you know, more upbeat, save and incorporate that maybe in some reception drinks. And then for the wedding breakfast, a little bit of niche, really, but a little bit more lively. And everyone’s had the wedding, and you know, they’re gearing up for the evening. to take place. So yeah, a little bit more upbeat music during that time, definitely.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 25:43
What’s been the most unexpected piece of music people have asked you for?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 25:49
Since Star Wars, Star Wars music’s from theme from Star Wars is quite fun. Yeah, Game of Thrones, The Avengers. Um oh goodness me. What’s my most challenging piece? There’s been a few over the years. But um I always am very, very honest with couples and it you know, if I didn’t think it sounded okay or it was a little bit on the mark You know, I would be totally honest, but 99% of the time it is absolutely possible. I absolutely adore a challenge and we’ll make it work. But if I honestly didn’t think it could work, I’d be very honest and open and say, no, I don’t think it’ll work. Or maybe we should move it from, you know, your ceremony and have it as a little bit more fun. For your situation drinks.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 26:41
And I mean, at the end of the day, that’s kind of what people are speaking to you for, right? Because you know, well, this is going to work really well here, that’ll work really well there, and so on and so forth. So let’s say There’s people out there right now who are thinking, gosh, I’m really enjoying this conversation. I’ve always enjoyed violin music. I didn’t realize maybe it was a thing or. I didn’t maybe know there was quite so much to it. So what would you tell people out there who are thinking about booking a a live violinist? Beyond, obviously, go and speak to Caroline, what advice would you give them?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 27:18
Right. Well, you know, just have an idea really of the music you like. You know, there’s different, obviously, there’s classical, there’s films, there’s like musicals, there’s fifties all the way through to modern day. And maybe pick your core pieces to start with. And if you’re thinking about somebody to play for you, think about the pieces that you would love. to fit your special day and then we can work round it. You know, I can help and guide you and fill in any gaps. I can place your music in a beautiful performance order because some people go, right, I really like this, this, this, and this. I don’t know how it would flow. That’s something that I’m here for 100%. I always offer an hour’s consultation to my couples once they’ve cooked me for them to hear their music or snippets of their choices. Just to make sure they’re happy and we’ve got the correct vibe as to what they would like for their day. Yeah. Yeah, it’s very emotive. Sometimes, you know, I always say, you know, especially if they’re an emotional bride and she’s like, oh, I really like this piece. I lost my dad and I really want this piece played. And I always say that that’s amazing. Maybe maybe have it played a little bit later, just in case it causes upset for you. But again, it is their personal choice.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 28:44
Okay. And would you say that there are any kind of common misconceptions or common mistakes that people make when they think about getting sort of live music, violin music at a wedding?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 28:57
Do your homework. Absolutely. You know, make sure the person that you hire is going to be right for you. And the music choices you want, they’re able to play. Some no, not everybody has a a vast repertoire. So it’s quite important that you choose the right person as well. And, you know. go on reviews and testimonials as well and make sure, you know, that especially they’ve got public liability insurance and hat testing licensing. certificates and things like that. And yeah, it’s the equipment’s got to be really, really good. You don’t want somebody with dodgy equipment. as well, and they’re reliable and they’re they’re quite a reputable person within the industry as well.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 29:45
Got you. I mean I’d Probably another thing as well to consider there is that and and I mean certainly like yourself so you were recently in the is it the Essex Wedding Awards? Yes, it was, yeah. Which which is I mean it it’s it’s no it’s no small feat, is it not?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 30:02
It was I was absolutely thrilled to bits to become you know, I was a finalist and had to do quite a lot of the put in portfolio and some recordings and videos and photos and all sorts. So, um but yeah, absolutely thrilled to bits to have been a finalist. Yeah, so that’s
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 30:21
Yeah, it’s like an industry-level award, but they’re not only just asking people what they thought of you, they’re looking at what you actually do, what your service is. So to be recognized like that, just alone. Immediately speaks to the fact that you really do know what you’re doing.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 30:37
It’s just I was just, you know, I’m going to give it a go, see, you know, you have to meet their requirements as well. And submitted and I did a non-goodness, sorry, a PowerPoint presentation as well with testimonials and have to submit my literature. I always give a couple When I meet them, normally at a wedding show or an open day, and I give them a little sample C D. There’s a leaflet with QR codes, codes on, and my repertoire that had to be submitted. And yeah, a lot about from the beginning right to kind of how I first started and how you engage with a couple right throughout to the booking process to actually the wedding day. So it was quite involved. And very, very thrilled to become a pioneer.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 31:25
And very worthy as well. Two last questions. First of all, when you’re sat at home, you’re in your own space, you put a piece of music on, which piece of music are you listening to? That never fails to give you goosebumps.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 31:38
Don’t you cost strings? Absolute Baba. That is one of my all-time favorites.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 31:44
Yes, yes.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 31:47
Rap manos, piano concerto. Love that. Absolute classic. Um, but I you know, I love Guns and Roses. I absolutely adore Bon Joby. So and uh, they’re all in my repertoire as well. So, um, yeah, um, a big different like spectrum. But I love musical, love shows, theatre. Um, yeah, I have a huge range. I love country music. Bit of lacoons, I love that. So, yeah, huge, varied. I listen to all sorts, but love of Audi, Love Before Seasons. That’s another favourite of mine. That blasts out in the car, much to my children’s disgust. They’re not classically trained whatsoever. They but and then it’s really strange. None of my family are, you know, from when I was a little girl and my parents weren’t interested in classical music. I had a very my grandfather was amazing, he loved it and he used to take me to see different um like concerts locally um and was very encouraging. But none of the rest of my family are not musical at all.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 32:54
Got you. Okay. And last question. People out there are no doubt listening to this thinking this is wonderful. I must find Caroline and look at what she’s doing. Where can people find you on the internet?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 33:06
And on the social media on the internet, I have a website www. musicofielin. co. uk. I’m also on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok. And and have, yeah, have quite a good following on there. And where else can you find me? Goodness.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 33:23
You’ve got a YouTube allow as well, haven’t you?
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 33:25
YouTube channel as well. Yeah, some snippets of some of my audio on there as well. Um, but I’m very quite apparent on uh on the socials and where that’s where you’ll find me.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 33:36
Cool. And of course, most likely at a wedding fair near you.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 33:40
Yes, absolutely. There’s been a lot recently. The last January, February, has been really, really busy with lots of open days, wedding shows. As well. So fortunate, yeah, to be able to do that.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 33:53
Sounds great. Caroline, it’s been an absolute pleasure chatting. Thank you so much. And let’s catch up again soon.
Caroline Jory – Wedding Violinist – Music by Violin • 33:58
Wonderful. Thank you so much for your time.
Liam Ball – your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 34:01
Take care. And there you go, folks. That has been a genuinely lovely conversation with some real insight into just how powerful live music, especially live violin and string music, can be on a wedding day. Now, if you are planning a wedding and you want music that’s going to feel elegant, emotional and is going to be beautifully performed. Definitely get in touch with Caroline. You can find her online at musicbyviolin or oneword. co. uk and on Facebook, Instagram at TikTok. As music underscore by underscore violin, do go and have a proper look and a proper listener. She really is wonderful. And as you’ve heard, She really is wonderful. And of course, if you’ve been enjoying the podcast, do please like, follow, subscribe, and share. As you have no doubt discovered, it’s full of really useful, valuable, and interesting information. Until next time, folks, do remember to choose your suppliers wisely, and I’ll see you again on the next episode of the Supplier Spotlight Podcast. Take care, folks.