change my mind

That sounds like a big room to me and I don't think it would be too load to have a band.

We aren't having one but if we were it never would have crossed my mind about it being load and our room is smaller at 120 people p.

they don't have to have their equipment or speakers on full blast either x

Our reception room only holds up to 80 and they've had loads of bands play there...bands will just adjust their sound to suit the room they're in.

I personally wouldn't go for a singer or duo for an evening reception, I wouldn't want to get up and dance to that with a few drinks in me i'd prefer a dj or band.

I think singers / duo are more suited to daytime, but then it depends on the sort of evening you're having too if it's a non dancy, relaxed sort of night then it would probably be ok.

We decided against a band in our venue for 2 reasons, 1 that we felt it would be too loud (yes, they can turn their amps down but you can't turn a drum kit down, and the band will want to balance their sound, so it will be loud (that advice came from a friend who is a drummer in a band!), and secondly because the bands performance space would encroach onto the dance floor which isn't huge to begin with, that element will depend on your venue. Our venue caters for 100 guests, and we've been to events where they've had bands there before and we felt it was too much. I wish I'd thought of the singer/small acoustic group option though, we're just having a DJ and I think I'll miss the live music option.