How many students per show?

We recommend a maximum of 250 students in one show. We can do multiple shows at your school if you have more than 250 students. However, there is no minimum or maximum number of students required. Any numbers can be catered for.  

What ages/levels are the shows suitable for?

Both primary & high school. We tailor our shows to suit the age ranges of the students in attendance. Our performers often teach drumming to adults and are able to connect with students of all ages.

Is this suitable for Special students?

Yes. Our performers have extensive experience working with special school students and are able to tailor the show to suit the ability of students in attendance. We get fantastic feedback from Special Schools and find the students respond very well to the drumming.

Do you charge extra for travel expenses? 

If your chosen location is outside a reasonable driving distance (1-1.5 hours away) from the nearest city, it may impact the fee.   

All travel fees will be part of the all-inclusive proposal – and you will NEVER have to worry about add-ons or unexpected incidentals. 

What’s involved in booking?

We have made it super simple for you. There are only a few steps to the booking process:

1. Provide us with your approx. number of students & days of the week that could work for you
2. Agree on a date for our visit 
3. Sign a confirmation document to lock us in on your preferred date & time. 
4. Pay a $200 + GST deposit (not required for Sydney schools) 
5. Enjoy the show & lap up the praise from happy students & colleagues!

How much notice do I need to give to book? 

We generally open for bookings around September (end Term 3) for the following year. The earlier you book, the better – we will have more options and should be able to accommodate your requests. 

If you’re in Sydney, we will do our best to accommodate any last-minute bookings – providing we are available. However, our calendar does get pretty full so please book as early as possible to avoid disappointment and to allow sufficient time for planning. 

If you are in another city, please book before the end of Term 1 to avoid disappointment. We are usually 95% booked by this time with a few schools still finalising dates.  

There may also be additional administration fees added to bookings that are made with less than 2 weeks notice.  

Who are the performers? 

Our performances are always led by a Master Drummer from Africa. Depending on the option you choose, they will be supported by other drummers & dancers from Africa. All our performers are authentic African musicians/dancers… The real deal! If you’re based in Sydney your performer will likely be Tuza or Mohamed, if you’re in another state, our Tour group from Ghana will be your performers.  

Where are you? 

Our office is currently based on the beautiful Gold Coast and our Artistic Director Tuza is based in Sydney. Our tour group – The Salaka Ensemble live in Ghana and have visited Australia every year since 2008.

What can we do to prepare our students for the visit? 

We have a digital Teachers Resource Kit, which comes with music tracks available for purchase for $70 + GST. It has lesson plans for students of all ages. Both primary and high school versions are available. 

Do you have instruments available for sale? 

We have lots! Please take a look at our online store or for bulk buy pricing please ask us a question and we’ll send you a quote. 

What if our school can be difficult to find/access?

If you have specific arrival instructions please email this to us at least one week prior to the show or preferably at the time of confirming your booking.

Will you remind us about the booking? 

We do not call schools to remind them of their booking however you are welcome to double check everything is ok with us at any time. As long as you have signed a confirmation and returned it to our office that is all we need at this end.

How should the room be set up?

We will need an open space and a few chairs (ideally 5 if possible) for the performance area.
The children can sit on the floor or on chairs in front of the performance space.
A stage is not essential. The drums will be set up adjacent to the performance space in rows. The number of drums will depend on student numbers. The performers will be able to adjust the performance needs to your available space. 

Will you need a PA system? 

Nope! No amplification of sound is required.

How long is the activity?

Our shows are 50-55 minutes each. 

What time do you arrive? 

The performers will aim to arrive approx. 30 minutes prior to the show to allow plenty of time to set up. 

What’s involved in the set up? 

We prepare and deliver all necessary equipment and handle all set up. You don’t need to lift a finger! Our African Performers will need to get as close as possible to the performance area to be able to transport hundreds of drums to the performance area. 

If you have students available to help carry drums from and to our van that is always helpful and the students enjoy participating with setting/packing up, but again this is not essential.  

What about the pack up? 

Again, we do everything. We will pack up immediately after our session. 

What else do you need from me?

We will need the final number of children attending the show on the day to ensure we invoice you correctly.  

We would also love to hear any feedback you or other teachers may have for us. 

Can we take pictures/videos? 

You can certainly take pictures for internal purposes – can you please ensure African Beat is referenced so anyone who sees it can also know who was involved. We’d also love to see the pictures so if you could email them to us that would be appreciated. 

And if you want to share any on Facebook or Instagram please use the links to tag us.

When do I pay? 

Sydney: We will invoice you after the show(s) when we know the exact number of students that attended. Your payment is due within 14 days of the invoice. 

Other States: At the beginning of Term 1 (or when you make a booking, if you book after January) a $200 + GST pre-payment is due. We will invoice you the remaining amount after the show(s) when we know the exact number of students that attended. Your payment is due within 28 days of the invoice.  

How do I pay? 

We will send you an invoice with instructions of how to transfer the money into our bank account. There is also an option to pay by credit/debit card (please let us know if you want this option) and there is a 3% processing fee for this method. 

How do I pay by credit/debit card?

If there is no “processing fee” amount listed on your invoice, you first need to tell us you’d like to pay via card. A quick phone call/email is ok. Next, click “Review & Pay” on the invoice email & then the green “Pay Now” button. This will take you to PayPal where you can sign in to your account or continue as a guest.

What can we do to follow the visit? 

We have a digital Teachers Resource Kit, which comes with music tracks available for purchase for $70 + GST. It has lesson plans for students of all ages. Both primary and high school versions are available.