Wedding Music Top Tips On
Booking
Wedding Musicians
How many musicians do I
need?
The size of the wedding party is the key to this
question.
A duo with discreet amplification can happily entertain a group
of up to 60-70 people. A trio can cope with up to 100 people.
As the party size increases, so does the size of the venue. You
need more happening on stage to catch the attention and get the
party going. A four or five-piece band with a small PA system
is generally required if the party is 100 or more.
To entertain 200 people and beyond, the quality of the PA
system and the lighting for the stage and dance-floor becomes
crucial to the success of the event. An act is required that is
able to present a "stage show" that not only sounds good but
also looks good, in terms of movement and costume, with the
ability to catch the attention of the crowd ... even those at
the back of a big hall!
How do I find the right band?
The quality of musicianship is the most important factor.
Listen to recordings of the band performing live, where
available.
Repertoire and experience come next. How long has the band been
involved in wedding entertainment? Can you talk to a "satisfied
customer" ... a couple who used the band for their wedding and
were, hopefully, delighted with the result?
If it's possible, watch the band perform live. However, if your
wedding is in the UK, do be aware that recently revised
licensing laws have made it very difficult and expensive to
present live music in a public place, so public performances by
bands of the quality you require for a successful wedding are a
rarity.
How will the performance be
organised? You can expect approximately 3x45 minute
sets of live music in a four hour period ... or 2x1 hour sets,
if it suits you better. If the musicians are carrying a PA
system, they will probably come equipped with a CD player and
will be able to play CDs of a similar style of music for half
an hour before the first set and in the breaks between the
sets, giving professional-quality background music when the
band is offstage.
For peace of mind, organise your music through a reputable
agency. Make sure you receive, sign and return a contract
stipulating when the band will arrive, when the performance
will take place and the agreed amount of remuneration. You
should expect to be able to talk to the bandleader a few weeks
before the wedding to discuss any specific preferences you
require.
That first dance is something really special. If you approach
the band well before the event, the guys will usually be
prepared to learn your chosen song, if it's not already in
their repertoire.
How much should I expect to pay?
Reliability and quality of performance are the two
attributes that are essential for headache-free, successful
music at a wedding. If you go for cheap, you are likely to
sacrifice either or both of the above!
In the UK, a professional musician will expect to take home
£100 - 150 for an engagement. On top of that there are
equipment and travel costs, along with publicity, advertising
and agency costs.
As a rule of thumb, you can expect to pay £200 - 250 for a solo
performance, £300 - 400 for a duo, £450 - 625 for a trio. A
four-piece band starts at approximately £800. Depending on the
versatility of the musicians, the quality of equipment (PA
system ... possibly backlighting for the stage and for the
dance-floor), the price increases to £1000 - 1500. Larger bands
cost proportionately more.
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