Here are some suggestions to help make your wedding the best it can be by chousing wisely the music.
First decide do you want a Live Band , Instrumental only Musicians or a DJ.
Live music can be separated into two categories, Live bands with vocals and instrumentalists with out vocals.
Live Band
A live band has traditionally been the preferred choice to give a classy and fun flavor to your wedding. There is something about being able to watch the music being created by real musicians and vocalists that greatly adds entertainment value to a wedding. A live band is also great if you want to include dancing in the celebration at your wedding. So if you want class, entertainment, dancing and fun a live band is the best choice for you.
Things to consider with a live band.
What style of music do they play, are they versatile? What instrumentation do they have? How many vocalist do they have, are they male or female? If a band has four guys with two guitars, bass and drums don't expect them to play anything but rock and roll. A good wedding band will have diverse instrumentation besides guitar bass and drums they will have a keyboard or two, interments like a flute or maybe horns or strings add a lot of diverse possibilities to the music they can play and make sound good. A good wedding band will have both female and male vocalists the more voices the better. This will provide not only harmonies and duets but also to enable you to not have to listen to the same voice all night long. At a wedding there will be guests of all ages and backgrounds, the best way to try to please everyone with the music selection is to find a band that plays the most well known songs from all genres and covers music from the current time back to at least the 50s. A good wedding band will have an adequate but not overbearing sound system. Make sure you listen to them ether live or on recordings. Get a song list it should at least have 100 songs to chouse from, once again the more the better some bands that have been together for a while will have much more then 100 songs. Beware of bands that are pieced together on demand. Although all musicians involved may be competent nothing can replace the experience of playing together as a band.
Instrumentalists
Non vocal instrumental music is preferred when you want to accomplish a elegant atmosphere with the music being subdued, background only.
Things to consider with non vocal instrumental Soloists, Duets, Trios and Quartets.
What style of music do they play, are they versatile? What instrumentation do they have? How many musicians will be playing? Typically you will have very little to say about what music is played by a instrumentalist but since it is background only it doesn't matter as much as when the music is providing the entertainment.
DJ
A DJ has become the most common provider of music at weddings. A DJ can provide the songs you want and of course it will sound exactly like you want it to because it is a commercial recording. A DJ can provide background music, dance music and some offer karaoke services. A DJ is a good choice for a fun atmosphere and the price is usually the lowest.
Things to consider with a DJ.
This is a time when very little money will buy an ipod or a notebook computer that can have thousands of downloaded songs in them and a sound cheep system can be purchased for a few hundred dollars. As a result there are thousands of people out there calling them self a DJ. How can you find someone that will truly provide the experience you want for your wedding. First cover the basics. What does the DJ have for a Sound System? A Professional DJ will Have Pro Audio Equipment. They will have a mixer made by Yamaha, Peavey, Behringer or Numark. Amps made by Crown, Peavey, Barringer or Yamaha. Speakers made by EAW, Peavey, JBL, Ramsa, or Bose. The System should be Biamped or Triamped with an active crossover and include Mains and Subwoofer. There should be at least two music sources, example two ipods or notebook computers. Avoid DJs with disk players since the disks can skip. Beware of DJs that claim they can "Scratch", If you want Scratching be sure you see then perform be fore you hire them. Scratching done Wright can be entertaining but can easily become annoying and over done. A huge factor with a DJ is the persons ability to make it fun. Is the DJ good at interacting with the guests? Will the DJ Follow your wishes with the song selection and the volume level? Does the DJ want to follow his own agenda not yours? Get several references and call them, ask these questions and any others you have to help insure you hire a good DJ.
$$ PRICING $$
Live Band
In the past good live bands were getting from $1200 and up to provide there services. Things have changed over the past years with the DJs now getting the most wedding business. As a result of this situation the bands and musicians are in a word "hungry for gigs" Many of the best bands are now matching the pricing of a Pro DJ. Bands are definitely the best bargain of the wedding music providers. You can hire a great wedding band for as little as $600. BE AWARE they might start at a higher price but the competition is fierce. Find the band you want then offer them what you can pay. Start with $100 per person for the night, you might be surprised what a bargain you can get.
Non Vocal Musicians
The price is all over the map. Union musicians will be the most expensive up to $100 per person per hr. But like the live bands the DJ has taken there business away also. So find what you want and make them an offer most musicians will have a hard time turning down playing for $150 per person for the night.
DJs
Traditionally a DJ is the lowest price of the different providers of wedding music. You can expect to pay a Professional DJ from $400 to $600 for there services. Persons charging less will usually be one of the thousands of persons call them self a DJ because they have an ipod and a loud stereo.
The contract
Things to include in the contract
1. The name of the Representative of the Entertainment. You want to only deal with one person.
2. The name of the Band, Musicians or DJ and How many persons are coming.
3. The Full Price including The Basic Fee, Travel, Equipment Rental if any. The Rate if you want them to play longer.
4. How many and how long of breaks will be taken.
5. When is the payment due. Do not pay more then half as a deposit.
6. How long will the music be performed.
7. What will I need to provide. ( Power, Protection from Sun Rain Wind, Lighting , Food, Lodging)
8. Key wishes (the music for the Bride Groom Dance, Father Bride Dance, Mother Groom dance act.)
9. The basic contact information. Mailing address, Phone and Fax numbers, Email Address, Website Address,
10 The time to start setting up and finished setting up, and teardown will be done by?
11. The Dress standard for the entertainment.
12 List any unacceptable behaviors at your wedding. (Drug Use, Alcohol consumption, Fowl language, Smoking, act.)
The Best Choice
EVERGREEN, UTAH'S FAVORITE LIVE BAND FOR WEDDINGS
Evergreen
has an extraordinary sound that is perfect for weddings. We cater to most any musical taste by providing
the most loved and well known musical selections of the last 5 decades.
Evergreen is not just a typical pop band. Evergreen consists of professional
musicians who live clean life styles. They are dedicated and enthused
about bringing high-quality music to each performance.
Evergreen has performed for weddings large and small, In locations as elegant as La Caille to the fresh air weddings in back yards.
Evergreen is a band that can perform with ; Male and Female Lead Vocalists, Keyboards, Flute, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Sax and Drums.
We look forward to making your wedding day the most perfect and memorable wedding ever!
Contact Us: evergreentheband@yahoo.com or call us at (801) 688-6771
Here are some of our favorite links.
Click Here for Salt Lake City Wedding Music.com
Click Here for Salt Lake City Wedding Bands.com
Click Here for Salt Lake Wedding Bands.com
Click Here for Utah Live Band.com
Click Here for Treasured Memories The Best Selection of Wedding Scrapbooking Supplies
Click Here for Treasured Memories The Best Selection of Wedding Scrapbooking Supplies