Please reach us at gmfmusicnorthants@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
GMF Music is run and delivered solely by me, Greg Floyd (the guy in most of the photos in the gallery here). I'm a specialist music practitioner with over 20 years experience. That said, GMF Music is very much a family-rooted business - supported behind-the-scenes by my wife, children, and parents, who make it possible for me to do what I do. I use "we" throughout this site and social media, to honour the collective effort that keeps things running, and those that have helped make me who I am.
Based in Northampton, UK, our reach is quite far considering we are a very small, independent business. The range is roughly Leicester to Milton Keynes (North to South), and Cambridge to Coventry (East to West). So, if you're within our reach we would welcome your enquiry.
Fees vary depending on projected travel time to get to your venue or setting, but as a rough guide, special events start from £120, and wellbeing interventions start from around £60.
Yes, and yes. We use 'CRB-Direct' for our DBS checks, and 'Simply Business' for liability insurance covering any accidental damages caused by our equipment up to £1m. We understand this is important for peace of mind, but also a legal requirement for many venues, or settings involving vulnerable adults or children. You can ask for certification of either of these any time you like.
No, and no. We understand there are parallels but we intentionally don't market ourselves as either. We're not strictly DJ-ing when we provide our disco's, and the primary purpose of the Wellbeing interventions is therapeutic engagement to promote health, hope, quality of life and purpose. Our approach is deliberately different to an entertainer: We'd far rather be playing the songs YOU choose, provide an adaptive and flexible structure - not a predetermined one - and encourage you to become actively involved in directing your experience and the music-making itself.
Neither. We are mindful not to market the services as 'music therapy', or award ourselves status such as 'teacher' or 'therapist', (although if settings choose to do so for an easier explanation, they're free to do so). Music Therapy is a strand of psychotherapy which explores psychodynamics of individuals and requires years of training to qualify, and equally, Teachers have worked hard for their Qualified Teacher Status. So for GMF Music... Delivering music-as-therapy? Yes. Music instructor? Sure. Professional musician? Oh, go on then.
Two things mostly, certainly true for the Wellbeing work::
1) A clinical background with experience managing challenging behaviours, means we can work in the more challenging settings with confidence, such as psychiatric hospitals, that many music providers that would prefer a warmed-up and receptive audience, will not.
2) We're 100% live and unplugged. Meaning no backing track, no set list; no cables or looking for a plug point. And THAT means we remain fully mobile - essential for the 1:1 music-as-therapy interventions to proceed - and flexible enough with our musicianship that a group activity of singing can even be led by the participants (if I know it, I'll play it!).
We are yet to find another provider of music services that come with our on-the-spot versatility AND clinical experience.
Regarding special events, our uniqueness is probably that we offer a lot more control to the customer, from playlist and planning, to volume and vibe on the day including open mic - it's your event, not ours(!).
This would depend entirely on mutual availability, but MOST settings book for wellbeing work once or twice per month. That said, enquiries for one-off visits or taster sessions are welcome.
Email is best for us: gmfmusicnorthants@gmail.com
But you can call, text, or WhatsApp: 07534 543055
Right here. There are a few terms of service and expectations of settings/customers in place to protect the business. We don't insist on customers signing any contracts - again this is to reduce costs for all - but we do operate in good faith, so please read this carefully, especially if booking for the first time:
CANCELATIONS:
Please let Greg know as soon as possible if you need to cancel a session/booking, whatever the reason. If you need to cancel the session/booking with less than 3 days notice, we may still issue your invoice to cover our losses, as we won't have been able to replace your booking quickly enough. We are a very small business, and hope you appreciate it is our livelihood.
If WE have to cancel the session, we'll minimise disruption by giving as much notice as possible, there is NO FEE to pay, and we will often reach out with alternatives. Sometimes this will occur during term-time holidays as childcare priorities may prevent Greg from service delivery, and there is currently nobody available to deputise in his absence.
PAYMENT EXPECTATION: We kindly ask payment to be fully processed within 4 weeks of the date on the invoice, which will usually be issued the same day of service delivery. We will send reminders via email in the first instance if we experience delays receiving payment in case there have been any genuine errors or difficulties. If we can’t find a resolve in a timely manner, or we do not hear back from you at all, we may proceed to the small claims court regarding issues of outstanding payment as a last resort.
FEE REVIEW / VALUE GUARANTEE
Fees are reviewed twice a year where a very slight increase (usually about the cost of a cup of coffee) can be anticipated, owing to cost of living increases, but mostly based on our value/worth as a service based on customer/client feedback directly. We remain committed to offering best value for our service provided compared to competitors, however, feedback is welcome if you believe this is not the case; if you find a service provider offering what GMF Music does, with our USPs and experience, for less, let Greg know, and we'll match it.
Yes, and it would be warmly welcome, especially over on our Facebook page, facebook.com/gmfmusicnorthants. Alternatively, please email us with your feedback: gmfmusicnorthants@gmail.com