Tips for Interviewing and Hiring a Wedding Band

Although you may not be spending the majority of your wedding planning thinking about the band for your wedding, this is one small wedding detail that can make a big difference at your reception. Once you have narrowed down your search for a wedding band to three or so bands, sit down with the group or their manager for an interview. This can be casual, but it must convey that the band knows what they are doing and will be the type of band you want and need. Here are some steps to make your interviews go smoothly and productively.

Step One: Search for Bands. Ask friends and family members if they have recommendations for a wedding band. If you have picked your wedding venue, you can also ask them if there are local bands which are typically used. If you do not have any recommendations to go on, you can try lastminutemusicians.com or simply look at the listings at yellowpages.com. (See Resources for link)

Step Two: Request Audition Tapes. A band may look great on paper, but you need to know if you like their sound. You may want a traditional band that will play wedding classics or you may want a swing band or a brass band. Make sure that the audition tape conveys the sound you are looking for and comes across experienced and professional on tape.

Step Three: Ask About Prices. You want a band that is reputable but charges a reasonable fee. When interviewing the band, ask how long the band expects to play and whether there are any extra costs not associated with the fee. In particular, ask whether the band charges extra for set-up, take-down, overtime, or any coordination of the wedding with the microphone. You will also need to know when a deposit is due, whether it is refundable, and when the payment is due. For more information on the pricing of wedding bands, visit mixedcompany.com (See Resources for link)

Step Four: Ask What the Band Needs from Your Venue. The interview is a good time to work through what the band would need from your venue. Ask whether they need a certain amount of electrical sockets for their equipment and whether they bring their own speakers, lights, and other necessary equipment. Also ask whether they expect to take breaks and for how long.

Step Five: Ask for References. Ask if the band does primarily weddings and whether they can provide references of couples whose weddings they have done in the past. The people you speak to as references can let you know if the designer was reliable, whether she did a good job, and whether she was friendly and easy to work with.

Step Six: Ask If the Band Can Play Your Songs. You and your fiancé might have some special songs you want to have played at your wedding, including the songs for the first dance and father daughter dance. Make sure the band can play those songs you must have at your wedding. Browse song listings at discjockeys.com (See Resources for link) to have some recommendations of what you would like to hear or the type of music you enjoy.