Finding The Right Bands For Hire
Your function can be remembered as the event of the century, a complete disaster, or even worse: Absolutely forgettable! The entertainment at an event can make or break the success. Bands for hire can be found in your area for whatever event you’re hosting, whether it’s a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, wedding, birthday party, or corporate event. A well chosen live band can bring your party alive.
Lots of people question whether it might be a better choice to go with a DJ. A DJ can bring a ton of music, takes up little space, is able to play most requests, and can cost a bit less. Having 10,000 songs at the ready is worthless if they’re not the right songs at the right moment, and bands usually know what works and when it works to get the mood going right. Live music has much more energy and can really make things more exciting if you’ve got a lot of guests.
So you’ve decided, it’s going to be a band. First of all, get a budget price in mind before you go shopping, and don’t go shopping for a band last. If you’ve spent all your money on cakes, food, and a hall to hold the party, you’ll be trying to get a good band on the cheap, and that is not always a good way to go. This is a profession for the entertainer and they don’t work for the joy of performing, they need to make money as well. In this arena, you definitely get what you pay for.
To find the band you want, think back to friend’s events, what kind of a scene did you enjoy? Try to lock down the kind of atmosphere you’re going for. Ask friends for recommendations, ask the event planner at your venue for any contacts, and use bridal websites in your search.
By now you’ve got a list of potential groups to work with. Never ever hire anyone without going through some steps first. Ask if they’re going to be performing any public gigs so you can watch them play. Don’t be offended or turned off if they tell you no, many groups do only private parties. The next best thing would be a DVD or video of a live performance. Most importantly make sure you meet them, or at the very least the singer/announcer. A singer in your band will often act as a “Master of Ceremonies”, so make sure you get a good feeling of confidence from them. Will they be able to clearly announce the wedding party? Lastly, ask for references to speak to over the phone.
You’ve chosen your band, so now it’s important to “dot the i’s and cross the t’s”. Does the band provide a written contract? If not, get one written up on your own. What happens if the band doesn’t show? What if they get sick? It’s likely they’ll ask for a deposit, so what are the terms of that agreement? Is the deposit refundable? Do you hold a right to cancel? All of this is very important and if sorted out ahead of time will save a lot of heartache in the long run.
The band you choose should hold an insurance policy for liability. Entertainers are able to get very comprehensive coverage at a great price from brokers specializing in mobile entertainers. Make sure they have the coverage in case anything happens to the venue, any of your guests, or even band members as a result of you hiring them.
Following all these guidelines, you’re on your way to finding the greatest hits from your list of bands for hire!
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