When it comes to the time for choosing a band for your event, whether it's a wedding, anniversary, birthday party or a corporate function, very few people would call themselves experts and as a result can sometimes get into all sorts of bother trying to decide what to do. They end up asking everyone they know, and as everyone has an opinion, leads to even more confusion.
After weeks, sometimes months, of gate-crashing other events, listening to endless bands and surfing the web until the small hours, the result is usually "let's go with those guys - they seem ok". In most cases believe it or not, that works out fine and everyone has a great time, and no one except you is aware of the stress you went through trying to find this band.
Allow me to give some tips and hints to help you before you start auditioning all these bands and a few simple things to think about while you are there. You may even wind up with
!Here are the issues :
Event: The makeup of your guests will be the most important factor in the style of music you will want. A wedding will have an age range from small children to senior citizens and as a result a band with a good range is best for this type of event. Whereas a 21st for example would likely be more aimed at a younger audience and therefore a younger style band would fit the bill here.
Venue: This may seem obvious but believe me the size of the venue is rarely taken into account. If for example you are having a small event in a small venue the band with a large set-up and people may not be the most suitable, of course the reverse also applies and a 2 piece in a huge venue can get lost. Also ensure that the bar is in the same room as the celebration. Bars in other rooms can be a disaster ( e.g Marriott, Druids Glen Co Wicklow.... they have a portable bar - ask them to install it in the main room )
Budget: I have often had people say to me how expensive a band can be. This may seem true until you realise that a good band will make the event that you have spent possibly years planning and has already cost thousands of euro. If you imagine that a wedding with 100 guests will spend anything up to €10,000 on food alone and sadly most people won't remember what they had. On the other hand if you think about what people remember, more often than not it's the nights partying and that is where the band comes in. I am not suggesting you go and hire a band costing €10,000 (although I wouldn't say no) but I would say that like everything else in your event quality costs. You get what you pay for.
Access: This is a personal thing I have but I think it has some merit. I think that if it is possible that the band should be set up and ready to go before you even arrive at the venue. This allows for a few things, it means there's no dragging gear through the event, there is no delay in starting the music and there is no shifting of your guests. We have a brilliant road manager that ensures this is ALWAYS done with the minimum of fuss by setting up early afternoon for ALL events. It also means there is a minimal gap between the speeches / meal ending and the band performance.
Flexibility: This may seem strange but believe it or not some bands will make you feel like they are the client not you. A rigid inflexible set and band can be quite difficult to work with, let alone turning the volume down. We have learned special nuptial songs ( e.g. Ronan O'Gara's wife Jessica requested Enrique Iglesias' hit Hero as their opening song ... but with a difference.. it was in Spanish ! ) and probably are the BEST busking band in Ireland - backing anyone singing anything ! Of course there will also be tunes requested NOT to be performed - that's not a problem.
Have you decided ? Thought so.... there is only one
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