5 Things When Hiring Live Music for Weddings

Besides the presence of the bride and groom, music selections are arguably one of the biggest highlights of a wedding ceremony and reception. Far from being an easy task, it requires balancing your own personal tastes in music with styles that you know will be enjoyable for most of the people coming to celebrate and spend the day with you. There a wide variety of musical options for weddings and other types of special events, from manned jukeboxes to DJs spinning records and playing specially-made mixtapes. However, nothing beats live music entertainment for a one-of-a-kind, personalized experience. Canned music may be the quick and easy choice but live music offers flexibility, customization, live interaction and an air of spontaneity. Here are a few tips to help you out with selecting the perfect wedding band for your reception:

1. Style

Make sure that you get a clear description of their style so you’ll know that it fits in with the style and feel of your wedding. Ask the band if you can come and take a peek at one of their performances at an upcoming wedding. This will help to make their vibe and talent crystal clear before you book them.

2. Equipment & Band Size

Get a concrete number of how many people are in the band and how many will be available for the reception so you’ll know whether you’re getting a two man show or a 5 piece ensemble. Also, find out if the band has all the equipment they’ll need for the particular venue and whether they are available to do a soundcheck prior to the event. This will help to ensure that there are no equipment or technical problems on the big day.

3. Versatility

If you know that you’ll have special song requests, such as music from a religious or cultural tradition, make sure that the band is familiar with the songs or that they are comfortable with learning them. Also, remember to ask if there are any extra charges for learning new material. One of the best ideas is to ask the band for a song list of songs that they can perform. It’ll give you an idea of what they already know and what they can perform.

4. Travel Fees/Mileage

Discuss any extra fees for travel expenses up front. This is especially important if the band has to travel a far distance to the reception venue.

5. They’re Willing to Sign a Contract

Some wedding bands may already have a standard contract for working weddings, but if they don’t, be sure to have one drawn up that clearly outlines all of the band fees, deposits and dates as well as a contingency plan should an emergency arise at the last minute for either party. For that matter be sure to read the entire contract and check for any contract riders. We have an excellent article on this site that discusses contract riers.