Bands - how much is too much?

Can you shave the budget anywhere else to justify for the spend on the band? I would look at it like, we want to concentrate on getting a cracking band but to afford it we'll have to be creative with our table decorations/ invites etc?! I feel ya, its hard to follow your heart and head at the same time. Good luck, keep researching, google is your friend

Hey,

I know about checking Google etc but I am a little afraid of booking a band in which I don't know at least one person or where I have not had them recommended to me by a friend.

I have thought about trying to save money from elsewhere but my original budget was going to be £1200 and my OH already thought that was rather too much...really not sure what to do...

I'd say £1500 for a 6-9 piece is a very good price! I'm paying £1100 for a 4-piece and that's only by contacting them directly - i.e cutting out the agent.

With regards to recommendation, you can always ask for testimonials and try arrange to see them perform live if they have any public gigs coming up soon.

What kind of band? A 'wedding' band? So many indie bands get paid SO much less than that.

Perhaps book a band that does Friday/Saturdays cover songs sets at a decent pub or bar, they certainly won't be charging that much, you can prob personalise your playlist to make it more weddingy.

Would your nearest music college have willing final year students?

6 - 9 people

9 / 1500 = 166.66

average instrument costs is £2000 (bare in mind they need spares too)

then add on £1000s equiptment (amps, PA, lighting, cables, pedels, mics)

then add strings (or reeds) as they are usually changed every gig or so

then add insurance

then add travel

then add set up time and sound check (not to mention time learning songs if you have requests)

and then add time to take down and pack away

remember they have most likely had a rehearsal run through a couple of day before so add the studio hire

still think its expensive???

my OH is a musican and 9/10 they lose money or barely break even so now they do it mostly for the love (and have back up jobs)

to make a career out of it you need to make £1000 a gig for a 4 piece (which he used to make) so £1500 is really not a bad price for wanting 6-9 musicians

Also the amount of people saying just book a pub band... dont expect them to jump at the chance, there is a reason they are not wedding band that reason is normally choice (I know hundreds of musician you would be lucky if 5% of them would even consider playing a wedding unless they had a personal connection to the family, its a lot of hassle for most to do something they dont wish to do)

also bare in mind the band likely to say yes will be hobbyist so may not have insurance

Hi JJKCB and all,

As a musician myself, and with friends who are in the business, I do know about the costs of instruments etc. As with many things like this though I know that there is a large outlay, but once you have got past that, you begin to make a profit (but then that is similar to most businesses right?). For example, it doesn't cost £2000 per instrument per gig and insurance can be bought cheaply these days. I'm not trying to dispute how much things cost but rather to find out from others about their thoughts on the price of their bands.

Also, I guess what I was trying to get at was whether others had managed to get good bands for a price of around £120 per musician ( friend of mine told me that the usual going rate is about £120 per musician - her husband is a big jazz musician who does functions)?

It would be great to know your thoughts everyone

Cat

I don't think you can spend too much on something, if it is important to you. For example. it was really important for us to have a decent band, so we spent £1300 for a four piece band, but I only spent £200 on a cake for approx 150 people, whereas someone else might spend £700 on a cake. It's all relative.

Where are you based, maybe someone on here can recommend a decent band?

if thats true and you friend husband is cheep the hire them ? I dont understand the point of this thread, what do you actually want people to do/say?

your getting quoted those prices because those ARE the prices (supply/demand and the band have to make a profit) but by all means feel free to tell them you dont think they have to charge that much because all the costs listed above are silly and you dont think they're worth it and see if they suddenly drop their prices just for you because you know better than them ?

Quality is everything!

We go out for between 900-2000 depending on location and can command more when we play abroad. You have to ask yourself what kind if event and atmosphere you want, if you pay cheap for a band there a good chance you will get a cheap standard/sound unfortunately

That sounds about right for the number of musicians, remember that the wage is split between them, so really each person is only getting a couple of hundred max, which isn't a lot once everything is factored in. If they sound good and you like their music I'd just go for it

Less people, local and contacted personally rather than via an agent can all cut down the price, but £120 per person plus travelling expenses/time and agents fees is going to make a band of the size you want come in at £1500 easily.

It doesn't sound as if your quotes are unreasonable to be honest.

Hi Cat,

I was just having this same conversation with a friend! She only budgeted £400 for a band but quickly found out that her choices are very limited for that amount.

I have been to so many weddings where the evening reception was just awful! Why leave it to a group of amateurs when everything else at your wedding is professional and carefully planned?

My friend has now slashed her cake budget (£800!!!!!?!?!!) to increase her band amount.

We booked The Spectrum after seeing them here on Hitched. We got a great discount and tbh the amount of contact, extra songs they learnt for us and how much our guests enjoyed themselves they were well worth just over the £1000 we paid for them. That also included their DJ.

Good luck Cat, go for it!

That's a good deal Sarah! What area do you live in? I wonder if they cover Essex area?

Hi,

Our reception was South Bristol, so the band travelled down from the midlands. I guess they'll travel to you, they're really helpful though so just drop them an email!

I have recommended them quite a few times and some of my guests have booked them for various events etc.

good luck!

Sarah

We've booked a band called Stone Shuffle Jones. They play indie and rock as well as the usual party classics so is perfect for us! Have been to see them live a couple of times and had a great nights. Must be Essex based or cover Essex as our venue is just outside of Colchester.

Our band was £1500 and I baulked at the price initially, but my husband is an ex rock band member and justified it. That was for a 5 piece, and the TOTALLY made the evening do. 100% worth it.

www.rockaoke.co.uk

ps. not everyones cup of tea!

Spectrum are good i used to work with one of them.

That being said we have paid £500 for our 4 piece band a friends uncle - who we saw at her wedding, really wanted a band but without the expense.

I really think a band can make a wedding, defo a bargin hunter mind, and mates rates.

I think that price sounds about right as well. The one band we wanted were charging £1200 for a 3 piece, we went for a dj as they were booked for our date and couldn't find any others that matched up to them but would have paid that amount for them.

I think you should research a lot, there are some who do a bit cheaper who aren't necessarily not as good they just try and be more reasonable or try and get a chance as theres so many bands out there! Have a listen on soundcloud, websites etc and go and see them live before booking..most will invite you along to a gig before hand to see them so you'll know if they're what you're after. If not though I do think you should go for it, if it's that important maybe cut down elsewhere as others have suggested. If you don't want to go up to that price and don't find other bands suitable maybe consider a dj or jukebox? I'm happy to have a dj who will play everything we want and at least they're the original songs and no chance of being ruined in a cover, it's just a case of working out what you're willing to budget on and whats most important to you both on your day / night

Hey all,

I may have to bite the bullet and pay up but there are a few other routes to look down before accepting one of the ones we have heard from.

As for how important it is to us, I don't think my OH is overly bothered but I really am - I studied music, I am a musician and it's a big part of my life...

I will keep you updated on how it all goes when I get a chance to get further with planning (doing PGCE work right now - not much time for anything else!)

Cat

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