Entertainment Booking Tips

Acoustic artists, Bands, or DJ's are essential elements of your wedding reception and
getting it right can make or break your event!

There are so many different varieties of bands, entertainers and DJs available.

What should you be looking for when choosing Your entertainment ?

Often, a DJ or musician will act as the MC of a special event , which means you'll
need them to be entertaining , friendly, and charismatic."

On many occasions, less time is spent on choosing the DJ than any other aspect of the
event - this can be a disappointing mistake!

Overlooking this aspect of your planning is easy to do.

However, choosing the right DJ is crucial to the success of your occasion and these
tips and ideas should help you accomplish this:


How much will your DJ / band cost?

Everyone has an eye on their budget and wants to keep their costs down, but make
sure that you are not selling yourself short by employing a bargain-priced DJ -or el-cheapo
band, you might be paying for what you are getting .

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that you are paying over the top for your musicians
/ DJ because all that they are being paid for is to play music for 3 or 4 hours!

Professional bands and DJ's will have invested a lot of time in your event prior to the day itself.

Typically they will be spending between 10 to 20 hours consulting with you, purchasing the
music, learning songs, rehearsing, setting up the equipment, packing up the equipment and
other administrative tasks.

As well as the fact you found them, which means they have spent time and money marketing.

All that, as well as years honing their craft !

Prices can vary enormously and it is important to realize that a lot of couples say in
hindsight that they wished they had spent more of their budget on the entertainment.


How much time will your DJ / band need for setting up?

Bands can take up to 2 hours to set up their equipment and Normally the DJ will need at
least an hour to set up his equipment at the venue.

Check with your DJ or band whether this will be sufficient time for them beforehand and let
the venue know if they need more time.


Always meet your DJ or Musician in person

Once you have whittled down your choice to 3 or 4 prospective bands or wedding DJs, it is
highly recommended that you meet each one in person.

This way you can check out their personality and general appearance, something you can't
do properly over the phone, or via a website

By meeting with them in person you get an indication of whether they are punctual. You might  find in some instances that the artist fails to show up for your meeting -.

It is better to find out if they are unreliable in the planning stages rather than find this
on your event day!

During your meeting with them , watch them to see whether they are paying attention to your
specific requirements for your music. Are they taking notes?

Professionals always have a pad and pen with them to jot down notes about what style of
music is going to suit your guests.


Discuss your song play list .

Is it your intention to have a musician or DJ that will be proactive in getting the dance
floor full right from the beginning of the evening ?

Or is a more laid back approach more your style for your event ?

Ask the entertainment for a consultation a month or so before the occasion and go over your
song preferences with them in detail.

Ask them DJ if they have a list of their set list or music collection and if tyhe would
object if you highlight a few tracks that you would like them to play during the evening.

A professional will take note of which songs you want to hear as well as which songs you
don't want to hear.

Usually your Band or DJ will be working for approximately 4 hours and each song is 4 minutes long - that is a total of 60 songs .

Whilst you will want your special songs to be played, you should be able to rely on the DJ
or musicians to determine the best musical taste to get people on the dance floor.

They will know songs that have worked at events in the past.

An experienced entertainer will know when to play which kind of music.

They should take note when your guests arrive of what type of music suits the crowd.


Does the DJ or Band Leader perform emcee duties?

If you want the DJ or musician to make announcements, and act as an emcee during the evening , be sure to check that they are comfortable doing  this.

Some people will charge you extra for this, and some simply don't do it..

You need to choose someone who has a fun personality and a professional
delivery for announcements.


Ensure your entertainers knows the dress code

Always ask about how they intend to dress on the day .
Your Band or DJ should always dress in a manner that is appropriate for the occasion.

Whilst this does not mean that he must wear a penguin suit , you do not want the other
extreme of him turning up in shorts and thongs!

Essentially they are a service provider on your event day, so should always be neatly
dressed.

If you are having a themed event , make sure you have informed your entertainers so that they can fit  in as best they can .


