Think about the worst party you ever went to. What was so bad about it? Chances are, it was the music. Maybe too loud, too quiet, too in your face, too subdued for the type of event. You can avoid this faux pas by making wise decisions when looking for bands for hire. Whichever style of event you're hosting, a wedding, birthday party, or reunion, a choosing a great live act can really make this a party to remember.
A lot of people have issues deciding if it's better to hire a band or a deejay. They are both similar in their job, but the energy a band can bring is very different compared to a skilled disc jockey playing music and doing announcements. A DJ might have thousands of songs ready in their repertoire, while a band might have only a hundred or so. What matters isn't how much, it's what songs, and what style. A band takes up a lot more space and could take more time to set up, but they will make a party seem like a real event.
Once you've decided that it's a band you want, the first step is to decide on a budget. A lot of party planners make the mistake of hiring the entertainment as the last step. By then, the budget has been eaten up by the venue, caterers, videographer, wedding cake, and more. It's not uncommon for a bride to be to figure on spending only five to ten percent of the budget on the entertainment. Ask yourself, when all is said and done, is the band only five percent important to the success of your party? Of course not! Trying to hire a quality band for less than $500 or so will not turn out well.
Now you need to figure out what kind of band you want. Big Band, Top 40 Hits, Rock, Rock Oldies, Motown, the possibilities are endless. Once you've got that sorted out, you need to find them. Ask some friends if they have references, or perhaps ask your event planner, the venue manager, and bridal magazines and websites are also a good source.
By now you've got a list of potential groups to work with. Never ever hire anyone without going through some steps first. Ask if they're going to be performing any public gigs so you can watch them play. Don't be offended or turned off if they tell you no, many groups do only private parties. The next best thing would be a DVD or video of a live performance. Most importantly make sure you meet them, or at the very least the singer/announcer. A singer in your band will often act as a "Master of Ceremonies", so make sure you get a good feeling of confidence from them. Will they be able to clearly announce the wedding party? Lastly, ask for references to speak to over the phone.
Next, insist on a contract. Any decent band will have one to protect themselves, but if not, write one up. This party is very important to you and your guests. A contract will stipulate what happens in the event of catastrophe and they don't make it, or the terms of payment and deposit, what happens if you wish to cancel, etc. All of this is very important to know up front.
Does the band hold insurance? At the very least make sure they hold liability insurance. The contract along with insurance proves their level of professionalism. Mobile entertainers without insurance can cause problems if there's any issues between the venue and the entertainer, for instance, damage to the floors where equipment was set up.
If you look at all these details, there's a good chance you're going to find the best of bands for hire and have a fantastic party.
A lot of people have issues deciding if it's better to hire a band or a deejay. They are both similar in their job, but the energy a band can bring is very different compared to a skilled disc jockey playing music and doing announcements. A DJ might have thousands of songs ready in their repertoire, while a band might have only a hundred or so. What matters isn't how much, it's what songs, and what style. A band takes up a lot more space and could take more time to set up, but they will make a party seem like a real event.
Once you've decided that it's a band you want, the first step is to decide on a budget. A lot of party planners make the mistake of hiring the entertainment as the last step. By then, the budget has been eaten up by the venue, caterers, videographer, wedding cake, and more. It's not uncommon for a bride to be to figure on spending only five to ten percent of the budget on the entertainment. Ask yourself, when all is said and done, is the band only five percent important to the success of your party? Of course not! Trying to hire a quality band for less than $500 or so will not turn out well.
Now you need to figure out what kind of band you want. Big Band, Top 40 Hits, Rock, Rock Oldies, Motown, the possibilities are endless. Once you've got that sorted out, you need to find them. Ask some friends if they have references, or perhaps ask your event planner, the venue manager, and bridal magazines and websites are also a good source.
By now you've got a list of potential groups to work with. Never ever hire anyone without going through some steps first. Ask if they're going to be performing any public gigs so you can watch them play. Don't be offended or turned off if they tell you no, many groups do only private parties. The next best thing would be a DVD or video of a live performance. Most importantly make sure you meet them, or at the very least the singer/announcer. A singer in your band will often act as a "Master of Ceremonies", so make sure you get a good feeling of confidence from them. Will they be able to clearly announce the wedding party? Lastly, ask for references to speak to over the phone.
Next, insist on a contract. Any decent band will have one to protect themselves, but if not, write one up. This party is very important to you and your guests. A contract will stipulate what happens in the event of catastrophe and they don't make it, or the terms of payment and deposit, what happens if you wish to cancel, etc. All of this is very important to know up front.
Does the band hold insurance? At the very least make sure they hold liability insurance. The contract along with insurance proves their level of professionalism. Mobile entertainers without insurance can cause problems if there's any issues between the venue and the entertainer, for instance, damage to the floors where equipment was set up.
If you look at all these details, there's a good chance you're going to find the best of bands for hire and have a fantastic party.
About the Author:
Leona Newport writes for the live wedding party band hire site at http://www.souldesire.co.uk. Getting information about a Wedding Band Essex will make all the difference to the success of your event. For more information about Wedding Bands Kent please visit here.
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