You’ve made the decision: you’re going to hire a live wedding band to keep guests grooving on your wedding day! But how exactly do you find the perfect band and go about booking it? Here are a few tips to get you started on the path towards booking your perfect wedding band!
See a Live Show
It’s very possible for a band that has a great studio recording to sound…not so great when performing live. Recording in the studio is a different beast than performing on stage, and you’ll need to choose a band that has incredible stage presence, energy, and all-around live performance talent. If at all possible, check out some of the live shows for the wedding bands you’re interested in. You’ll get a much better feel for how they’ll actually perform and interact with guests on your big day if you see them live.
If you’re unable to catch a live show, see if there are any video recordings on YouTube or their website from past concerts, weddings, or events. In order to get the most realistic view of their live performance skills, you’ll want to watch videos from actual performances, not highly produced music videos.
Get Recommendations from Local Friends
You should definitely do some research online and look at reviews, but it’s incredibly helpful to get some recommendations for wedding bands in your area from friends. Your friends will be able to give an honest assessment on certain bands and their work, and may lead you towards your perfect match!
Look at Their Song List & a Sample Set List
You’ll want to take a look at the songs the wedding band is able to play – you want to make sure they play music you actually like! Don’t be put off if there are some songs that you don’t particularly enjoy. Their repertoire will be much longer than the playlist they actually play that night, so you can let them know which songs you love, as well as which ones you hate.
You may also wish to look at a sample set list. This will help you get an idea of what the night’s music will look like, and how everything will flow as the celebration goes on. Remember that most bands will have some flexibility with the set list, so you can work with the band to add or subtract any songs. That said, you’ll want to make sure you know just how flexible the band will be when it comes to creating the set list. You should trust their ability to make the set list, since they’ll know how to best pace the night. However, you should still have the ability to request that certain songs be played or not played.
Ask for References
Before finalizing your choice, ask the band if they’re able to provide any references – especially if you aren’t working with a band your friends recommended. This will give you some more insight into how they’ll work the actual day of the wedding.
Be Aware of Overtime Fees
It may be hard to end the party at the end of the night, but if the band is playing later than their scheduled time slot, it may cost you. Be sure you are fully aware of just how much it will cost if the band goes into overtime. Typically, it will be an hourly rate. Paying a little extra may be worth it to you, but you want to make sure you aren’t met with any surprises when you receive the final bill. Get the info on overtime rates, and make sure it is accurately reflected in the final contract!
If you are in the process of planning your wedding, come to the next Georgia Bridal Show near you. You will have the chance to meet with wedding professionals from Georgia and the Southeast who can help bring your vision to life!
Georgia wedding vendors, as well as other wedding professionals across the Southeast, can contact us about opportunities for exhibition and online marketing with Georgia Bridal Show.