Book live music for your wedding day

Here is a set of tips for when you book live music for your wedding day - both through the day and into the evening.

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We have put together this useful set of tips for you from www.performersagency.com If you haven’t booked a band before, using an agency with experience in arranging wedding music makes it much easier. This takes all the organizational challenges away for you.

Top tip: The more you can do in advance, the less you’ll have to worry. To help plan your wedding please visit this page. Countdown planner

First choose the venue.
Talk to the wedding or event coordinator about any constraints regarding live music. 

Questions to ask:
- Is there a sound limiter? (this may affect your choice of music/DJ)
- Are there space limitations which may restrict the size of band you can choose?
- Check how easily the band can access the stage area. 
- Are there stairs and no lift? (This may affect the hire charge as the band may need to allow extra time to load in the equipment, or bring additional stage crew)
- Is there enough parking available at the venue for your band? (Again, in London parking can be costly and will be reflected in the travel expenses of the band fee)

Setting up on the day
Professional wedding bands use high quality PA equipment and some carry lighting too.
These take time to set up - check with your band how much set up time they need and how they perform their sound check?

Top tip: Work backwards to make sure this fits in with your timings. 

Bands can offer alternative set up options (often at additional cost) to avoid unwanted disruption.
You can request an early set up before you begin your meal, or a split set up, whereby the PA and lighting is set up before your meal and the rest of the equipment is set up and sound checked during the table turnaround after your meal. Talk to your wedding entertainment specialist about your set up requirements at the earliest opportunity to obtain an accurate quote.
Please ask us at www.performersagency.com if you want help choosing and sorting out the arrangements for your wedding!

Top Tip:  If your day happens to be an off-peak date, try negotiating things like early set ups at no extra cost.  Please note this strategy only works if you negotiate before actually making the booking!

Electricity
Most indoor venues that have bands regularly will have enough power sockets near the stage – but do check just in case!  Electricity is more of an issue when using a marquee or playing outdoors. Most bands will have information about their power requirements - they can be passed on to the marquee company.  Lighting especially can use a lot of power - you don’t want your evening to be plunged into darkness the moment the band play their first note! The bands on www.performersagency.com often have a stage plan if they are large bands which can be emailed to you.

Dressing room
Wedding performers normally present themselves well as they are used to singing at special occasions. They require a secure private room in which to change into their performance outfits, put on makeup, securely leave personal belongings during the time they are on stage and rest during breaks.

Top tip: Most venues have smaller conference rooms which can be perfect for this.

Food
Bands spend a large amount of time at the venue. It is very important to make some sort of provision for feeding the band members and crew. Most bands will still be packing up equipment long before and after you and your guests have left.  It’s a good idea to arrange a hot meal for them.  They’ll also require soft drinks and/or drinking water for the duration of the time they are at the venue.

Top tip: A happy well-fed band will put much more energy into their performance than a hungry overlooked band.

Request songs
Wedding bands are used to learning special request songs for your first dance.  Check this before confirming your booking if this is important to you.  Give the band as much notice as possible (at least a month) so they have time to rehearse the song. Remember, they may have quite a few new ‘first dance’ songs to learn during peak wedding season.

Experienced bands have a good idea what works well at a wedding and it’s best to leave the set list in their hands.

Your band will carefully structure the evening, starting gently (so that your guests can still chat) and building to a climax at the end of the night.

It’s usually possible to fit in a couple of your favourite songs from their play list (or leave out a particular song you really don’t like it) in general your evening is more likely to be a success if you leave the band to use their experience when choosing songs.

Playing times and breaks
You need a band that can be flexible with your timings on the day.  At www.performersagency.com we guide bride and grooms through what to expect and know the bands that will work best for your special day.

Few weddings run to schedule; smiling musicians who accommodate last minute changes with ease go a long way towards helping your day perfect and stress free.

Usually the band will kick off their first set with your first dance.  Have a think about how much time you’d like after finishing your meal and speeches to chat to friends and family, touch up your make up, etc, before the band starts and let them know.

If you are having a buffet, let the band know what time this is scheduled for, they can announce it and plan to take a break during this time.

All musicians need to take breaks - ask what options they offer for keeping the atmosphere going when they are not performing.  In our band, we happily leave an i-pod with specially selected music playing during breaks, at no extra charge. Ask at www.performersagency.com if you want to find out more. This can save money on booking a DJ.  This can be considerably cheaper than hiring a separate DJ, as well as possibly taking up less space.  Of course, all bands will be happy to work with a separate DJ too.

Live music earlier in the day
Ask if your band provides a smaller line-up to play  background music earlier in the day, maybe during arrival drinks, whilst you have your photographs taken, or during the meal.  This can be a much cheaper option than hiring a separate band.

Venue constraints
Your ceremony may be in a one room or building, your arrival drinks in another, your meal in another and possibly a different room again for dancing!

This makes it easier for bands to set up and perform their sound check without disturbing you or your guests, although be warned, it is more difficult to entice guests out of the dining area into another room for some dancing.

If you have any further questions, ask us at www.performersagency.com and we will be happy to give advice & hopefully can source the right band for your day too!

To help plan your wedding please visit this page. Countdown planner