It
may sound obvious, but word of mouth is always the best form of
advertisement.Ask friends, co-workers
and family if they have been at a recent function where a great band has
performed.When checking out reception
venues ask the coordinator for recommendations of bands that have done prior
performances in their room.Most will be
glad to refer you to any reception service that they know is professional and
who they can trust with the recommendation.
You
might also want to ask other wedding service professionals as well – especially
those in photography, video, wedding planning and catering who directly deal
with bands during the course of the reception evening.
Ultimately,
even with the best recommendations it is still your responsibility to check out
the band personally to see if they are the right choice for your
reception.
Be
Prepared Before You Call Around
Here
is some information to have ready before you start inquiring for a wedding
reception band:
·a
reception date preferably anywhere from 3 to 18 months in advance.Anything under 3 months cuts it very close
and runs the risk of not getting the band that you really want.
·a specific
reception venue or choice of venues if you are still deciding.At the very minimum you will need to provide
the name of the reception city as rates may vary if there is travel involved.
·an idea of
the styles of music that you will require.If your guests will range in age from teens
to great-grandparents then it’s probably a good idea that you hire a band that
can cover all the bases, at least for the first part of the evening when
everyone is there.Is there some
traditional ethnic background that has to be addressed and will the band be
able to play these songs?Do you need
quiet music over the dinner hour, during cocktails or for the ceremony?These are all very specific aspects of the
evening which may require various music styles.Can the band provide them all or will you need to contract these with
other musicians?
·a
realistic price point.Have
a budget in mind however remember that on average the timing for live music
provided could be anywhere between 60-100% of your entire evening.Try not to under-budget or be inflexible on
the entertainment costs.Don’t get me
wrong, things like food are extremely important too.Just remember the following saying:
“No one ever had a great
time dancing to a cake.”
Searching
From Scratch
It’s
an internet world and most everyone under 40 goes straight to Google for
anything these days and this includes searching for bands.Focus on the region where your reception is
being held and do a search for mixed words including: wedding band, live music,
entertainment, live dance band, party band and include the region or reception
city name.Work outwards into areas of
about 100-150 km in radius from the reception hall and you should find quite a
few bands that are within reasonable driving distance to the venue.
Before
calling, search through each band’s website (or Facebook or My Space) to get a
feel of who they are.Do they look
professional?Does their promotional
material look well organized?Basic
stuff – do they look like they know what they are doing?
Next
search the site for more specific things that will qualify them for your phone
call.Listen to their audio demos and
watch their videos.Sound and look
good?Check out their song list.Do you recognize and like these songs?Will your friends, relatives and guests feel
the same way?If the answer is yes to
all of these questions then it’s time to move on to the inquiry phone call.
Contact
The Leader
You
will probably contact a few different bands so it’s best to make notes on
each.Inform each bandleader of your
reception plans by starting with the date of the wedding (to check band
availability), the timing required, the name of the venue and in what city the
party is being held.
If
the band is available then continue to discuss the live music ideas you have in
mind for the day.Will the band be
required for dinner music as well as dancing afterwards?Can the band provide music for the cocktail
reception or provide certain musicians for the ceremony?Some bands can do it all while others prefer
to specialize in only specific parts of the reception.You will need to ask to be sure.
Here
are some other basic questions to ask:
·How much wedding reception experience do you
have?
·Do you take and play requests?
·Does the band come with its own sound system
and is it adequate for my reception?
·What does your cost include? e.g. How many
musicians, hours of the performance, number and length of sets, number and
length of breaks?
Find
out the costing in full for the services and get it in a written quote.Research what each band is bringing to the
table before you decide.A quote might
be less expensive but may offer less service, less playing time, less musicians
or even a less experienced group.
Some
do's and don’ts when hiring a live band:
·Always try
to see the band perform – whether in person or by viewing a live video.At the very minimum see some clear photos of
the band in action and hear some recorded songs.Be aware that the recorded demo music itself
should be live and not be enhanced by recording studio methods.A singer performing live will not have a
computer to fix flat notes like they may have at a demo studio.
·Always
insure that you are getting the same band members as those heard in
the demo.From time to time musicians
get sick, go on vacation, have family emergencies etc., so what is the band’s
backup plan?Do they have substitutes
that are as experienced as the regular members?
