5 Ways to originate accurate Expectations When Hiring a Live Music Band For Your Wedding Reception
I have spent years managing and booking bands that play wedding receptions. Over the years working with hundreds of brides, I have come to learn that the most necessary component of a thriving wedding reception is establishing spoton expectations for the band and the buyer early in the process. Surprises are never good and can approximately always be avoided. Here are the top five ways to make sure that expectations are appropriately set.
5 Ways to originate accurate Expectations When Hiring a Live Music Band For Your Wedding Reception
Work with the band directly.
Bands can be booked directly or straight through a so-called booking agent. When it comes to wedding bands, rarely does the agent describe the band. More likely, the "agent" brokers a deal between the buyer and the band. This is not to say that a good agent isn't helpful, but it means that they are not a part of the band's organization. Whether you book the band directly or straight through a booking agent, it is necessary that you form a association with the band's touch person. That person is most likely a band leader or a manager.
Why is this important? We all know the "telephone game" where one person whispers something to the person next to him who whispers to the next person and so on. By the time the message gets to the end, it has thoroughly changed. Removing the middle man removes the risk of the message changing by the time it gets to the intended recipient.
The other risk of not communicating directly with the band is that the message naturally never makes it to the band. I once had a situation dealing with a reputable agency where the mom of the bride requested the band play a number of songs. The request was sent to the agent who never forwarded it to me. I only found out after the wedding reception when I contacted the mom of the bride to supervene up. Dealing directly with the band removes any possibility of messages getting warped or lost and it gives you and the band belief that you are both on the same page.
If an agent refuses to let you speak with the band directly at any time in the process, run! This is a red flag that the agent is much more concerned about controlling the transaction to protect his or her interests than he or she is about addressing your needs.
See the band live at someone else wedding reception before making the hiring decision.
There is no great way to be determined of what you are getting than seeing the band in performance at someone else wedding reception. As a band manager, I always encourage potential clients to see all the bands they are inspecting in a live execution before making their decision. I do this for two reasons. First, I can talk about what the band does until I'm blue in the face, but the fastest, easiest and most spoton way to understand it is to see it. seeing the band removes any possibility of misunderstanding or confusion. As Elvis Costello once said "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." It's much more effective to just go look at the building. Second, if you see all the bands you are considering, you will have absolute belief in your decision - no second guessing that the band you have hired may not be good adequate or that other bands may be better.
When you go to see the bands you are considering, be sure you see them at a similar event. Every event type is distinct and each has a unique role for the band: at a bar, the job is to sell beer; at a charitable event, it is to raise money; etc. Pro bands will build distinct set lists and achieve distinct shows based on the unique demands of the single event. That is why it is important to see the band at a wedding reception. And, if you see more than one band, see them at the same point in the evening. You don't want to catch one band during the "dinner set" and the other during the final dance set. Doing that may leave you with the inaccurate impression that the "dinner set" band is a low power act when in reality they are appropriately keeping back as the circumstances dictate. Whether it's type of event or timing during the evening, make sure to compare apples to apples.
Hire an experienced and established wedding planner.
I know what you are thinking: "What does hiring a wedding planner have to do with the band?" As it turns out, a lot! Wedding planners make it their firm to know vendors. Because they work wedding receptions day in and day out, they have a much great perspective on the consistency of bands and other vendors than the bride you called for a reference who worked with a vendor once. Wedding planners also have the touch to ask the right questions and raise the right issues to make sure you get what you want.
Once you have made your hires, a wedding planner can genuinely help the day run smoothly. They can make sure all the vendors aren't trying to get into the loading dock at the same time, make sure the band's electrical needs are met, coordinate other vendors with the band's performance, etc. Wedding planners are incredibly knowledgeable about how one aspect of the big day can affect other aspects and they are skilled at making sure that all vendors are aware of the issues and are working together to create a thriving event.
Hire a Pro band experienced with wedding receptions.
Whether or not you hire a wedding planner, hire a band with touch performing wedding receptions. As I mentioned above, all events are distinct and need distinct skills of the band. An experienced and Pro band will not only know how to buildings the show, but also will alert you to issues that need to be considered. For example, your decision to have a buffet versus a plated evening meal will affect the buildings of the evening meal set. What are the pros and cons of starting the evening with the first dance? When should you schedule the cake cutting? Once the evening meal has been served, it is the band that essentially runs the show. Because of that, experienced bands are in a unique position to raise potential issues ahead of time so that they do not become problems at the time.
Communicate commonly with the band.
It is important to keep the band in the loop with all developments. If you want the band to make announcements, let them know as far in enlarge as potential what those announcements will be and when you want them made. With the few super Pro bands that have no break between songs, it can be difficult, though not impossible, to make unscheduled announcements unless the band knows to expect unscheduled announcements. If you are inspecting making changes to the schedule, let the band know as early as potential and preferably before the decision is made. This will allow the band to raise any issues that you may not have plan of that may affect your decision. Of course, once a convert is made, make sure the band knows as soon as possible. Changing a evening meal set to a dance set, for example, will need the rearranging of the set lists for the whole evening and is not the kind of thing that you want to spring on the band at the last minute.
Following these guidelines should create suitable and reasonable expectations for every person complicated and ensure a smooth reception.
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