Tips and Questions for Choosing a Wedding Band
“The wedding was great, but the band sucked!”
iMemoryfilms presents a great article about wedding music by Alexandra Shimizu, of www.pro-ent.com.
iMemoryfilms asks you,......how often have you felt that way about a wedding that you have attended? Or, how many events do you attend where the crowd leaves before the party is over? Music can make or break any event, so why settle for banal when brilliant is within reach. But how can you guarantee the party of a lifetime? Having a large selection of top talent to choose from with sufficient information including DVD’s and MP3’s can help you select a band or ensemble that will bring your event to life. When you are planning live entertainment for any special event, you’ll want enough choices so that you can tailor the talent both to your tastes and the budget. You wouldn’t believe the number of large special events where talent is a side issue; a favorite cousin’s garage band is hired 9-midnight and the crowd is thin by 10:00 pm.
iMemoryfilms asks you,......how often have you felt that way about a wedding that you have attended? Or, how many events do you attend where the crowd leaves before the party is over? Music can make or break any event, so why settle for banal when brilliant is within reach. But how can you guarantee the party of a lifetime? Having a large selection of top talent to choose from with sufficient information including DVD’s and MP3’s can help you select a band or ensemble that will bring your event to life. When you are planning live entertainment for any special event, you’ll want enough choices so that you can tailor the talent both to your tastes and the budget. You wouldn’t believe the number of large special events where talent is a side issue; a favorite cousin’s garage band is hired 9-midnight and the crowd is thin by 10:00 pm.
Whatever event you are producing, it is important to know what you want to accomplish. Is there a theme to consider or a specific sound you want to hear? Or, are you open to several genres? Do you want the crowd to be able to talk (and hear) during the event? Do you cherish a pounding horn section? What is the age range of the participants? What time of day is the event scheduled? Afternoon weddings generally don’t need dance bands. Small ensembles work perfectly well.
There are only a limited number of Saturday’s available, so popular bands and ensembles are often booked up to a year in advance. Every band or ensemble should have a music list and CD available for you to review. This will be helpful in deciding. You may want to ask if they are playing somewhere that would be appropriate for you to see them.
The formality, facility, and size of your event will determine the type of music that is appropriate. Inquire whether the venue can accommodate dancing and has the area necessary for the musicians to set-up and perform. Be specific about getting the space and electrical requirements from the band so that you can accurately relay the information to your contact person at the facility.
When you make all the final arrangements with your facility, be sure to ask if they have any specified time cut-offs for music. Some facilities require that music be stopped as early as 10 pm.
Music flows better at an event if the first hour or so allows for introductions, mingling and talking and is generally background. At some point, the band can pick up the pace for dancing. It is a good idea to have a liason between the bride and groom and the band. This person can instruct the band when it is time to play the ”first dance” song. Many times the band leader will act as Master of ceremonies, announce the cake cutting, throwing of the bouquet, and the garter toss. The best man often is chosen as the liason, since he will be close at hand to coordinate the order of events with the bride, groom and parents. This will help the day to flow smoothly for the bride and groom.
Be sure to ask about breaks. One band that we know of took such a long break in the middle of the event that the guests started to leave. One guest said, “it was never the same after that.” Most bands have recorded music to play during the breaks, so make sure there is no downtime. Also, check with the band to see if food should be provided to them. Food and beverage is often provided to the band during long events, but it doesn’t necessarily mean a formal dinner. This definitely should be added to the total for the caterer.
Here are some questions to ask you band before you decide to hire:
- Have you performed at weddings? Do you have references?
- When do you arrive and how much set-up time do you need?
- How many people are in your group?
- Do you handle requests?
- When do you take breaks? Do you provide music during the breaks?
- Have you played at my venue?
- Do you bring your own equipment? If so, what?
- Can I hear a demo with some of the music you will be performing at my wedding (or event)?
- What do you wear? Do I have choices in your attire?
These are a few ideas on hiring a band on your own. There is, however, another option. That is to talk with an experienced talent buyer who knows all of the top talent in town and the history and reputation of each group. He or she can also provide all of the demos, photos and information available on each band and can often negotiate a better price than you could get on your own. That way, you are guaranteed to have the most outstanding event possible.
iMemoryfilms
www.imemoryfilms.com
310.938.8490
info@imemoryfilms.com
For more info on wedding planning including wedding videography visit us at www.imemoryfilms.com. You can also visit our blog at www.imemoryfilms.blogspot.com
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