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Band or DJ? Do we have to go hear them live? How do we know if we are
making the right choice? Selecting the music for your reception might seem
like the "fun job" at first, but many variables can draw the process out
beyond necessity. This article offers some very helpful insight from the
perspective of a Boston bandleader with over twenty five years of
professional experience.
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Choosing the Right Music for Your Wedding Reception
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Photo by Timeless Imagery | | by John Harris, Bandleader, Shine | | |
As if there aren't already enough choices
involved in planning a wedding reception, you might want to be aware of
some considerations concerning the ever-important ingredient of music.
After working out of Boston as a bandleader at over fourteen hundred
weddings since 1981 with my band, Shine, I'd love to write a screenplay
about some of the more "unusual" things I've encountered. Yet before the
next "Wedding Crashers" movie is scripted, I'd simply like to make a few
useful suggestions to those searching for music.
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DJ or Band? | |
If a reception site has been chosen anywhere near Boston you are
already one step ahead. This area is one of the top musical havens in
the world and attracts extremely proficient musicians! The
Boston bands
clearly have the most talent and usually travel a fair distance. A
disc jockey is less
expensive, able to play selections by original artist, generally does
not take up much space and travels just as far. However, people who make
a living studying, writing, singing, recording and performing music are
more apt to have a better foundation of music- and its presentation.
Generally, disc jockeys do not have musical backgrounds and aren't
familiar with certain styles of music - especially swing (e.g., material
beyond Kenny G and Glen Miller), ethnic styles and beyond. Though it can
be nearly impossible to "play live" certain styles of current radio hits
without a computer onstage, playing a good mix cd on a break works very
well.
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The Choice
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| Selecting a band can be a
frustrating and very time consuming process - just ask some of your married
friends. Hiring intangibles such as musical dedication, wedding experience
and notes floating around in the air might be something you haven't done
fifty times before. Lucky for you everyone you know has now become a music
critic and wants to judge the Grammy Awards in Hollywood. You can't afford
to make a bad decision, your in-laws don't like the kinds of music as you
and your partner do, you live several states away from your Massachusetts
wedding site, you've picked an extremely popular date, have a limited
budget and the bridal blues are getting louder… | |
| Hey, relax. Here are some things to keep in mind: | |
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In making the right choice, consider only bands
that have a considerable history of performing at weddings and other
parties. Avoid bands just starting out, made up of music students or led
by a contractor who hires different players for different "gigs." If you
don't, chances are by the time your date rolls around, the people in your
band haven't even met each other before. You need a rehearsed group who
can accommodate the vast number of unplanned details that appear at every
wedding. Pulling off an impromptu song request that has a significant
meaning to a relative, dealing with unpredictable catering and scheduling
situations, familiarity with your venue, demonstrating reliability before
the date and just knowing how to work with different wedding
professionals - can be taken care of much better by an experienced band.
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Party Crashing
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Viewing a band at another event doesn't always tell
the story. Most folks want to see a band in action before they send in a
deposit. Sounds reasonable, yet it is increasingly difficult for a number
of reasons. A great number of function directors and security personnel at
many different facilities during the past several years have been turning
away "outsiders." Unfortunately, after September 11 it has become
extremely difficult to check out a band at someone else's wedding. Couples
are getting the boot even after they have dressed nicely, driven a fair
distance and unobtrusively arrived toward the latter part of a wedding or
party to view a potential band. Many venues are even requiring
entertainers to sign statements promising they will not invite prospective
clients to view them while performing. Even in the event of successfully
gaining entrance, it is very common for said couple to witness a cake
cutting ceremony, parent dance, the first live performance of the bride's
younger sister, a half hour speech by a company CEO, an award ceremony, or
a half-filled dance floor generated by a CD from the band on break after
playing a full-fledged dance set. Has the band played your favorite song
yet? Ready to hire?
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Seriously, though, it is rare to catch a band
performing at just the right date, time and location - then to have a fair
performing and viewing situation. Many times, after putting forth
considerable effort, people have to anxiously listen from a difficult
vantage point and don't realize that the music "doesn't sound right"
because they are stationed behind the band or in a different room, away
from the actual path of the music. Watching potential clients evaluate
entertainment when you are powerless to give them what they came for is
even more uncomfortable for the entertainer. It is one of the most
frustrating experiences a performer can have in this business. No matter
how awkward it might seem, the band or DJ must focus on the job they are
hired to do, and risk losing future employment.
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| A large majority of live bands who specialize in weddings don't play publicly in nightclubs very often because of the scarcity of places that hire five or six piece bands that can offer a wide range of material. Mostly available are DJs and duos who play along with pre-recorded tracks can fit within a club's economic restraints. Also, the material a band might play at a nightclub may also be totally different than the music they'd play at a wedding. "Sounds great, now we'd like to bring the family to see you at a wedding next month," is usually heard as you pack up. So how can one really get an idea of what a band can do? Listen carefully to a to a band demo or CD, pay attention to their song list and talk to people. | |
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Viewing by Hearing
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A large majority of live bands who specialize in weddings don't play
publicly in nightclubs very often because of the scarcity of places that
hire five or six piece bands that can offer a wide range of material.