·Make sure
that the band dresses appropriately, and be specific as to
what is appropriate dress for your reception.If hiring a band for an outdoor western style wedding reception, do you
really want the band performing in formal tuxedos?If the reception was to be held at a posh
golf club, what would you say if the drummer showed up in running shoes?Don’t worry, most experienced professional
bands know the drill about wearing the appropriate dress attire, but it doesn’t
hurt to check.
·Insist on
some form of written agreement that lists the timing of the
performance, the exact amount of cost and the method of payment including any
concerns about cancellations, deposits and the agreement of final payment.
·Deal with
one person only as representative of the band so that all your planning
details and song selections go to one place for safekeeping until your wedding
day.
·Do not
assume that a band you heard somewhere other than another wedding or similar
function will be appropriate for yours.Some bands are excellent and can cater to all
sorts of different venues (bars or casinos for example) but many do not have
the experience needed in order to pace the evening and to involve all age
groups that are typically the guests at most weddings.
·Get a
detailed song list.Have
both older and younger family members and friends look it over.If everyone does not recognize 80% of the
songs or artists on there immediately then move on.The band is probably not for you.
Rethink your plans with any band that:
·does not give you something in writing
pertaining to the details of your event
·does not reply to your emails or phone calls
promptly with clear answers specific to the questions and concerns you raise.
·avoids giving you answers on what they can or
cannot perform for song material
·cannot or will not control their volume if
asked
·is more concerned about getting their drinks
rather than how to please your guests
·has a limited repertoire.A typical evening contains about 50-60 songs
so it’s crucial that a band has other material ready if songs they are playing
are just not working with the crowd at hand.
OK
- Found A Band - What Next?
Each
band will have their own method of the booking process.Some offer a contract to be signed and
returned with a deposit, while others merely take your info down and give you
some sort of email summary as to what is agreed upon.Either way the recording of details is important
so that there is no confusion on your wedding day.
As
time leads up to the wedding, you may want to touch base with the leader in
order to tighten up performance times, confirm song choices for special dances
for the evening, and give updates as to the general plan for the night.A final check should be made approximately
3-10 days out from the wedding just to make sure everything is running smoothly
on both sides.
When
the wedding day finally arrives – enjoy yourself!All the professional services you’ve hired
are going to give their best efforts to make your day a memorable one.
Why Should you Hire a Cake Designer When
Your Aunt Bakes?
These days, everyone cooks and bakes. There are loads of cooking and
baking shows out there, giving recipes and tips galore. Everybody I know
watches The Cake Boss, or some of the other crazy designer baking shows.
However much they show you, it is what they don't show you that makes the
difference.
Cake designers are professional people. They are trained in baking,
design, and decorating. A cake designer will help you through the process
of selecting a design that is perfect for your wedding, not your Aunt Matildas.
The perfect cake also has to have the perfect taste, made with beautiful fresh
ingredients, not poured out of a box.
When you get to your wedding day, you need everything to go smoothly.
Aunt Matilda has baked your cake. Well, it is not quite the colour you
had in mind. It is just a little crooked, it doesn't have much decoration
on it. Maybe you can live with all that. But then, just as
the reception starts, the cake starts to lean, then fall over. Then
you really know why you should have hired a professional.
Ruth Aspinall & Eda Marion, Vineyard Sweets, Niagara on the Lake
DJ´s aren´t just button pushers selecting songs at random to make a noise at your party. They need to be experienced in system configurations, sound dynamics and volume levels, all of which are different in every room or hall. A great sound does not just happen by accident. Proper amplification with hi current commercial equipment is absolutely essential. As a rule, the higher the wattage of the system, the better the sound. A powerful amp can make mid level quality speakers sound great at any volume. DJ´s have to know how to set up their array of speakers to create a great sound in any shaped hall and that´s not always easy because most brides feel that speakers are to be heard and not seen.
Many times the hall is completely decorated and configured with no thought to where the DJ table or speakers are going to be placed. We arrive and ask the question. Where do you want the DJ to be? We usually receive blank stares and an OH OH! We find this very strange because a lot of thought is normally given to the experience of the DJ when we´re being booked and then we´re forgotten abouton the day of the set up. I understand that we´re usually the last supplier after the hall, the flowers, the cake and the photographer are booked but we´re certainly not unimportant. The two main things about a reception that all guests remember is the food and the music.
