Band verse DJ…
Remember back to the last wedding you were at. What’s is first thing that you remember about the wedding day? the cake? Maybe. Could it be the flowers? No. Perhaps the tables ? (the what, you ask?!) the food No, chances are it was the music that was music to your ears. In fact, it is a well known fact that good entertainment is key to any successful wedding . You can get away with skipping the favors or even with getting Subway in as the caterers but the one thing you can’t skimp on is good wedding music my friends.
Now that we understand, we get the lowdown on how to make the tunes and tangoing the high point of your wedding day. How do you go about getting the right entertainer for your wedding How much money should I spend. What questions do you need to ask of them ?
Band or DJ… WOW the big question
First question you need to ask yourself is whether you want a live band or a DJ. While both are popular choice for a wedding , they offer really different things and the main advantage of a band is the atmosphere it helps make .
However, while a band can bring oodles of atmosphere, it may lack the variety and diversity of music of a great DJ. Although hiring a variety band can go some way towards overcoming this problem with live music, a DJ’s music base is going to be larger. DJ’s generally have a wider selection of music than bands.
As with most wedding services, the easier it is to provide, the cheaper it costs. While I think, contrary to popular belief, it is not necessarily cheaper to hire a DJ than hiring a live band. Additional fees are often incurred for a band to learn a new piece. If you want that a certain song be played at your wedding and a DJ doesn’t have it, he can simply buy or download the track with little trouble or effort, A band, on the other hand, has to learn the song and practice it to perfection. Because of the time and effort required to do this, expect the pay extra or to tip generously.
Another point to remember is the sound quality. Generally, a DJ’s tracks will be of a better sound quality because all the songs are pre recorded with the aid of editing software. Of course, you don’t absolutely have to choose between atmosphere and perfection. Increasingly popular, hiring both a band and DJ is the new thing for weddings. However, while having both is an option, alternating the two is not. Whatever you do, don’t alternate a band and DJ.It is impossible and unfair to ask even the most talented cover band to compete with studio recordings. They offer completely different things and can’t be appreciated for their individual assets if they’re both on at the same time.
Picking the right one…
Now to the hard part, sorry it has to come, once you’ve decided what type of entertainment you want , you now have to choose which particular band or DJ is the right one for your wedding. Before you look for an entertainer, you must know what you’re looking for and the way to do that is to know what your own tastes and that of your guests. Do you want a moody string quartet or would you prefer a happening DJ?
Make sure your entertainer knows what you want before you go with them. This sounds funny,but you need to like the music. It’s your wedding so be sure you’re happy… Choosing wedding music is not a time to be selfish or elitist. Your own taste is important and should influence your choice but remember, not everyone likes the same music as you . You don’t want the bulk of your guests to leave if a rock band is too loud & stops talking. Similarly, a band that does solely sophisticated jazz won’t cater for all dancers.
The right band or DJ for your wedding, thus, should have a wide variety of popular tracks of offer that will appeal to young and old alike. One way to guarantee this with live music is to hire a variety band. These bands work solidly with weddings and know how to please a crowd, They will cater easily to your granny just as well as they will appeal to your young nephew
While a diversity of music is less of a problem with DJ’s, be sure to look over any proposed play lists before the wedding . Sit down and talk with your DJ a few weeks before the wedding. The mix of guests at most weddings crosses not only age but also ethnic diversity and any qualified DJ should be able to meet those demands. But you must check to be sure.
OK…Now that you know what you want, you can start looking and listening more importantly. But how do you know if your potential players are any good? What should you look and listen for? Testimonies. Be sure to ask for references from past clients,Many bandleaders have these on their websites but you’re better to ask for the contact details of their ex-clients to be sure what’s said aren’t just invented out of thin air.
Talking to other people is certainly one way to put paid to any doubts. It’s also a good way to come across a good band or DJ to begin with. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get a good entertainment provider at your wedding. While your friends and family are a good source of info, who better to ask than those in the know? Asking people who work in the wedding industry, such as your photographer or your event manager is a great way to get recommendations.
Regardless of how good you hear a band or DJ is, don’t even think about hiring them before you hear them for yourself. Ask for a demo or see if the band has a CD .This will give you an idea of their style and abilities. Of course, nothing beats seeing a band or DJ live in action. If possible, arrange to see the band live before booking their services.With a DJ, arrange to view his database of music . This shows what kind of music they have available and most good D J s will make this available for their clients or even have it on there web sites.
How Much money to Spend on Entertainment…
Good services comes at a good price. But what should you expect to spend and how is the cost of hiring their services measured. While you could spend anything from $500 to $5,000 on your entertainment, the average amount a couple spends on a band/Dj is approximately $1,500.
Although pricing varies from people to people and from band to band, most bands/Djs do have a minimum fee for events. “Most bands/Djs have a three hour minimum playing fee. A deposit is required and overtime is extra.
Speaking of expense however, if a band/Dj quotes you a price for their services that are over your budget, don’t be afraid to say so. Many musicians/Djs will adjust a fee slightly, rather than lose a gig .It’s always worth asking and you might just get what you want.
How do I Pick a Pro…
Professionalism is the key to hiring a good entertainer or DJ . But in a worldwide web of self proclaimed ‘bests’ in the business, many of whom are probably working out of the basement at their parents house over the weekend, how do you know if they’re really a pro and as good as they say.
One word people… credentials. Make sure the band or DJ is a member of a musicians association as many bands are not. While it’s not always a sign of an established group, it does guarantee a professional service will be provided.
Most professionals will also provide multiple services. In other words, a professional DJ won’t just be a DJ but will act as anything from the light technician to emcee. A good DJ will act as sound and light technician, audience motivator, emcee and party organiser, He or she will also demonstrate an ability to read a crowd and choose the right music at the right time.
Now that is a BAND
Similarly, a professional band leader will have emcee experience with a pro, less is more. A smart bandleader keeps microphone verbiage small announcing the cake cutting, the banquet toss and introducing the wedding party, leaving the speeches to the friends and family. “An outgoing personality is an asset on stage but over chatty emcees show excessive self-importance and are often a pain to all concerned.
The only downside to hiring a pro, of course, is that they have a reputation to protect and may not welcome merry guests looking to join in.Professional bands have a reputation to uphold and many hate amateurs making them look bad.You don’t want anyone to be disappointed on the wedding day so finding out the bands policy is important. Ask beforehand and if guests can get up with the band and join in at some point. Arrange it in advance, whatever you do.
All arrangements and agreements, in fact, should be included in a written contract between you and your service provider, which all professionals will have. Your contract should cover all musicians and singers, band equipment and sound systems.It should state actual playing time, number of hours agreed to and the cost so that there are no surprises and that everything goes to plan.
Of course, plans can go wrong and any professional band/DJ should provide back-up in the event of emergency. Every pro service must have subs available and on standby in case the band/singer is unable to turn up.The back-up should have equal skill to the band member they replace.” A professional will also have liability insurance. With heavy equipment, accidents can happen so hiring an insured company is a must. Ensure this is covered in the contract and don’t hire them without it.
With Djs, on the other hand, emergencies are not the only time you might not get what you pay for. “The most common complaint within the DJ industry today is that the DJ you hire is not the one who turns up on the day.Investigate this before you sign the contract and ensure you’re made aware of it. You often aren’t. You hire a pro so you have the right to expect a professional service that you’re happy with for your wedding day.
Hope this helps,let us know
Tags: get them dancing...