Choosing musicians for your wedding

Last time I gave some advice on selecting music for your wedding day. However, choosing the music is only half the job. Now you need to find musicians or DJs to play it.
This can often be the more difficult task, but here are some tips to help you find the right musicians for your special day.




Recommendations

If you know someone who can recommend a singer, musician, DJ or band then it is really useful. Seeing artists in action is always the best way to judge them. Be aware of the taste of the person who recommends them but always listen to advice from friends and family.

Booking a band or dj directly

Many bands and djs have websites where you can see and hear what they do. Don't always rely on the headline claims on the website: I have lost count of the number of "UKs best/ foremost/ most popular" bands I have seen on websites. You should listen to any sound clips , watch any video clips and read through their repertoire to see whether they will play suitable music for your needs. A good website should give you a really clear idea of what the band are like.



Agencies

A quick search on the web will reveal lots of agencies offering wedding bands, DJs and musicians, and these can be a way to find music for your wedding. Do find out what kind of service the agency is providing: Some simply act as an introduction service; you look at their list, maybe hear a few soundclips and then you let the agency know which act you would like. They then pass you on to the band DJ or musician and take a fee for doing so. Other agencies will provide a far more personal service, discussing your needs, making suggestions and handling all the details for you. This can really help if you need more than one type of music during the day.

A good agency will look after all the details of sound equipment, loading in equipment and dovetailing the day so that you don't need to worry. A good agent will also make the musical day run smoothly and take a load off your mind. Talk to any agencies you are considering using to see what value they are offering for their fee.

Making the choice

Once you have found a band or DJ you think you like, there area few things you should inquire about:

Ask for any LIVE clips of the band. Some websites will only have studio tracks which can be "tidied up" and may not give a clear idea of what the band sound like live. See if they have any live recordings you can hear.

Ask whether you can see the band. Some bands may only play private functions but if they are playing at a public venue then always try to see them for yourself.

Ask about sound levels and equipment. The volume must always be appropriate for your venue and guests. If the band don't sound sensitive to your needs then it may be a cause for concern.

Are they flexible. The best planned weddings don't always run exactly to time. Can the band be flexible about their sets and timings of you are running late?



A word about prices

There are a huge range of bands and musicians charging a huge range of prices. You may be tempted to go for the cheapest but this isn't always the best plan. to a great extent you get what you pay for.
Obviously the bigger the band the more it is likely to cost, but there are some other factors which come into play:

Weekend warriors or professionals? If the band play as a paying hobby then they will be able to charge less than full time musicians, but the professionals will (usually) do a better job.

Equipment and sound engineer? In all but the smallest venues, the sound of the band will be far better if the band have a sound engineer with them to balance the levels. This also will ensure that the volume is appropriate for you situation. However, a sound engineer will add to the cost of the band. To have the correct PA system for your venue may mean that the band need to hire some additional equipment. This may add to the cost but it will improve the end result hugely.

Once you have chosen your musicians

Now that you have decided on your musicians you need to chat through times of sets, when they band will arrive, how long they need to set up and what songs you would like them to play. I would suggest giving the band a list of five to ten songs you like from their repertoire to give them a guide of your preferences then let them select the songs . This usually works better than trying to select the whole set. Most bands would be happy to learn one or two songs but if you want lots that they don't normally play there may be a cost involved.

Get it in writing!

Once you have chosen the band and agreed the details, get everything down on paper. Even if the band don't use a full contract, get the things you have agreed down on writing. It will give you peace of mind and allow you to get on with planning and enjoying your special day.

Next time: some pitfalls we have come across and how to avoid them.

Fonix at work!

Here is a blog from a talented photographer friend of ours Katy Lunsford. It features a picture of us at work along with many beautiful images. Click here.

Choosing wedding music

For many people, choosing music and musicians for their wedding can be confusing and difficult. So I thought I would try to give some guidance to help out.

When do you want music?

There are several points in the wedding day when music can be a wonderful addition to the atmosphere:
Before during and after the ceremony, at the drinks reception and during the meal and, of course, during the evening reception.
The types of music are entirely up to you and can reflect your personality and taste. Remember your guests though and try to make sure that there is music most of them will also enjoy.

