The Dance Band
When you’re planning a wedding reception, the dance band you choose can make or break your special event. For a truly memorable wedding celebration, avoid these mistakes when choosing your wedding dance band.
Don’t Make your Decision Based on the Cost of the Wedding Dance Band.
When you’re spending tens of thousands of dollars on your wedding, an extra thousand or a few thousand shouldn’t matter so much. Having the wedding dance band of your dreams for your once-in-a-lifetime celebration is worth it.
Were you ever at a wedding reception where few people danced? How about a wedding reception where the dance floor was packed all night? What made the difference?
As an experienced band leader who has performed at over a thousand wedding receptions, I have mastered the art and science of creating a great party and getting guests on the dance floor and keeping them there. It takes the right melody of planning, experience, and professionalism.
Of course, my primary goal is to honor the bride and groom’s wishes and make their vision of their wedding reception a reality. That’s why I meet with the couple four to six weeks before their wedding day.
Together, we develop a timeline that will include all of the special events taking place at the wedding reception. This setlist also includes their special first dance song that we would be happy to learn as well as the songs for the parent dances.
A smart set list is then developed which is compiled from up to 100 songs sent to me by the bride and groom. These are the songs that the bride and groom have chosen from our master song list of more than 1200 songs. From my experience, the other songs on the set list include dance music that will surely fill the dance floor.
Of course, flexibility is the key. Even though there is a set list, if I feel the next song may not be the best choice at that time, I’ll change the song to one that will maintain the continuity and keep the momentum we have created flowing. There are never more than a few seconds between songs. This keeps the energy percolating.
Don’t Assume That the Dance Band Plays Live Music
While almost all wedding music bands occasionally play with tracks (pre-recorded music) to supplement songs, many bands play to tracks on a routine basis. That’s not much different than a DJ.
For instance, if you hear a full horn section when there’s only one horn or no horns on stage or lots of background vocals when the band has just a few singers, tracks are in use. Make sure you ask.
If you’re paying for a band of 10 or more pieces, there’s really no excuse for a bigger band to use tracks except on a recording that is highly produced in the studio by using lots of keyboards, for example.
Too many wedding bands don’t want to spend time learning songs that require diligent preparation, so they use tracks instead. There are bands where some musicians in the band actually pretend they’re playing when the reality is the instrument on the track is playing its part.
Don’t Underestimate the Importance of a Bandleader in a Live Band.
seasoned bandleader at your wedding is not only a skilled musician but an event pro as well. He or she coordinates with the banquet manager, maître d’, photographer, and videographer to keep your wedding reception running smoothly.
A bandleader who is more accustomed to playing bars and clubs than high-end venues and events simply can’t do the same. Also, many club bands that have recently started playing at weddings invariably perform at a sound level that isn’t appropriate when guests are trying to enjoy their meal and converse with one another without raising their voices. Don’t be afraid to ask the band leader for a list of venues and references.
Don’t Forget to Ask About Downtime.
Some high-energy club bands don’t perform continuous music at an upscale wedding reception because they don’t play continuous music at a club or a bar. That may work there but not at a luxury wedding reception.
Taking a break at an inappropriate time can actually bring the party to a halt. Make sure your band takes breaks at a minimum. Breaks could be taken during the entrée or dessert, but make sure that they have at least a keyboardist and a vocalist to perform during the breaks or at least background recordings played.
Having live music during the entrée provides an upscale ambiance that’s crucial to maintain. If another break is required, it’s important for the bandleader to choose the songs wisely. It’s imperative to keep the energy in the room at a high level and not let it become dissipated during the second break by playing the wrong style of music.
What sounds like magic at your special event is the culmination of weeks of research, practice, and rehearsal. It’s also years of experience in being a bandleader at upscale wedding receptions.
Don’t Assume That the Band uses the Same Musicians Each Time.
It’s important to make sure that the band members stay consistent. The band will sound at its best if the members of the band stay consistent.
Of course, there’s no accounting for band members getting sick or missing an event because of an important family obligation such as a family wedding or milestone event.
Don’t take for granted that the band Provides its Own Stage Lighting.
Basic stage
lighting is essential to maintaining the excitement that can help generated by proper stage lighting. Make sure you ask if there’s an extra fee for appropriate stage lighting. There really shouldn’t be unless the band is providing special lightings such as a strobe or laser lighting that shoots out onto the dance floor.
We’ve provided videos of the Sid Miller Dance Band in action.
Here is a list of dance bands compiled by WeddingWire that are worth looking over.