You're getting married - congratulations! - And plans for the wedding are already beginning to fall into place.
The date and the venue for the celebration are now fixed, and an ever-growing list of other essentials is being dealt with, piece by piece.
For the evening reception, you would like to include live music as a focal point to make the party swing.
Your personal musical tastes may have pointed you towards a specific style of music, but a few details still need to be considered.
How Big A Band Will Be Required? The personnel of the band depends to an extent on the style of music you choose for your live entertainment.
For example, a typical pop covers band will usually be a 3-5 piece, but many bands can augment with a horn section and/or backing singers.
A funk or soul band might be a 4-10 piece, R'n'B a 3-6 piece, mainstream jazz 2-5, swing jazz 3-6.
A Latin salsa or samba group may require 6-10 players, a Caribbean steel band anything from 2-12.
There are no hard-and-fast rules; besides, there are several other factors to be taken into account.
How Large Is The Venue? It is useful to revisit the venue in order to critically appraise its facility for live music performance.
What kind of stage (if any) is available? Is there sufficient lighting, and a suitable dance-floor, if needed? Does the venue impose any limitations of time regarding live music? Is there a noise-limiter? Is the wedding breakfast to be served in the same room as the evening party? If so, will the band have sufficient space (and time) to set up their equipment prior to the performance? Bear all this in mind when deciding upon how large a band will be appropriate.
How Many Guests Will Attend? This is arguably a more straightforward numbers game.
As a general rule of thumb, for an audience of between 50-100 a duo or trio may be appropriate.
For 100-150, perhaps a trio or quartet, 150-200 a quintet.
For larger parties, a larger ensemble.
Again, much depends on the genre of music chosen.
Bear in mind that the number of musicians suggested in each example above merely indicates what might be adequate for each audience dimension, not necessarily what would be ideal.
What Budget To Allow For A Live Band? This is likely to be the all-important question.
Without any doubt, it is a sensible idea to engage a professional band of proven musical and performance credentials who are experienced in party entertaining.
This will not come cheap, but nevertheless need not break the bank.
Although there will always be a great deal of variation between the fees charged by different bands, it would be wise to allow around 150-200 per musician for their services, plus travel and other costs.
Contact a reputable entertainment agency for general advice on all of these factors.
This will be the next step in researching and (hopefully) finding just the right band for your special day.
The date and the venue for the celebration are now fixed, and an ever-growing list of other essentials is being dealt with, piece by piece.
For the evening reception, you would like to include live music as a focal point to make the party swing.
Your personal musical tastes may have pointed you towards a specific style of music, but a few details still need to be considered.
How Big A Band Will Be Required? The personnel of the band depends to an extent on the style of music you choose for your live entertainment.
For example, a typical pop covers band will usually be a 3-5 piece, but many bands can augment with a horn section and/or backing singers.
A funk or soul band might be a 4-10 piece, R'n'B a 3-6 piece, mainstream jazz 2-5, swing jazz 3-6.
A Latin salsa or samba group may require 6-10 players, a Caribbean steel band anything from 2-12.
There are no hard-and-fast rules; besides, there are several other factors to be taken into account.
How Large Is The Venue? It is useful to revisit the venue in order to critically appraise its facility for live music performance.
What kind of stage (if any) is available? Is there sufficient lighting, and a suitable dance-floor, if needed? Does the venue impose any limitations of time regarding live music? Is there a noise-limiter? Is the wedding breakfast to be served in the same room as the evening party? If so, will the band have sufficient space (and time) to set up their equipment prior to the performance? Bear all this in mind when deciding upon how large a band will be appropriate.
How Many Guests Will Attend? This is arguably a more straightforward numbers game.
As a general rule of thumb, for an audience of between 50-100 a duo or trio may be appropriate.
For 100-150, perhaps a trio or quartet, 150-200 a quintet.
For larger parties, a larger ensemble.
Again, much depends on the genre of music chosen.
Bear in mind that the number of musicians suggested in each example above merely indicates what might be adequate for each audience dimension, not necessarily what would be ideal.
What Budget To Allow For A Live Band? This is likely to be the all-important question.
Without any doubt, it is a sensible idea to engage a professional band of proven musical and performance credentials who are experienced in party entertaining.
This will not come cheap, but nevertheless need not break the bank.
Although there will always be a great deal of variation between the fees charged by different bands, it would be wise to allow around 150-200 per musician for their services, plus travel and other costs.
Contact a reputable entertainment agency for general advice on all of these factors.
This will be the next step in researching and (hopefully) finding just the right band for your special day.