There is nothing like live music. There is nothing like live music at a wedding.
Sometimes this is the only time people get together and dance and enjoy. A bad band can RUIN a party. There are many bands to choose from especially in major metropolitan areas. What should you know about picking a great band and ceremony/cocktail music for your wedding? I am about to let you know!
CEREMONY: I find it important to start thinking about your song selections for your ceremony before you lock into the exact musicians. Many times the songs you pick will help determine the best instrumentation. For example…If you pick an Ed Sheerhan song, you might want to have a guitar within the ensemble. If you pick an Elton John song, you might want to have a piano etc.
COCKTAILS: For the Cocktail Hour the average size wedding might have three musicians. Clients should be able to pick the genres they would like played…no need to get too specific on exact songs. Some clients just require a sound system with a great play-list.
RECEPTION:
Song Selections: You want a band that’s capable of playing all of the genres you want to hear at your wedding. There is no need to hire a Funk/Motown band if you only want 80’s and Top-40. The same is true in reverse…there is no need to hire a great Top-40 band if all you want is Sinatra and Motown. Most people want a little bit of everything…some Sinatra…some Motown…some 80’s and some Top-40. This requires a very versatile group of musicians and singers.
Ease to work with: Your wedding is probably the most important day in your life. Whether working with a wedding planner or not, there are a lot of logistics to take care of and working with people who take care of business AND make you feel comfortable is a must. There many things to deal with and discuss such as song selections, time lines, location logistics,parking, meals, etc.
Size of Band: The size of your band really comes down to two things…the amount of guests you’re having and more important, your budget for music. If you are only having sixty guests, a twelve -piece band might be a bit overwhelming. On the opposite side, if you are having three-hundred guests, a five piece band might be a bit too small!A good place to start would be a seven piece band. On almost all accounts this would consist of keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, sax, plus male and female vocalists. Musicians that also sing well are a plus!
Extras: A great band should learn up to three new songs (they can be new or old…just not on their list) for your wedding. A great band has a fantastic emcee to keep the flow of the night classy, smooth and fun! A great band won’t take too many breaks…nor should the breaks be too long. A great band won’t be too loud. A great band will continually read the crowd to know what the best song is to play next. A great band has amazing singers who can sing more than one style with excellence. A great band is there to play for YOU…not themselves. A great band has a great sound system with top notch audio technicians. A great band is always on time!
All of these things and more make up a great band. de Bois Entertainment has only Great Bands.