The Ceremony

Whether you have a church or civil ceremony, music can add to your ceremony. Beforehand it can set the mood, you may wish to have particular personal songs during the ceremony and afterwards, while people are chatting, or while photos are being taken it can add a lovely atmosphere. Recorded music can be used for any of these but if you want to use live music you could consider a whole range of options.
A string trio or quartet, a harpist, a solo instrument like a flute or violin or a pianist or singer can all bring an elegant touch to your ceremony. I have also seen anything from a gospel choir to an operatic singer used to great effect.
The music you choose can really add a personal touch to your ceremony, especially the entrance and exit music and any music during the signing of the register.

The Reception

This is a part of the day where there can be a lot of waiting for some of the guests. A string quartet or trio, a singer playing keyboard or guitar, or a duo can be an ideal musical addition to this part of the day. They can continue to provide background music during the meal. Don't forget that they will need breaks so an ipod or CD with appropriate music will be useful. Many musicians can provide music for breaks themselves.

The Evening

When it comes to wedding music, many people's first thought will be the evening reception. There are two main options: A DJ or live music. Both have their own merits, and couples often opt for a mix of the two. A DJ can provide a larger and often more varied repertoire than a band and they can play for a longer time without needing a break. However, great live music does add a more personal feel to the evening's entertainment. The main options for a live band are a pop/disco/dance band, jazz or swing, a tribute band or a ceilidh band. All have their own appeal and the choice is up to you. Do remember your guests and if you opt for a tribute band, make sure that your guests will love it as much as you do!

Next time: Finding and choosing musicians.

Gallery in place.

Our website now rejoices in the presence of a shiny gallery page. See how lovely the band look by visiting here.
we've also been in the studio doing some trio demos. More soon once they've been mixed.

Wednesday 1st: We're at Lammmars!

This Wednesday you can catch us at Lammar's on Hilton Street. We're on from 9pm. Come on down: It's a great bar and the food is good earlier in the evening.

Lovely client quotes

We have a lovely testimonial from a client in September on the website. Do take a look HERE

Wednesday at Lammars!

This Wednesday is our monthly residency at Lammars on Hilton street in Manchester. we're on from 9pm. If you are free why not come down. It's a great place and the food is good.

Website update

After a good year in 2010, it's really nice to see some great bookings coming in for 2011 already. We have weddings booked with some lovely couples. Nice gigs to look forward to!

Also we've updated the website a little with some new pictures and a couple of new sites on the links page. We should have some video footage soon from a recent gig at Lancashire County Cricket Club. Here are a couple of recent pictures to whet your appetite.

New songs

Hi again.

We're pondering which new songs to learn to add to our repertoire. It's always fun deciding what to do.
My thoughts at the moment are that Respect by Aretha Franklin would be a good one, but what about more contemporary tunes? What would work well?
Our current songlist is available here. What would you add?

Welcome.....

Welcome to our blog: It's about time we started one to let you know what we're up to.
As I write I am recovering from quite a week:
On Wednesday we played at the Lancashire County Cricket Club Player of the Year Awards dinner. It was a great night in Old Trafford's new function suite the Point. We also performed at the venue launch event on September 16th which was amazing. We were supported by the Halle Orchestra. (Well we played after them so that's our story and we're sticking to it!)
On Thursday we played at a fundraiser for Luv Preston and Luv Africa. These are two charities based in Preston working with the disadvantaged. We had a great time and were most impressed by the lovely staff at the Worsley Park Marriot, who looked after us really well! The evening was hosted by Stephenson's Solicitors, who put on a great evening.
On Friday we played at a wedding reception in Marple with a beautiful bride and groom and a great bunch of guests who were really up for a dance. We love that. The photographer for the wedding was a friend of ours Katy Lunsford. She does great work which you should check out.
It's been a great week but very busy. We'll get some pictures up to show you what we've been up to and maybe tell you a bit about the members of the band. More soon.
Fonix