Mostly available are DJs and duos that play along with pre-recorded tracks
can fit within a club's economic restraints. Also, the material a band
might play at a nightclub may also be totally different than the music
they'd play at a wedding. "Sounds great, now we'd like to bring the family
to see you at a wedding next month and hear you guys play some swing" is
sometimes heard as you pack up. So how can one really get an idea of what
a band can do? Listen carefully to a band CD, demo or website, pay
attention to their song list and talk to people.
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Videos and DVDs can sometimes be helpful, but you
should know that 99% of them are lip-synched and are seldom a true
representation. People also tend to hear with their eyes and not focus on
the music. After the fifth video the eyes can get a bit blurred from all
those tuxedos … A very basic band video costs about $8,000 to produce and
can quickly become outdated depending on its content of current music
selections. Too many times slick TV style production will also mask the
band's overall talent.
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With a CD you can really hear the care that a band
puts into their product. You can listen to it almost anywhere, and if it's
any good, you should hear many examples that create a true depth of
material. Listening to clear MP3's online has made the process even
easier. In any case, if a demo has a great variety of songs sung well by
different people and features decent horn playing, guitar work and strong
background vocals you are headed in the right direction. Having an
excellent, diverse song list is also a good indicator that can help in the
selection process.
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Booking Direct
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Performers and entertainment agencies are shoppers
too. In fact, most of us know each other in some capacity or another.
Here's how it really works: agencies earn a commission from booking a band
or DJ. This is almost always added to what the band normally charges. Like
anything, there are good agencies and bad ones. Without any disrespect
intended, the agents aren't the ones loading equipment, calling the tunes
and playing the instruments -they sell. Some provide a good selection
process, others persuade you to hire the in-house band or DJ with the
highest markup value and move onto the next sale. When couples search the
internet for entertainment, many times they will contact both bands and
agents. Then they'll receive duplicate materials or correspondence. Many
times an agency will expect an entertainer to hold the particular date for
them, though the couple has also contacted the entertainer. Many times the
performer is unknowingly put in a tough position: accept the job from the
couple to keep things simple and more cost effective, or work under the
agency's terms - whose goal is to sign any band - and risk hurting a
business relationship. Though there are different scenarios due to
overwhelming choice, it is customary to remain with an agency if they
spend quality time helping you select someone before you contact the same
band or DJ they are suggesting. Some confusion can also be avoided by
making an initial decision to directly work with the entertainment, or go
through an agency.
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Waiting
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If you find a band that you think is the one for
you, and have a Saturday evening reception or a popular wedding date,
don't put off hiring them. You may know others who learned this lesson.
There is a very high likelihood that others are inquiring about the same
date, unless your wedding falls between January and the middle of April.
Performers generally can't "hold" these dates due to the high number of
Saturday or seasonal calls they get. It can be astounding how many times
someone asks for availability for a Saturday in June or October. Many
entertainers have a higher price for Saturdays and peak season dates
(until Tuesday weddings become popular). Some have differing philosophies
on the amount of travel as well. The high majority of couples will book a
band with a reliable reputation from a promotional package or website
instead of risking waiting for the perfect opportunity to see them live.
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Reliability
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Keep your ears open for what people say about good
bands they've heard. Popular bands with solid reputations are popular for
a reason. It's very simple: do a great job or don't work. Those who prove
themselves with timeliness, helpful information superior musicality and
consistency will decrease considerable worry and stress relating to "the
big day." Get a phone number and speak directly to the bandleader directly
to get a sense of what is offered. Bandleaders who return calls and emails
well, send good materials on time, and give non-sugarcoated advice also
show that they can be instrumental in having a successful event. They can
also give very qualified referrals and of similar bands if they are
already booked on your date. References from former clients may be
available as well, though it can sometimes be burdensome for newlyweds to
gets calls out of the blue to answer detailed questions about their
reception experiences.
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Plan but Don't Over Plan
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After the entertainment has been lined up and you
are setting up the actual format for the reception, don't try to choose
every song for the band or DJ to play. It is very helpful to indicate your
preferred musical styles, but utilize your entertainers' experience in
reading a diverse crowd. Also, try to limit the "special dances and
announcements" to the most important ones and have them grouped together
whenever possible. Interrupting the flow of a wedding reception by
consistently stopping and getting everyone's attention can really stunt
the event's momentum. If you plan to have certain ethnic music, bringing a
selected CD that can feature the authentic instrumentation can help the
enjoyment of you and your guests (unless your band has a bouzouki player).
If you are having a "non traditional" type of reception with little or no
announcements, be sure to have a simple, written game plan that the
entertainers, caterer and function coordinator can refer to. This way
people won't be frequently tapping you on the shoulder, forcing more
decision making.
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Have Fun!
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Finally, after all the planning, try not to worry
about which small detail could go wrong. It's done; let it unfold on its
own! Let your vendors handle the behind-the-scenes stress, that's partly
what you are paying for to begin with. Have fun, as you never know what'll
happen that you won't be able to change - like Hurricane Gloria on September
27, 1985 - my own wedding date!
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| Find a
New England wedding band. | |
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