Band recommendations sought for wedding in Windsor 11th July..

Hi,

I can recommend a company that our events management company use:-

Moonshine Entertainment

We use an agency because if there is a problem with your band/dj they can provide you with a back up group - this has only happened to us once in 5yrs and they were really good. If you do call ask for alan and say Claire from square events recommended this to you - you never know you may get a discount!

Best wishes

Telephone: ****

There's a great band who play in the Middlesex/Surrey areas called 'Fake Tan' and are an 80's cover band and if we were getting married here I'd have them in a instant.

https://myspace.com/faketanband

Hi! I would also use an agency. Saves loads of hassle should get you a great covers band for not too much money.Try Friday Street Music Agency, they're based in Henley so not too far from you. Take a look at they're site: www.fridaystreet.biz or email on ****@************.***

Hope that helps!

Hi

Im in Surrey and looking for a band too, we had a friend doing us a favour and he let us down, luckily we had decided to postpone the week before otherwise we would have been really stuck! Im going to go through an agency this time so i know no matter what happens i will have a band even if i have to pay a bit more i think the peace of mind is worth it

x x

Hi Pinkleton

We are a London based Beatles Tribute Band who travel the country. We have lots of experience of weddings, including many of the "Hitched" girls.
Accompanying us also if required, is an (excellent I promise you) DJ. The package of him starting the evening, us putting on our show, then the DJ
finishing the night, always goes down very well. You can of course use your own DJ if you prefer. Take a look at our website www.imaginethebeatles.co.uk
You can hear us and see photos etc, which will give you some idea. If you're interested, get in touch. Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards

Rob. "Imagine...The Beatles"

I'm afraid i don't share your confidence in agents.......take a look at this thread..... https://www.hitched.co.uk/Chat/forums/t/120276.aspx

I have done work for different agents. One agent vetted me thoroughly and i had to prove myself before going on his books (he ran a tight ship and hence developed a good reputaition). On another occasion i was contacted by an agent and ultimately sent out under their name....... and they didn't know me from adam, didn't know what callibre i was.....and frankly i don't think they really cared just as long as they got the booking and put someone in.

If you want peace of mind deal directly with the artist, speak to venues/previous clients that have used them.....always ask them about back up of equipment and what contingency plan they have in place should the worst happen and they could attend.

? you automatically assume an ageny will be more professional, it useful to hear about this like this so you can be sure you stuck with a bunch of cow boys!

x

Another thing to bear in mind is that if you go through a third party, you're not getting the value of the goods you think you are getting. Agents and venues take a cut for organising your entertainment. For example, you pay the agent £400 for your DJ.... but you won't be getting a £400 DJ. I've known of venues charging brides this amount and only paying £150 for a DJ. Like everything else in this world....you get what you pay for so a £150 DJ is likely to be very different from a £400 one.

PS...I've chosen words carefully such as 'likely' etc as there is always an exception to everything.

True! Go to the band directly. Why pay an agents fee when you can get a direct price from the band. At least then you have spoken directly to someone from the band and you know all your money is actually going to that band and they will be worth what you paid.

Also know that some agencies rename bands so that you can not find them directly. This means you can only deal with the agency. If they need to replace the band you will never know, you will not get the band on the night you thought you had actually booked. All a bit dodgy sometimes. Have to say not all agencies are like this though.

I would echo what the others have said re using agents. You will get a better quality band for your money going directly to the band themselves.

I know of a very good band based locally to you who are free on the 11th July at the moment (they book up quickly) who would do you a good evening's entertainment for a reasonable price. If you would like to know more about them then please email me on ***********@***.*** and I'd be happy to let you have a showreel, know prices etc.

I echo what Sandysounds says - and also you'll find that you could have booked the band direct more cheaply without paying the agent's cut!

My recommendation is for these folks: https://www.fightingcamels.com/. Daft name, but they're not a bunch of youths but a capable and adaptable more "mature" band (aged 40's and 50s) group of boys (and one girl) of a certain age.
Sophisticated, refined and enjoyable entertainment.

You could check out Jazz Menagerie: http://www.jazzmenagerie.co.uk/ - I think they could travel to Windsor.

We used them for our wedding and they played some great jazz and soul. They were recommended by the venue so they did a lot of weddings and were very professional.

Enjoy!

Hey

I would say go direct to the band if you can. Some agents are very good but there are some agents that are not very well established or experienced. If you go through an agent then you are paying commission on top of the band's fee as well so going direct to a band will save you money.

My band is available on 11th July if you are still looking. We are listed in the directory and have references so if you think we may be what you are looking for please get in touch with an idea of what your budget is and I will see if I can work something out for you. We are from the West Midlands but we do travel.

https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-entertainment/west-midlands/