The other area of expertise for a DJ is in the lighting and special effects. These are extras that DJ services charge more for, but are not necessary if you´re on a tight budget because you went overboard on the cake and the flowers. They do create an ambience and if worked properly can motivate the floor as well as the music. The music and the lights must work together with consideration given to the energy and beat of the music in order to compliment each other.
An experienced DJ can use all the tools at his/her disposal to create a vibrant mix of music and lights that will have your guests talking about the great time they had at your reception/party. Your DJ service can easily be part of your reception for over 8 hours and is the heartbeat of your event.
There are many considerations when selecting a venue for your wedding reception. The first thing to consider is how many guests would be in attendance as this has a great bearing on the type of hall to select. Basically there are two types of venues other than a tent in a friend or relatives very large yard. Let's take tents first.
Tents come in all shapes and sizes and therefore you can rent the exact size you need and that's a plus. You don't require a liquor license because you're giving away the alcohol instead of selling it. What you will require besides a caterer will be washroom facilities other than what is at the house. These portable units rent for $1500.00 to $5000.00 for one night. Besides plenty of on site parking you'll also need to rent tables, chairs, linens, dance floor, staging, lighting coolers etc. All these items plus the tent can run many thousands of dollars and if you're unlucky and have inclement weather; it could be a washout. Feeling lucky?? Tent weddings are possibly the most expensive alternative to a hotel reception or ethnic hall venue.
Hotel receptions are great if you're having a lot of out of town guests and you can get reduced rates for their overnight accommodations. Their reception packages can get a little pricey starting at $100.00 per plate including bar service. Keep in mind that there will be extra costs as you add in the cost for cutting up and preparing the wedding cake and cost per bottle in corkage and pouring fees if you want your dinner wine poured by servers at the dinner table. Receptions in a fine hotel can be well worth the extra and will make a reception that you'll remember for a long time.
Ethnic halls are probably the best bargain for your hard earned money if you're not concerned about having your reception in what amounts to a box. We usually recommend lights to enhance the visual appeal and they work well to create a festive ambience. The food served at these halls is often excellent and the price is reasonable with packages including bar service for 5 and 7 hours. Normally, you'll have the option of family style, a la carte or buffet and the price will vary a little depending on what you require.
There are bargains in every category and there are days of the week that you'll get a better rate on your service. Try a Friday or Sunday wedding and save money on everything including your DJ.
There is nothing written in the ten commandments that says Thou Shalt Always Have Weddings on Saturdays at least, not as far as I know.
The Pros and Cons of Using an iPod
Much has been written about the advantages of using an iPod or other MP3 playback device for wedding ceremonies and receptions. One obvious advantage is that you can save quite a bit of money not hiring a DJ for your wedding music. You can also have absolute control of each and every selection of music and the order in which it's played throughout the entire event.
However, the harsh reality is that in most cases, these may not be advantages at all. Just ask anyone who has been to a wedding where an iPod was used without the guidance of a professional wedding disc jockey. True, you may save hundreds of dollars, but at what cost to the quality of your wedding reception?
Keep these facts in mind:
An iPod can't "read the crowd", but that's a professional wedding DJ's 'specialty'. A pro can change the tempo if your guests want a slow song next or a faster song played. Working with a professional wedding DJ who has a vast knowledge of all styles of music will, in most cases, make your wedding reception 'an affair to remember'. Filling your iPod with songs that YOU like doesn't guarantee that all your guests will like them as well.
An iPod can't mix the music like a professional DJ. You'll have a 2 or 3-second 'dead-air' gap between songs that can kill the energy on the dancefloor. On the other hand, a professional wedding DJ can mix almost seamlessly from song to song, keeping the guests dancing until the very end.
An iPod can't act as a Master of Ceremonies. Hiring someone who does weddings on a regular basis and knows all the formalities associated with such events is priceless. If you think a friend can do the same job as a professional, think again. Be very careful and sure of the friend or relative you ask to do this for your wedding. Unfortunately, too many friends have 'frozen' at too many weddings, and there are no "do-overs" when it comes to weddings.
There's a reason we use the words "professional wedding DJ" and not just "DJ". There is a huge difference between the occasional wedding DJ (the 'weekend warrior' that has giv
Our Next 2 Association Meetings:
Monday May 10, 2010, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
June 14, 2010, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Our meetings are held every 2nd Monday of the Month or 3rd if on a Holiday
