Bands for evening - any tips?

Id be interested in replies to this also - we are looking for a band to play for a couple of hours in Surrey and have been quoted as low as £200 for 2 hours to as high as £850 for 2 hours!!!

Hi,

My best tip is to go and see any potential bands play, where ever possible. We were in a bit of a fix with ours, as we live in Leeds but getting married in Scotland so it was proving impossible to find a band! We eventually drove up and spent a couple of weekends going to see bands play - we gatecrashed a couple of weddings (joking...both band and B&G knew we were there...!) . We found our band through an agency who put on a showcase where we saw 6 bands play on the same night. Seeing them live is completely different to hearing a cd or on a website. Another tip is to keep an open mind, I booked a band which is the opposite of what I thought I wanted!

Good luck!

Definitely try and go see them play. We were lucky in that Iain's drum teacher plays in a soul band, so we already knew that they were good - but there's no substitute for seeing them live. Actually, Shoegal - they're based in Surrey, don't know if they're any good for you?

https://www.soulmachine.co.uk/ That's their website in case.

Hope you find someone, Burplmpala.

Ali x

Hi Blurplmpala (what a name!)

Can I point you towards our hints and tips for hiring wedding musicians (see the advice and ideas link in the signature below).

All good comments so far. Regarding Tinny Demos, most bands will send you a full-res version on CD for you to play loud and proud so just ask them.

A slight word of warning about agencies: By all means go and see their offerings, but once you've made up your mind on their acts, try booking the band direct (either get their contact details on the night or simply look them up on the net.) You will save an enormous amount of money and gain the advantages of actually being able to speak to the band direct about what you you want and need on YOUR big day.

Cost wise: You'll get what you pay for. Our current rule of thumb is £170 - 200 per musician per night. Once again, see our website (below - there is a section on how much does a band cost). Shoegal01: £200 should only really be for one person - I cannot believe that any good band is as little as that. £850: should get you a good trio or quartet or maybe even a quintet, but I'd actually suggest that that's quite a good price.

Absolutely go and see them. Just bear in mind that not all bands will invite you to weddings to see. Would you want strangers wandering around your evening reception? Most bands will be endevouring to get public gigs (despite these hard times for live music venues) - try and go to see them there.

Lastly, make sure that all your quotes INCLUDE sound, lights, travel, Public LIability Insurance (which WILL be required by your venue), PAT tested gear (which means its been tested for electrical safety) and contains NO hidden extras.

Very lastly, get a contract - I can't stress this enough. If you go through an agency, they will allways supply you with a contract. Check its details VERY carefully before you sign. If you go with a band direct, make sure that their contract clearly lays out what you have agreed. If any band or agent does not want to give you a contract - run a mile.

I hope this might help a little bit.

best

Tony

Thanks for all the replies, it sounds like we will need a few trips to the Midlands.