THE WIKI COMMUNITY

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Bands To Hire: Saving Your Event

By Abi Swinton

Everyone wants to create an event that is memorable. Whether it's a party or wedding, you want it to be positively brought up for days to come by those who attended. Instead of ordering a couple extra hors d'oeuvres, why not look at live bands to hire? Not only will this addition bring something new to the general atmosphere, but it will make people tap their feet and possibly even get up and dance.

So how do you make this happen? First assess the event; there's nothing worse than having background music that doesn't fit the occasion. If you're planning for a wedding, talk with both the bride and groom. Get an idea of their musical tastes as well as what would be pleasing to the guests for the nature of the event. Someone might have to make a compromise, but there are so many different kinds of bands existing that there's bound to be something to please everyone. I'm sure both the guests and bride and groom will be pleased with the outcome; live music at a reception does to the atmosphere what recorded music cannot.

If the event is any type of party, reunion or otherwise, try to keep it up-tempo. Anything that has a dragging beat will surely bring the energy of the party down and won't be memorable. There will more than likely be a variety of people attending which makes it difficult to peg the type of music that would be the greatest hit; if that's the case, go with classics. A jazz combo that does standard tunes or a small band that specializes in eighties hits will ignite smiles from the attendants as they recognize song after song. You want them to sing and dance along; think karaoke but live.

If the event is specialized and there's a certain style of music that will make a statement, don't be afraid to stick with what you know. If it's your 30-year class reunion, hire a band that plays hits from the years you're celebrating; bands that inflict nostalgia are the biggest successes. If there's not a specific theme, create one centered around the music you'd like to hear. Parties with themes feel more organized and the music will tie it all together.

How can you find the band you want? First, look in your own community; they won't have to travel far, and you'd be surprised at the number of musicians in any given area who are willing to play their music. Search the internet; certain social websites contain rare musical talents, and they usually put a couple of songs up so you can hear their sound. Go out into the community and see what you can find; bands will do what they can to promote themselves by posting posters and word of mouth. Also stop by any local agencies as some bands, even local ones, have agents; these will give you the details you need.

Plan ahead and provide time for an audition with the band you're interested in hiring. Skipping this step of the process could result in a mistake on the day of the event; there's always a chance that the band doesn't sound like what was expected. The day of the event will be stressful enough without this type of error. Also look at the image of the band; the crowd will probably see them before they hear them, and they need to be dressed accordingly for the occasion. Once these details have been addressed, you're ready to enjoy the music at your event.

There are pros to hiring, well, pros. Although they're a little more expensive, professional musicians have the experience that makes them worth the money. Since they've played for various crowds and events, their versatility is both helpful and priceless. These musicians will be able to pick up just about anything thrown at them, whether improvised background music for festivities or requests from the crowd.

While providing live music for an occasion adds to bill, the results have the potential to be priceless. Given you take the correct steps in hiring a band, crowds will enjoy the experience of having music played live rather than the same way they hear it all the time. You may even start a trend and encourage others to hire live music for their events when they see the positive feedback and see for themselves the difference it makes.

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