How to book a wedding band
Tuesday 3rd May 2022
Ryan Martin
What to discuss?
Lots of people get in touch with a musician/band and ask "hey, how much do you charge?". It's a reasonable question and some people don't really care about what type of music the band plays or many people are in the band. BUT most of the time, people just don't know what else to ask..
This article is aimed at giving people a few more things to ask and discuss when considering booking a band.
A quick introduction of me so you can put things into context, I have been playing guitar & singing at weddings for over a decade. A few years ago I wanted to expand and offer customers more than just solo. For a long time, I would only offer solo and then DJ the later slot of the night. So I started recruiting other band members and now I regularly perform with a bass player and a drummer with the occasional keyboard player or lead guitarist being booked in for the gig.
DJ service - If you want to choose every song that's played on the night, minute by minute. Put a playlist together, hire some speakers or enquire about using the venues speakers and save yourself some money. If you want someone to come to handle guest requests, read the room and play recorded songs which blend into other songs by mixing, hire a DJ!
Live music on the other hand by a live musician, musicians or a band bring a whole other dimension to a wedding or event. You get personality, chemistry, a show, something for your guests to be involved in! An acoustic soloist will create a laid back wedding vibe. People can still have a conversation at the table or socialise freely because it's really easy to control the volume.
My most common entertainment package is actually solo set in the afternoon/dinner eg. 5pm-8pm then building up to a trio or band after dinner 8pm-11pm. As soon as the drums & bass come in, people find their way to the dance floor. I've done quite a few weddings all the way through as a soloist and it's very hard to carry a dance floor as an acoustic guitarist.
I normally use a stomp box to keep the beat but if it's a dance floor you are after, bring in the drums.
IF you love a particular style of music and you want to hear that on your wedding night, make sure before you book that you've got the right musician for the job. I've been booked before for a wedding and then the bride & groom gave me this list of 80's pop songs that I don't know nor can an acoustic guitarist do justice. What they really should have booked in a band of players in their 50's or 60's who play that music. You don't hire a chef who specialises in Mexican food and ask him to cook French cuisine on the night of your wedding. Find the right person for the job OR compromise and let that person do what they are good at doing.
Let's go back to soloists for a minute, if you are after someone who can provide entertainment at your ceremony, perhaps you should check at the time of booking, if the musician knows the song you are hoping to walk down the aisle to OR if they are happy to learn a song for you. A lot of musicians will be happy to learn a song as long as you give them a bit of notice.
To learn a song, it does take hours of practice! Not only do we need to work out the chord progression, we need to learn the vocal melody of the song and arrange the song in a key that's comfortable for our voices. Then after we've worked out a song, to be comfortable enough to play it as someone walks down the aisle, we need to practice it probably 50-100 times.
Times when songs are typically selected at a wedding:
Walking down the aisle (processional)
Walking back down the aisle together (recessional)
Signing of the register
Entry to the reception (bridal party)
First Dance
Questions you could ask a musician/band:
Have you played at many weddings before?
Do you have any reviews from customers we could look at?
Do you know how to play Messed up & Wild by Ryan Martin? And if not, will you learn it? I'd really like to walk down the aisle to it.
Will you play our first dance song live?
Do you have drums in your band? Can we add a drummer to your act?
How long do you need to set up?
How many people can your PA cater for?
Have you played at this venue before?
Can you send me an example set list?
I'm looking for someone who can do acoustic covers of popular songs, is that you?
I'm looking for someone who can play 80's pop songs, does your band do this?
I hope this article has given you some information about what conversations you could have with your wedding entertainment before you go ahead and pay the deposit! If you wan to check out some more of my stuff head to www.ryanmartin.com.au