CHOOSING THE RIGHT TALENT FOR YOUR EVENT

Planning a wedding is exhilarating---but often confusing. This article addresses planning the music for your big day to ensure you and your guests have an enjoyable, memorable entertainment experience.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TALENT FOR YOUR EVENT
You should have bands and agencies provide you with audio samples, video samples, pictures, or song lists as well as client testimonials. Bands make demos to portray the broadest range of styles so you can get an idea of how flexible they can be.  Listen to the demos for the group’s overall musicality.  Remember, they are trying to appeal to a varying array of people; just because you don’t like a specific song or two, don’t immediately rule them out.

CEREMONY MUSIC  
Most reception bands can also provide music for your ceremony.  This usually means a stripped down form of the ensemble, such as solo piano, trumpet, or sax.  The combination will vary from band to band.  Many people prefer specialty musicians or classical ensembles such as strings, brass, harpists, vocalists, classical guitarists, or bagpipes for their ceremony.

VOLUME CONCERNS
The keys to proper band volume are experience, professionalism, and equipment.  Have you ever wondered why some 4-piece rock bands sound much louder than many 10-piece orchestras?  Bands play through what is called a PA system (Public Address System) where all instruments are amplified and wired through a mixing board.  A sound engineer controls each individual instrument level.  Mixing boards have master volume controls so that the sound levels can be manipulated much in the same way as you would control the stereo system in your car.  Good musicians properly “pace” the evening and know when to play quietly and when to pump up the volume.

SIZE
Most wedding dance bands consist of 3-8 members, although swing bands can have up to 20 pieces.  As many wedding receptions have guests ranging in age, personality, and taste, bands that can play a wide variety of styles are likely to suit everyone’s needs. In general, bands with more members can usually play more styles. Modern keyboards, synthesizers, rhythm machines and samplers are capable of creating complete horn and string sections, laying down dance drum tracks, and mimicking a large variety of instruments.  For those who prefer the real thing, the cost of band members may add up quickly, however, the trade-off is spectacular electrifying the receptions with the energy of a live band!

ABOUT BAND PRICING
Bands set their own rates.  The principle factor that determines a band’s rate is supply and demand (i.e., more popular bands generally get more money for their services).  Very often bands become popular because they have the best musicians playing with them and, understandably, top players demand the most money. 
Another factor that can affect rate is the number of members in a group, including stage and sound crew.  Also, most bands charge premium fees for Saturday evenings, since these are the dates most in demand.  The industry standard states that, “an evening wedding is a wedding that the band starts at 7:30 pm or later.”  A day wedding will generally begin before noon, with the music finishing no later than 5:00 pm. 

TIME
The standard booking time for dance bands is four hours.  Generally speaking, bands will not discount their rates if you hire them for only three hours.  Ceremony and cocktail musicians usually book for one or two hour blocks.

MEALS AND LODGING
Since bands perform for many hours and will not be able to go off-site, it is customary for you to supply the musicians “a hot, nutritionally balanced meal”.  This does not usually apply to groups performing for less than two hours, like the ceremony/cocktail musicians. 

TRAVEL
All bands have different policies and rates concerning travel.  Some have a set distance they will travel; others may be happy to drive 2 ½ hours each way for no additional charge.  Generally speaking, a band’s standard rates will include one hour of travel time each way, with increased charges for further distances.  For ceremony and cocktail musicians you may find that they are driving much more than they are actually performing, which may impact their rates.

Article furnished by Murray Hill Talent.

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