I have had the pleasure of being involved with supplying and performing live music at weddings and parties in the U.K for twelve years. In this blog I will outline some tips for you to help you through this sometimes daunting process ;
1. How to find live music
2. How to book live music
3. Using an agent
4. Booking direct
5. All day music packages
How to find live music
1. So you're having a function! Fantastic! A wedding or a party? A corporate function or a family gathering?
The first thing you need to do is decide whether you need live entertainment.
In my experience good quality live entertainment is the icing on the cake of a function. Many a time I've attended friends parties or corporate functions and the only music has been a second rate D.J playing aggadoo! Oh no! Every party will always benefit from entertainment - live music, a great D.J etc . Without entertainment a function has little focus. No beginning and no end. A good entertainer can conduct a function and make it ebb and flow effortlessly and ideally have all your guests singing and dancing and ultimately, celebrating!
Let's go through the options.
Solo singer / guitarists - There are a lot of these around and the reason is simple. Half the price of a band, but with all the best parts intact (vocals and guitars/ pianos) A good soloist can work a room up to two hundred people without any bother at all. Some soloists use backing tracks and some don't - it's always a good idea to see a soloist in action before you book although in many cases it's easy to judge a soloist by the quality of their recordings. Any good soloist in 2010 will have a video / website/ music combination that they will be more than happy to send to you.
Soloists I would highly recommend would be
Bands
Bands come in all shapes and sizes. Over the years I've discovered a that a band playing a broad mix of uptempo classic songs from Elvis to Amy Winehouse works really well. Basically a broad range of songs between the sixties and present day. I know how simple this sounds, but really, this is the magic formula.
Here are the big three...
Three/Four/five piece Male fronted sixties to modern day covers bands.
Male fronted bands tend to be more popular for weddings with all agencies because, get this : no bride wants to be upstaged by a beautiful female singer now do they! I know this sounds crazy and hard to believe, but the statistics lay down the bare truth. Having said that, female fronted four piece bands are far more popular for corporate parties. How weirdly us humans behave, eh? So, it's boys for weddings and girls for parties, although this choice is always yours of-course.
Rockabilly bands
These bands will have the dance-floor heaving - that is if you love your rockabilly! Having said that, after a few gins, who doesn't love to do the twist? Guaranteed to smash a party and you always will have a great time.
Jazz swing big bands
These kinds of bands are pretty universal. Great for corporate and ideal for weddings. The budget will tend to be on the hig side for Jazz swing bands, as there are more musicians to pay for, but you will get lost's more bang for your buck! Jazz swing bands are also ideal if you want background music earlier in the evening and then a full floor-filling-Sinatra-marathon in the evening.
To Summarize..
A good four piece covers band will be able to cover all bases for you. A little jazz, a little rockabilly, some funk and soul , some indie, something for everyone.....do you see where I'm going?
The ideal band for your party is a band who can play a wide range of music. Some Elvis for your Gran and some Robbie Williams for your niece! Your only job as the client is to decide the kinds of songs you and your guests like, and find a band that plays them. Sounds easy.....well actually it is if you know what you want in the first place.
Here are a few entertainers that have extensive set lists, pro vocalists and stunning bands. All these bands have music, photographs and the all important video. If you find a band without any video-be wary!
JH- Band
These guys are at the top of their game in every respect. Sublime vocals, guitar, piano drums and bass. Huge set list and very flexible booking options from a solo to a three or four piece band including D.J. Extensive set list and years of experience. Five star all around for these guys. Michael Jackson , Stevie Wonder , Kasier Cheifs , Amy Winehouse, the list goes on.
Performance
The Indie KIngs. If you like your Oasis with a slab of Queen and The Beatles, then Performance are the hottest ticket in town. Great set list and wonderful recordings.
Sugarbeat
Female fronted newbies on the function scene, but don't let that put you off. These guys are slick. From Ella Fitzgerald to Kylie Minogue. They formed this band to cover all bases and they have achieved that and more. Totally stunning in every way. Huge set list. Flawless vocals.
The Wize Guys
The Sinatra swing jazz music fest! There are many many jazz and swing bands, but not many have the charisma of this guy. A flexible band, duos to big band. Without any shadow of doubt one of the premier Jazz swing bands in the country. Superb in every way. These guys are often repeat booked year in year out, some accolade! Punchy set list and fine band.
Next week..How to book live music
The band played a wedding for David and Faye at The Harbour Rooms near Cromer last week. I set up the equipment early and sat by the sea for the afternoon with a ploughmans lunch and my camera! It's not very often I get to chill out before a gig, let me tell you. I grabbed a few photographs which I've included here...I've noticed I have to be super quick to get the photos I really like. I've found a setting that seems to work - I love the one on the left, Grandad and Grandson with matching sandals, how sweet!
This week sees the return of my newly serviced red van. Yes it does look a little (quite a lot, actually) like postman Pats van, but it has changed my life in the last few weeks, I have everything in the van all of the time, spare leads, spare everything :-)
