This article explains some of the questions you should ask when booking a wedding band in order to get an accurate list of what you are really getting for your money. The questions are broken into two parts, one that focuses on how many people will be in the band and another that focuses on what type of music they play.
We will do our best to answer each question so please bear in mind that these are just suggestions and not mandatory. If you have a specific request please let us know and we will try our best!
How many people are in the band?
There are different types of bands, the most common being the one-person band, where there is one person playing all instruments (one guitar, one keyboard or drum kit). The next most common is the five-piece band where there are three musicians on the guitar (two guitars, one bass guitar), percussion (drums), keyboard (keyboard player), and singer.
The advantage of having a five piece band is that you can ask them to do anything they like, the disadvantage is that it may cost you more. A one person band does not give you too much choice but it will give you the best value for your money.
What type of music do you usually play?
This question is important because you should know what to expect on the night. If you are expecting rock then please make sure that this is what you are getting (you can always ask for an example tape). The kind of music they play will affect how your guests dance and how much fun they have so please choose carefully. Here are a few questions that will help you to judge what kind of music they will be playing.
Will the band have a pianist? If so, what style of music do they play? How many pieces will they play? What instrument is usually played first? Is the first song a slow song or a fast one? Then there are questions like these which you can ask when booking.
Will the band be providing their own equipment?
This is important because if they are not providing it you will have to negotiate with them on what you want and they will want payment in advance before they bring it to the venue. If you are booking a band that is still little known then this is a very important question. It’s quite hard to trust people with all your valuables especially when they’re like mindbogglingly expensive and stuff when you haven’t heard of ’em before, so make sure they’ll be bringing their own equipment.
How long have they been playing as a group?
This is important because if they are in business for a long time it means that they are organised and reliable. It also means that they have good contacts which can be quite advantageous in getting you better deals. This question is crucial in establishing the credibility of your band.
What kind of lighting equipment will they be bringing?
The type of lighting equipment they will be bringing can affect the ambiance of the venue and therefore how your guests behave. If you want to create a party atmosphere then you should request high-powered lights but if you want to create a more intimate setting then soft, warm lights are usually better.
What kind of sound equipment will they be bringing?
The kind of sound equipment they will be bringing should complement their other equipment and help them to produce the best possible sound for your event. Again, you should specify the type of music so that they can bring the correct equipment.