Top Tips for Booking a Live Band for Your Wedding

This month’s blog comes courtesy of the lovely Cressida, founder of Wislocki Music, a music agency based in London. Whether you need a harpist, a wedding band or accompaniment for a sit down meal, Wislocki Music is your go to!

​Choosing to have a live band at your wedding is an exciting decision! When asked, 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment and within one week of their reception, 78% of brides say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority.

Most people have never booked musicians for an event before so the whole process can be a bit overwhelming. Try googling wedding musicians and you’re bombarded with hundreds of options. You fear you might choose the wrong band and end up with an empty dance floor. What if they turn up late or don’t play well? The doubts can start to creep in.
 
Here are some top tips which should make the process stress free with great results!

Which Band?
First and foremost, think about what kind of music you love e.g. 70’s and 80’s classics, 90’s dance music, Motown, Jazz and Funk or a mixture of all of these. Think about what will get your guests up on the dance floor. There’s a band available for every genre of music under the sun. If you’re into a very niche style of music like death metal, bear in mind that you might love it, but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea! If you feel overwhelmed by choice, using a music agent can make the process easier in the sense that you can tell them what kind of music you like and they can suggest bands that they have vetted for quality and reliability, saving you from googling for hours with no prior knowledge of the musicians.
 
Venue Sound Restrictions
Some venues have sound limiters or a restriction to how loud the band can play so make sure you check this and let the band know before you book.

Location
Check where the musicians are based, as travel, congestion charge and parking will be included in the price. It's also more environmentally friendly if there is less travel involved. If your band live very far away from your venue they may need accommodation if it’s a late finish, so bear this in mind too.

Insurance
Ensure the musicians have personal liability insurance. This covers legal fees, expenses, and compensation claims. In other words, if a musician knocks an ancient relic off the wall of your venue, they’ll be covered!

Reviews & Testimonials
Every good band will be able to show you reviews or testimonials from previous couples, which will demonstrate their experience and expertise.

Asking To See Clips
They should be able to provide you with video footage or at least audio clips so you can see them in action. If you have a very specific combination of instruments, they may not always have footage of that particular line-up, but you should always be able to hear them play before you book.

Special Requests
Most groups will be able to take requests, though they may want to know them in advance, usually about a month ahead of the wedding. Find out how long before they need these and if there is an extra charge to make an arrangement of a special song. Many bands will offer a zoom where they can discuss song choices with you and you can ask to see song lists to help you choose.

Technical Requirements
Will they need power outlets, a certain amount of space to play, or some cover if playing outside? To give a rough idea, a 4-piece band needs around 3 x 4 meters, and you can add an extra meter per additional member. Make sure your venue is aware of what the band will require.

Between Live Sets
Most bands can provide a playlist before, after, and in between their sets. You can usually provide your own preferred playlist or leave it up to them to choose for you. It’s worth confirming this though.

Setting Up
A band will often want to arrive around 5 or 6 pm to play in the evening. They’ll generally need between 1-1.5 hours to set up and soundcheck. Will the room be free of guests during that time? Let them know if not. There may be an extra charge if the band has to come much earlier in the day to set up.
 
Length of Performance
Generally, they will play two hour long sets between 8:30 – Midnight. If the finish time is later than midnight there may be an extra cost for a late finish.

​Food & Green Room
The band will require a meal – you want them well fed and full of energy! This doesn’t have to be the same food your guests are having but a simple hot meal is always well received. They will also need a room or an area where they can put equipment – cases etc, get changed and wait while they’re not performing.                                      

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Asking these questions before booking your band will give you peace of mind that you’re choosing the right group who are up to the job and you have nothing to worry about on the day. It can seem like a lot of things to think about, but if you pick the right band, you’ll have the pleasure of seeing those you love creating treasured memories, forgetting about the everyday and having the time of their lives on the dance floor!

For more help with the live music for your wedding contact Wislocki Music for a chat here