Kathryn Ballard Shut (TIMKAT Entertainment)

While each opportunity is different, we set a 2 hour-minimum for shows. Since each show needs time to set up on-the-spot (drums, keyboards, amplifiers, PA/mixers, microphones, etc), we would like for the experience to be worth the musicians' and clients' travel and work time, and have found that the 2 hour minimum works best. For a typical 3-hour show, we tend to work within the $100-150/hr price range, maxing out at 5 hours total; however, please contact us directly (chat, email, or phone) to negotiate the rate that works best with your budget and event type.

Begin here on Thumbtack with a response to our quote, and follow-up either via email at the address or phone number included in the quote, and we will work to craft a contract that meets your special needs.

Many of our musicians hold Bachelor and even Master of Arts degrees in Music Performance and Music Education. We have many years' experience in performing jazz, blues, pop, and other genres, and some of our artists are actually seasoned professionals in other areas such as technology, management, science, and law.

TIMKAT was founded by two jazz and soul professionals - father and daughter, Kathryn Ballard Shut and Tim Ballard (1948-2009). The late Tim was inducted in 2008 into the Kansas Hall of Fame for his work with Capitol Records recording artist Garry Mac and the Mac Truque (1969), and also performed for over 45 years as a master vocalist, trumpeter, and saxophonist, mainly in Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Dallas, and finally as a headliner on the Las Vegas Strip! Kathryn followed in those footsteps as a classy pianist, vocalist, and clarinetist since the late 1980s in Kansas City and Denver, so music performance is deeply in our blood!

* Booking of excellent musicians specializing in swing, classic, and Latin jazz performances. * Groups can range from a piano soloist to a 5-member jazz combo. Elegant gatherings and venues preferred. 2-hour show minimum. * Contact us to discuss the specifics of your event today, including PA systems and sound. * We apologize - we do NOT provide lighting nor DJ services, nor contract with others to do so.

* Professional, punctual, reliable, entertaining, engaging, highly talented multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, offering a wide eclectic mix of live music in classic/modern jazz, soul, and pop. * Maximize customer value for the money (short breaks, start and end on-time) * Excellent judge of volume, customized acoustic level to venue, keep sound comfortable for patrons * Great mix of classic and Latin jazz - swing, bossas, ballads, vocals with sets customized for each occasion ... from headlining a concert, getting the crowd on the floor, or providing soft background music for dinner and receptions.

Ideally, a professional musician studies musicianship at least as many years (sometimes more!) as a doctor studies medicine, so you want to be sure that you are hiring the best in class when booking a group for your special event. Sadly, many customers, usually in a last-minute panic, hire the first band that they can get and then may be disappointed with the band's lack of professionalism, volume control, and manners. This sheds a dim light on the entertainment industry at large, and TIMKAT's mission is to help change that, one show at a time. TIMKAT instead works only with well-educated, experienced, courteous, drug-free, well-dressed, and serious artists to ensure that your experience with us will encourage you to continue hiring us for future events. We will never send an inexperienced "garage band" to your function, only seasoned, highly-trained, and reliable artists. We look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your consideration of world-class talent from TIMKAT.