Everyone’s probably heard at least one or two wedding horror stories which include some anecdotal situations about the performing bands. You’ve got the bands that don’t play your chosen songs and end up playing their own music, those that just can’t do anything on time and delay the ceremony, or even those that flat out forget to show up on the wedding day!
Needless to say, you don’t want any of that on your special day, but how can you make sure that the band you hire is up for the task?
Well, there are certain questions you should ask and things you should know, but rest assured, there are bands out there that are professional, punctual and can deliver exactly what you want and need for your wedding.
So how do you find the right wedding band?
Well, the decision is rather subjective, and has a lot to do with individual preferences, such as music taste, but also with certain decisions pertaining to the way you want your wedding to go. However, here are some of the main questions you should answer when looking for a wedding band in order to get a better picture of what might suit you best:
* Do the musicians have music degrees from a reputable music university?
* Can the band perform the music you want?
* Do they answer your email and phone enquiries quickly?
* Will they perform other duties, like making announcements or Master of Ceremony (MC) duties?
* Will they look after entertainment in between their sets?
* Do they have a maximum number of hours they will perform for?
* How long is a standard set, and how many sets do they perform at a standard wedding gig?
Do Your Homework
So, you have a short list of bands you like the look of, they are all priced within your budget and you like their music and the way they sound. You need to, at the very least hear them play. Going to one of their gigs would be ideal, however that might not be possible. They’re professional musicians after all who specialize in playing at weddings and functions every night of the week.
Instead use the power of the internet! Jump on their youtube or vimeo channel, spend hours on their web site listening to the hundreds of audio and video demos they have recorded… read up on exactly what each band can do for you. They might all play at weddings – but they certainly won’t all provide the same service. Ask Questions!
Make a list of songs you want for the key moments of your wedding and make sure the band you have in mind is familiar with (or will learn) all of your chosen music. You will also need to clarify what music they will play while they are taking breaks between sets (you may like to supply your own iPod for this). You can also find out if the band will perform announcements or MC duties. Some wedding bands will do this, specifically bands who mostly play at weddings.
Weddings are not an easy thing to get right – it’s not just about the music – it’s also about the band being familiar with when everything that happens at weddings. You’d be surprised how often a band can be responsible for some very awkward moments, blasting rock or even metal during dinner when everyone is trying to talk and turning your special day into utter chaos.
The Music
Your band needs to be able to play all the special songs that you need on the day and they should very familiar with when and where they should be played during your wedding. Give your list of songs to the band and explain when each song will need to be incorporated throughout the evening. If you’re not sure – ask them. If they’re not sure… they’re most probably not the band for you.
Your list of songs is necessary for the key moments that usually occur at a wedding, such as the bridal waltz or the arrival of the bridal party at the reception. It’s not about choosing every single song the band plays through the night. Remember that a professional wedding band is constantly reading the crowd to decide what songs to play next to keep everyone up on the dance floor. Sometimes specifying every song you want the band to play on the night will actually have the opposite effect for the very reason of not giving the professionals room to do their job.
You will have special songs that mean something to both of you that you want the band to play at certain times. Make sure the band you choose are able to perform them – ideally, a band that makes a living playing the genre of music that you want for your wedding would be perfect.
The Size of Your Reception Venue
Whether you have chosen your parents’ back garden as your venue, or you have a room booked at a classy reception center, you’ll need to consider how much space there is for the band to set up and perform, and for the guests to dance.
You can always discuss it with your wedding coordinator – they have all the specific details about their venue and will gladly assist you with any questions you might have. You may want a fully kitted out band of eight musicians, but there might not be enough room. Even if you do not want to dance at your wedding, your guests might want to dance, so you need to leave some room for dancing.
Talk through the venue space with potential bands – chances are they have worked there before and can make a recommendation on how many musicians to book and how much space they’ll need, otherwise you might end up with a band that takes up all of your dance floor!
Services the Band Will Perform
Do you want your band’s lead singer to make all the announcements and perform all other speaking duties that might be needed at your wedding?
While it can cost extra, it might be better than needing to ask one of your family members or hire yet another person. Also, consider what the band will play during the breaks – discussing the specific music that will play is important. You can ask them for recommendations of good background music, or, if you have a clear picture of what you want, you can simply give the band an iPod with your own chosen playlist.
Your Wedding Budget
Last, but certainly not least, you will need to make sure the cost of hiring a band is not going to blow the budget. If your wedding is getting partially or fully financed by your parents, then you have to discuss with them how much you can allocate for hiring the right band.
And if you’re paying for the wedding yourself, you definitely have to consider that the venues, the food, the honeymoon and everything else that goes into the wedding does add up to a hefty sum of money, and no matter your budget, there will still be a limit to how much the wedding band can cost.
On the other hand, you can’t start counting pennies when hiring the band as well, as there is nothing worse than an empty dance floor at a party. So a good rule that generally works out is to look for a wedding band that works mostly with weddings – this way you will know exactly what you’re getting for, the band will know what they’re doing and they will be capable of creating the right atmosphere for different parts of the wedding.
The wedding band industry is really competitive, you could get lucky and find a band who are trying to undercut their competition and you might end up with a great band for a great price. The trick is to shop around, keep your ear to the ground and your eyes open and look around for a bargain. The first thing to take care of when planning your wedding is to book a reception venue and find a band, because the best venues and wedding bands get booked up really quickly.
Seek Recommendations
Referrals from friends who have recently gotten married can be invaluable. Get on the phone and call your friends, acquaintances, or co-workers who have recently tied the knot.
Keep in mind that this is probably the most important day in your life and you want it to be the best it can be and as memorable as possible. If you can get a great band at a reasonable price, then you will have more cash to splurge on the honeymoon.
Of course, always double-check the recommendations – jump on their facebook page – read their testimonials, make sure the contract outlines everything that they will do for you beforehand. These tips are the best way to be sure they live up to your expectations are still essential, even if you get raving reviews about them from the people you trust.
Remember – Don’t be afraid to ask questions and on keep asking. The band plays at weddings for a living. They should fall over themselves to help you and guide you through all the options.
Author Bio:
Jeremy is a DJ/MC and has been playing the violin since 3 years of age! He is Red Soda Bands‘ wedding music specialist and the Director of Music for the “Something Borrowed Band”. Being so involved with music and weddings every weekend means that he is across all the latest trends and is full of amazing musical ideas for weddings.
