The holidays present the perfect opportunity for being together with your daughter and future son-in-law and perhaps making headway on the details of your wedding planning.  If this is the time you have chosen to search for a band for your wedding reception, below are some wonderful tips from Nancy Paolino, band leader of the award winning Black Tie Band.

The success of a wedding may have a different meaning to different guests, but in the end, isn’t all of our planning working towards the goal of a happy Bride and lovely event for her guests?  A bandleader with experience and a band with flexibility can get you to that goal.  Read this exceptionally informative piece written by Nancy Paolino, award winning bandleader of the Black Tie Band, and MOB Squad contributor.

1) Do you play in live format or do you work with tracks?

Reason: Many wedding bands now perform in a format where they play along with prerecorded material or digital loops.  Some even have the vocals on tape and either sing along or just lip sync with the track.  Only you can determine if a track dependent band and lip-syncing are acceptable to you or if you prefer the authenticity of a fully live musical group.

2) Are you insured?

Reason: Obvious.

3) How long have you been playing for weddings and private events?

Reason: A wedding is a very specialized event.  Not hiring a band that is experienced in performing for weddings is like sending a short order cook to oversee a gourmet restaurant.  There are so many elements involved in performing for a wedding.  See below.

Considerations:

-Is the band knowledgeable of the specific requirements wedding demands?

-Is the bandleader experienced with working with venue personnel to coordinate the itinerary?

-Does the band include an experienced MC?  Very important!  You’ve heard the phrase many times before.  “It’s all in how you say it.”  Nothing can make a wedding sound more like a sporting event than a wedding more quickly than an MC without sophistication.  Since your wedding will probably be one of the biggest investments of your life, I will assume that you would wish for your event to reflect an atmosphere with refinement.

-Will the band appeal to all your guests?  A band that plays exclusively in night clubs may seem like a good idea initially but will everyone on your guest list appreciate the playlist?  A versatile band that appeals to at least 3 generations of people is a better idea than a band with a very narrow spectrum (no matter how well they play it).  Everyone at your wedding should spend time on the dance floor.

4) Is the band a legitimate business?  Are they incorporated?  Will they be in business a year from now?

Reason: Find out how long they’ve been together.  A true special event band has a big investment in their business and is committed for the duration.  You can usually make that judgment after viewing their promo material.  If it has substance, that’s a good sign.  But don’t be fooled by packaging.  Go to the next step and see them perform live.

5) Are you familiar with the policies of my venue?

Reason: Many mansions, country clubs and other venues have very specific requirements regarding their policies.  The policies could be related to time allowed for gear set-up, vendor alcohol consumption, food provision, volume restrictions (lots of venues now have noise ordinances to contend with), attire and overall treatment of the facility.

6) Do you require that we feed the band?

Reason: This is something you should know beforehand.  One thing to think about is that most band members will have spent at least 7 hours in order to accommodate your wedding.  Many band members arrive hours before your guests and stay afterwards for breakdown.  In order to give their best performance, it would be a good idea for the caterer to provide an offering.  Whether it is a plate of pasta or a full meal, it is always appreciated because most likely, the musicians have completely missed their dinner time.

7) Are the same musicians we viewed going to be present at my event?

Reason:  Can’t emphasize this enough.  Many agencies represent bands that share one name and yet manifests in many different configurations.  So the band you reviewed in the video, on line or at the showcase may not necessarily be the band that plays at your wedding.  What is done is that the agency will utilize a sort of A team/B team format and send out musicians according to availability or convenience (all under the guise of being custom tailored).  So you may want to ask the question: Do you represent one rehearsed band or do you send multiple bands out on the same evening for different events?

Are the musicians we heard on your demo currently in your band?

Reason: Some demos are dated and no longer have the same musicians as were recorded. Do your homework.  Although no band leader can guarantee that every musician will remain in the band indefinitely, it’s good to know that what you are hearing on the demo at the time are the actual current members of the band.

9) Can we select music from your playlist?

Reason:  I wouldn’t recommend building a strict, pre set playlist for the band but if the music is on the playlist, the band should be able to play it.  You should be able to choose your favorites.

10) Are you willing to learn songs that are not on your list?

Reason: True professionals would be willing to do just that.

Summary:  Not many brides and grooms are repeat customers when it comes to hiring a band for their wedding so it’s not something you can learn through experience.  What you need to know is that the two things your guests will find most memorable (aside from the bride and groom) are the menu and the music.  My best advice is to do your research and do not skimp on entertainment.  Any band can sound great on line, in a video or on a demo CD.  YOU MUST HEAR AND SEE A BAND PERFORM LIVE BEFORE YOU HIRE THEM.  No matter which band you choose, make it an outstanding professional live wedding band.  Pick a good one even if you have to work around their available dates. You won’t regret it!

The following is the club schedule for the Black Tie Band