Not Just Any Wedding Band

There are probably 10 bands for every gig on offer. Therefore you might think that there will be plenty of choice and it should not cost that much having live music at your wedding. But who is going to turn up, what songs will they play, how professional will they look, how loud will they be and how can you be sure they will do a good job on the night?

As in any transaction, let the buyer beware. This is a very special one off (hopefully!) occasion at which you will have all your relatives, friends and work colleagues, an audience that comprises all ages and tastes in music to dance or to listen to.

1. The first piece of advice is to think of your audience, not just what you like yourself. Of course you want the band to play your favourite tune to start the dancing and you can immediately eliminate any band that does not offer to do so, even if they have to learn the song beforehand.

2. Most bands will have a CD or samples of their songs on a website. Don't just go by what is on the CD or what they sound like. With modern technology, the most awful musicians can produce a great recording. Equally, some of the best bands for live functions don't have a CD at all or not a very good one, because they're too busy playing for people rather than indulging in recording. Therefore, ask to attend one of their gigs. It may not be the same setting as what you've got planned, but imagine them at your function and satisfy yourself that they have what it takes to get your guests on the dance floor and keep them happy! Some bands will tell you that they cannot have people coming along to see them play at a private function, but in my experience I have never yet had a client say "no" to the band having a couple of guests discretely in attendance - you may of course have to dress up a bit to blend in!

3. Ask for a song list or maybe a typical set list for a wedding function. Many bands are self-indulgent and fail to build a repertoire that caters for everyone. My band prides itself on the fact that we cover 5 decades of top tunes in a wide range of styles. You will also get a much better range of songs if you pick a band that offers both male and female lead vocalists in their line up.

4. What is the line up and who will turn up. I mention this because there are many virtual bands out there, i.e. bands thrown together for the function, but comprising session musicians, "deps" and people who appear in several bands. Whilst this can be ok, I would be wary of any band that has not been together for some time. A team effort is always better than a bunch of solo artists. Ask therefore what the line up will be for your function and be cautious about any band that won't commit on this point.

5. What should it cost? This is a million dollar question! There are bands so desperate to get bookings that you could get them for a few hundred pounds. At the other end of the spectrum are true professionals, who only go through entertainment agencies costing several thousand pounds. I know from experience that the gap between a really good semi-pro band charging say £800 pounds and a professional band at £2,000 can be minimal, i.e. both may do an equally good job. If you want absolute peace of mind, don't want to spend too much time researching the market and have a generous budget, by all means go with a band fielded by a reputable agency. Failing that, seek recommendations, approach bands direct, ask venues which bands have played there and went down well and above all make sure you actually take up references from previous clients before committing. Also, in the absence of an agency being involved, make sure the band gives you a guarantee that they will turn up and have substitutes in the event of any mishap e.g. through illness. A band with only one lead singer who might contract laryngitis on the day could be a disaster!

6. Plan the logistics for the day with the band in mind. Make sure they will arrive in good time to set up their equipment. I've heard of horror stories where the band arrives midway through the speeches or are not ready to start when the dancing is meant to commence. For this reason, avoid bands that have to travel a long distance to your function. If the venue permits, ask them to set up the equipment well before the wedding banquet begins. In return they will appreciate some light refreshments whilst waiting for the speeches to end.

7. How can you make sure everyone gets involved? Often at weddings people "drift away" when the music starts and it's only later in the evening that the dance floor fills up. My advice here is contrary to what many bands do, i.e save their best till last. Ask the band to play some of the favourites early on and see whether they will let one or two of your guests sing a number with them. There is no better way to get everyone on the dance floor than having the best man sing "Is this the way to Amarillo?" or suchlike.

8. Will they sound good? There is a strong correlation between bands that play regularly and sound tight, professional and slick. Check how many gigs the band has done in the past 12 months. Some bands that only play once a month may not be that polished. Equally, those who are professionals can sometimes be a bit bland and dull, because it's what they do all the time. A semi-pro band therefore might well give it more energy and life, "driving the dance floor", so make sure Great Aunt Flo doesn't sit right by the speakers!

Finally don't let all this put you off. Nothing beats live music (and I mean "live", not backing tracks, sequencers and all that!) to create a great atmosphere. You may want to check however, that the band can also provide pre-recorded CD quality background music or even a Disco during their break.

Nick van Dorp is keyboard player and band manager of Surrey based function band, DISCiples (contact on 01483 720069 or see www.disciplesband.co.uk)

DISCiples Band