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Q1: What should
someone look for when choosing a band for their wedding reception?
A: Versatility is an important
consideration. Not only should a good wedding band be able to cover
a large
variety of styles in their repertoire --- they should also be able to
perform songs in a believable and convincing manner. When performing
a rock and roll song, a band should sound like a rock and roll band.
When performing a jazz standard, a band should sound like a jazz band --
not like a rock and roll band performing a jazz standard! A good band should be
flexible enough to be able to perform at different volume levels, as appropriate for different times during the course of a wedding
reception.
Other factors to consider are reliability and stability. It is always best to find a band that has been together for a reasonable amount of
time, with its current personnel. Hiring a band that has a history
of frequently changing band members can sometimes lead to difficulties.
Q2:
What makes a live band preferable to a DJ?
A: I believe that there is no substitute for the excitement of a quality
live performance. Ask people if they would prefer to listen to their favorite artist's CD, or
to see
their favorite artist perform live. Many people choose a DJ over a live
band because of the cost .... and because not all bands are diverse enough to
adequately play the variety of music needed for a successful wedding reception.
Most wedding bands come equipped with their own DJ equipment, which allows them to
accommodate special requests to play original
recordings
of certain songs.
Q3:
Can certain songs be requested to play / avoid?
A: It has always been our
band's policy to encourage brides and grooms to provide us with a list of their
special requests, as well as a list of songs they would like us to avoid
playing. We will typically combine the bride's request list with
our own expertise, in determining which songs would be the most effective
to use at any given time during the course of a wedding reception.
Many wedding bands (including our own) are also willing to learn new
songs as special requests to be used for any special dances that take place
during a wedding reception.
Q4:
What sort of experience should a wedding band have?
A: An experienced wedding band
is usually well-versed in the flow of events at a wedding reception.
It is the band's job to work with the function director and other
professionals involved, in coordinating the different events that take
place. For example, the band needs to make sure the photographer and videographer are ready before beginning
any of the formalities or special dances. The band will typically provide the bride and groom with a
sheet to fill out indicating all of the announcements, special dance
selections and order of events that will
take place during the reception. The band's MC should oversee the
affair to ensure a smooth transition from one event to another, allowing
the bride and groom to relax and enjoy their special day.
Q5:
What size band should I hire?
A: It is often mistakenly
believed that a 10-piece band will produce a "larger" sound than a
6-piece
band. This is not necessarily the case.
Talented musicians who work well together can often create a "larger" and better sound than bands that
employ a larger number of musicians. What determines
whether or not a band will have a "large enough sound" to fill a
specific venue is inevitably the quality and power of the band’s sound
system, and not the number of musicians in the band. It is similar to trying to compare a Cadillac to a
Ferrari.
Q6:
What should a bride ask the reception site with regard to the setup of the band?
A: That is a good question.
Frequently a bride-to-be will coordinate matters separately with the
reception site and the band. This can occasionally lead to
unforeseen difficulties on the day of the reception. We often
recommend that a bride consult with both the reception site and the band
in determining matters pertaining to the setup of the band. Where
the band would optimally set up at the site is often a variable that can
best be determined by consulting with both the band and function
facility. Also, the floor plan mapping out the setup of the
guests' tables is something that the band can often be helpful with.
We usually recommend that tables reserved for older guests be placed in
areas that are not too close to the band's speakers.
Q7: How many breaks
does a band normally take?
A: During a four-hour
reception, bands will typically play three sets, with two breaks in between.
The first break generally occurs after the main course is served.
During this break, background CD music (appropriate for dining) is
generally played. Between the two dance sets, the band will
often take a short break (around 15 minutes) to rest their voices.
During this break, up-tempo dance music on CD's will generally be played,
to keep the energy level of the party in tact.
Q8:
Any other tips or suggestions about choosing a wedding band?
A: One word of advise I would offer
to perspective brides and grooms is to be careful attempting to judge
the quality of a band on the basis of a videotape presentation.
The vast majority of videotapes that are used to market wedding bands in
this area are extremely "doctored up" productions that have very little
correlation to depicting the way a band actually appears and sounds
during a live
performance. Lip-synching and a host of special visual effects are
typically employed in these productions.
Another suggestion I would make would be to be to seek the opinions of
other people you know, when attempting to judge the merits of a particular
band. Since musical tastes are usually subjective, it is always
great to find a band that most of your friends and relatives will
agree upon.
I would also suggest that you place a great deal of emphasis on feedback
that you hear from people who have actually "experienced"
the band, by having attended a wedding reception where the band had
actually performed. In
this regard, their experience is likely to depict the band's capabilities
more accurately than any experience you can encounter by viewing the band
under "non-ideal viewing conditions". The conditions I am referring
to would include situations such as "sneaking a peak" at the band during a
limited (and sometimes non-ideal) portion of a wedding reception.
Oftentimes, your vantage point as a viewer can be limited to a remote
corner in the back of the room, or a foyer or hallway from where you could
look into the room from the outside. In addition, your vantage point
can often be a location where you are standing behind the band, or
otherwise not in the path of the band's sound system. This will, of
course, lead to a distorted and inaccurate perception of how the band
actually sounds from within the reception. The dance floor is always the
best location to hear a band. This is where the sound of the band is
optimal for maximizing the feel of the musical experience.
Q9:
What factors influence the cost of a wedding band in New England?
A: Date, time and location of the event are the three main factors. There are usually specific
times of the year that bands consider to be "off-peak" with regard to
wedding receptions. Generally, this will include the months of
January through mid-April, and the month of November.
If you do not yet have a specific date or venue chosen, it is still
often possible for bands to provide you with price
estimates, if given some general
information about the prospective geographic location and time of
the year you are considering.
Q10:
Is it customary for a band to “hold” a date for a customer?
A: It is very difficult for a band to actually “hold” a date for any
length of time. Inquiries for different dates happen continually
throughout the year, and it is not uncommon for a band to have multiple
inquiries for the same date. It is possible to ask a band to give you the
“right of first refusal” for a
specific date. The band would
then notify you if they were to receive another serious inquiry for that date,
in order to give you the first opportunity to secure
their services at that time.
Q11: How is Tuxedo Junction unique among Boston
wedding bands?
A:
The
versatility of having five capable and complementary lead
vocalists is unique among Boston and New England wedding bands. It
is not uncommon for some bands to have multiple vocalists. Most
commonly, only one or two of them are versatile lead singers, however.
The others are more often limited in their range of vocal
ability. Even among
the larger wedding bands containing ten or more
pieces, it is rare to find a band that has more than two or three
versatile vocalists. Our versatility allows us to cover a wide
range of musical styles - and do them all well!
Listen to a variety of song clips to hear for yourself!
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Tuxedo
Junction Wedding Band > Questions about hiring a live
band for your wedding reception in
New England.
