About live band hire
Live band hire for a wedding, a party, function,
dance or event is a great idea. Live music can be the magic dust that makes an event special.
This guidance is for people who are hiring a live band for the first time and want to know about live band hire.
You probably have some idea of the kind of music you
and your friends like, but do you want something unusual or special for this
event? Have a good look at a wider range of bands than you would normally
consider.
Most live bands for hire will have web sites with sound samples, photos,
repertoire lists and testimonials. Firstly, trust your gut feelings and first
impressions.How a band presents
themselves is a good guide. Does the live band strike a chord with you (no pun intended!)?
I would recommend you hire a live band whose musicians play, perform and entertain for a
living – a band that has experience of function
work.
OK – trust your gut instincts, but live band hire is also business.
Be thorough in checking out the band you want to hire. Business is best when it's honest,
clear, straightforward and cooperative.
You can get a reasonable first impression of this from the band's website. Is there an address? A clear price guide? How do they present
themselves?
Also, speak to the band leader or manager. Are they clear and
straightforward? Listening to you? Are they flexible or prepared to be
flexible? Are they generally helpful and comfortable chatting? Is dealing with
this person a pleasure or a pain?
For example, if the live band you hire is playing late they may need
accommodation. That wouldn’t be an unreasonable reason for an
increased fee and you should be told this upfront. However, it may also
be possible to negotiate a discount if the event is on a quiet
nightand if the venue is local.
Consider what part the live band will play in your event. Maybe it’s a cabaret style performance you’re looking for. Perhaps you want a band that will entice
your guests on to the dance floor, but
not harangue them if they’re happy listening or chatting.
Think about who the band will be playing
for. If it's for a wedding, it’s likely your guests will have a wide range of ages
and tastes. Will the live band you hire cater for these?
Consider volume. Do
you want people to be able to chat or is
it all heads-down no-nonsense mindless boogie?! How will the band respond to
being asked to turn up or turn down the volume? Is their PA big enough for a large event or will you need to hire one?
When you hire a live band, be clear about how long the band
will play for, and how long you want them to play for. I’ve seen an amateur
band that started off really well, but killed off the event by playing the same
type of music at the same tempo for an extremely long duration. They would simply not leave the stage!
So in summary, when you hire a live band – trust your instincts, but check out
the band thoroughly. Be conscious of what you want them for, what you
want them to do, and how they respond to your questions.
Where next?
Find out about jazz/swing groups
Look at our prices
See what other people say about us
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