There are some very good reasons why you should consider having live music at your wedding. Background music is very good for creating an ambience during the wedding ceremony or reception drinks. During dinner some lounge sounds or laid back jazzy sounds can provide a suitable ambiance for eating. And for later in the evening there truly is nothing like live music to energize the crowd, and get them on their feet dancing!
A band can instantly change the tempo of songs to accommodate some specific dance styles. They can easily change the tempo to match the mood of the moment throughout the evening, slowing things down if your guests are getting tired or picking up the tempo as the excitement level rises!
Specialist bands can be good to complement a themed wedding. For example, a swing big band would be an ideal accompaniment for a 40s-style event, or a jump jive band for a 502 style evening.
Choosing the right band for your wedding ought to be given the same sort of consideration that you give to other aspects of the wedding preparations such venue or catering arrangements. Don't underestimate the influence that the right band can have in creating a lively party atmosphere. The following 10 tips are designed to help you hire the right band for your big day.
1) Choosing the right kind of band
The band you choose should be appropriate for the kind of music you expect at your event. It helps if they are versatile too. If you are booking a band to play at the ceremony and at the reception later they will need to be able to play a variety of musical styles. You may want the band to play quiet lounge or cocktail sounds for drinks earlier in the evening. You may want some mellow background sounds to accompany the dinner, or perhaps just a piano player. You want the band to shift up a few gears for dancing later in the evening. Most weddings have a varied age range too, so it's important that the band have a diverse repertoire, Ideally they might incorporate songs from the sixties and seventies for the mums and dads and songs from the eighties and nineties for the younger element at the party. Your ideal band should be able provide you with all of these elements to help make the day truly memorable.
Make sure the band have good references and plenty of experience. Seasoned wedding musicians will know already the songs that are typically played during both the wedding ceremony and the reception. They will have a good knowledge of what works in creating a good party atmosphere.
2) Finding a band
You should start by asking friends and family if they have any contacts to bands or can recommend a band that they have already hired or perhaps seen at another wedding or party.
Entertainment agencies are a good source of suitable bands. A good agency will have a variety of bands and entertainers of all different styles on their books and should be able to help you choose the right kind of band for your wedding.
Wedding planners may also be able to help you find a band. They may have contacts to a variety bands and may have some preferred bands that they work with on a regular basis.
Most bands have their own website nowadays so use the Internet to try find a band direct. By dealing directly with the band you can cut out the agency fees and save yourself some money.
3) Size of band
The size of the band will to some extent be dictated by the size of your venue. A small function room or marquee will not be suitable for a 12-piece soul revue! A larger band will inevitably have more sound equipment and lighting and require more space to perform. For a small drinks reception a solo piano player or a duo may be sufficient to provide some background ambience for cocktails and will require very little room. Later, for dancing you will need at least a 4-piece band with a drummer and they will need their own area to set up and perform. Find out from the band how much space they need to set up their equipment and perform comfortably.
4) Choosing the band
Once you have identified some likely candidates you will need to choose between them. Any band should be pleased to send their demo CD for you to listen to. Have a few bands send you their CDs so you can make a comparison. With modern recording technology being readily accessible nowadays you should expect these to be of a fairly high quality to even be considered for the next step in your selection process. You may like to find out if it's possible to see any of the bands live. This is not always easy - you may live some distance from the band's home territory. Also, many function bands rarely play performances that are open to the general public as most of their engagements are private parties like yours. Check the band's promotional material that they sent with the CD. It should contain all the details of what they can provide for your wedding, their repertoire, space requirements etc. For any points you are unsure about, contact the band for clarification.
When you have narrowed the choice to a couple of contenders, give them a call to discuss your requirements in more detail. Assess their helpfulness in addressing any of your queries and concerns. A good band will understand your concern to have every right on the big day and be happy to reply to all your queries. Based on all this information, you should be in a position to choose the right band for your wedding day.
5) Book early
As with the venue and other services for your Wedding, it's a good idea to book the band early, too. Many of the most popular wedding and party entertainers are booked up to a year in advance, so book early to avoid disappointment. You don't want to narrow down the choice from all the contenders to a particular band that is your favourite, only to find they are already booked!
6) Incidental music
The band will need a break sometimes - they can't play all night! Find out what they propose to do during these intervals. Most bands will play CDs of background music. Ask what kind of music they intend to play during breaks. Ask if you can play your own musical compilations and, in this case, ask what kind of formats they accept - CD, MP3, iPod etc.
7) Song List
Study the band's list of songs before you book them. It should include plenty of songs that you think are suitable for your type of party. A good band will be happy to learn some of your favourite songs if they are not already on their list, especially as a first wedding dance. A good party band will not start a party with a predetermined list of songs. Instead, they will read the crowd and use their talents to keep the party moving. So by all means give them a list of some of the songs you would definitely like them to play but don't make it too detailed otherwise you risk killing the atmosphere that the band is working to create. If you've done your homework and selected a band that you are confident will deliver the goods, trust them to do their thing and let them get on with it.
8) Equipment and space requirements
Most bands provide all their own sound and lighting equipment. You should expect to only have to provide a couple of electrical sockets close to the performance area for them to plug into. Ask how much space the band requires for the musicians and their equipment. This can vary enormously between bands depending on the size of the band , their personnel and the instrumentation.
9) What to include in the contract with the band
You should have a signed contract of engagement with the band that you select for your event, detailing all the main points of the evening. These should include:
Name of the band.
Contact information of both parties
Date, time, and location of the event.
Start and End time of service.
Number of hours of live music
Price of service.
Deposit amount.
Balance due and when it will be paid.
Cheque payable information.
Provisions for food and refreshment for the band, if applicable.
10) Some things to ask the band
How many hours of playing time are included in a typical contract?
How much time is needed for setup?
How will special requests be handled? Ideally the band should have a wide enough repertoire to be able accommodate requests from guests.
Do the band have backup equipment? Technical problems can happen.
What will the band wear to the wedding? Most bands will have a stage outfit appropriate for their genre. They should also be happy to comply with any dress requirements you may have - e.g. dress suits for a formal setting.
Do they need a stage? This is not normally a requirement, but it may be for certain bands, so it's worth checking.
Do they need a separate room to store equipment cases etc and to get changed?
About the author
Andy Herbert has been involved the entertainment industry for over 20 years and currently leads a specialist 4-piece wedding and party band called PartyDown based in London, England. PartyDown have played at countless Weddings, Private Parties, Functions and Corporate Events. For more details of what they have to offer your event see the website www.partydown.co.uk
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