Ask the Band or DJ about public liability insurance

It is also really important that you check that your DJ or band has public liability
insurance.

If one of your guests trips over a cable that the hired help has not taped down to
the floor or if a speaker falls on top of a guest then it will be the DJ or band they look to for compensation. Ask to see a copy of their insurance cover.


Does your DJ / band own quality audio equipment?

A professional band or DJ will generally have spent over $10,000 on their equipment .

Proper equipment will give good sound quality that will not be disturbing for your guests.

There is nothing worse than being seated next to a speaker that is producing
poor sound quality.


Will your DJ / band be using a wireless microphone?

Wireless microphones work well at most events and allow the emcee to roam the dance floor
without tripping over a chord.

Sometimes musicians prefer sticking with a chord microphone because they are more likely to get interference from a wireless microphone.

If you have a preference discuss this with your DJ or band beforehand.


Has the DJ / musician worked at the venue before?

Do ask your DJ / musician whether they have performed at your choice of venue before.

Although this is not essential, the more familiar they are with the layout and staff at your
chosen venue the better.

If they have not played there before, it is best to meet your DJ / band at the venue so that
you can discuss the specifics of setting up the DJ table or stage, dance floor location and speaker positions.


Who pays for your entertainers food?

Feeding the band or DJ is often overlooked, but it is necessary if they are there for long
periods of time.

They are providing a service for you , so you should definitely feed and water them during
the course of the wedding reception - you don't want them passing out halfway through the evening.

You should arrange to provide the artist with a smaller meal that is quite inexpensive - you can pre-arrange this with your catering manager and confirm this with the artist. Alternatively, if you have a buffet in the evening you can let the band or DJ know that they are welcome to help themselves.


Will your DJ or band provide a lighting system?

Most bands and DJs will be able to offer a decent sized lighting system

Typically most DJs and bands offer a basic lighting system within their fee but if it is
within your wedding budget you could pay extra and upgrade.

Usually they will have plenty of options to tell you about.


Know what you really want in terms of music before you begin looking for a band or wedding DJ

If you are thinking of classic Big Band music, be up front about this the first time you
talk to the band or DJ.

People who specialize in rock and pop music may be great, but the play list will be limited
when it comes to what you want, and you'll be disappointed.


Ensure your entertainers music is up to date

Make sure that your DJ or band has a wide range of music including the most recent chart
songs. Do provide Them with a list of specific songs which you want to be played at your event so that they can source them out prior  if they do not have them in their current music collection or repertoire.


Ask about emergency arrangements

It is any DJ or bands worst nightmare that the sound system fails during a performance.

It is really important that you ask them beforehand if they have any backup equipment
available for use in case there is a problem during your event.

Although it doesn't happen often, equipment can fail, and if it happens on the night , and it is the only set your DJ or band has, you may find yourself faced with a night without music, unless the venue has piped music available (in-house system).

Also, discuss what alternative arrangements will be made in the event that the DJ you hire
is sick or unavailable. Will he provide a back-up DJ that is suitable for the occasion?


References

Anyone who consistently pleases their clients should be happy to provide you with contact
details so that you can obtain recommendations from other satisfied customers.

They should be recent, not five years old!

Additionally, if they have a website you should take a look at it to see whether it contains
any testimonials.

You want to be sure that they have a good reputation for overall conduct, punctuality and
ability to work alongside other service providers.

In an industry where any unqualified person can easily enter the profession, you need to do
research to ensure that you hire someone that will provide you with a top quality service

Ask Recent newlyweds for music recommendations . Do make sure that if a friend recommends a DJ to you that you check that you and your friend's music tastes and expectations of an entertainer are similar.

Another idea is to ask the band, musician or DJ if they can show you an example of their
work such as a video clip taken at another event where they have performed.

Most performers these days will be able to provide you with an example of their performance.

You must ask the artist(s) how much experience they have had.

These kind of questions will enable you to determine whether they are the right person to
perform at your event. 





Copyright James Morley 2007






























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