So you’ve looked at the different entertainment options and opted to go for a general covers band. Like with the entertainment options, there’s a huge number of bands around ranging in price and offerings. So how do you decide which one to go for?
This video aims to provide you 6 key areas that’s worth considering when making a decision.
So I’d suggest starting off by thinking back to the experience you are wanting to create and considering the styles and the breadth of music that will relate well to your audience. Whilst you do get bands that will play any style, a lot of function bands will try to have a theme or style. You can get a gauge by looking at an example set list on a band’s website. As an example, whilst we are able to play many styles, our focus as a party band is more on the funk and soul classic with a pop twist. So if you’re wanting to hear some indie rock we certainly wouldn’t be for you. Some acts may provide some flexibility to clients around what they’ll play or even learn requested songs such as a first dances, however its worth following the band’s experience to know what works well for them and with audiences.
You generally find rock acts will tend to be less expensive than soul, funk, pop bands mainly due to the reduced number of members. Be aware that bands might reduce costs by sacrificing musical flexibility and playing to pre-recorded backing tracks to cover the missing instrumentation.
However getting a band with the right set list and a group of talented musicians is only the start.
You’ve paid extra for a band so I’m sure you’ll want something that will create a proper centre piece for your event. When you think that the impact of a band stems less from the songs and more from the performance, interaction and engagement it creates. If you’ve ever witnessed a band knocking out songs to a disengaged audience, you’ll understand why performance is so important, and why it’s possibly the most important thing to consider when deciding on a band for your event.
More professional bands will focus less on the songs and spend more time planning a creative end to end performance that really engages and holds its audience’s attention throughout. It’s the bands responsibility to drive this and comes from ongoing crowd and band member interaction, creating interesting dynamics in the music, participation and seguing songs together. This all maintains the energy and keeps people involved and on the dance floor. More experienced bands will also have invested in quality sound equipment such as PA and bass bins, sound engineering and full lighting to further create this experience.
Getting out, seeing a band live for yourself is obviously the best way of judging this. See if you can arrange to see them at a public performance. However this is not always possible, so live footage on the internet will help give you an idea. Be aware though that promos are often pre-recorded and mimed so you might not be hearing a true reflection of the band. Also it’s usual for bands to occasionally use stand in musicians when required so it’s worth checking that you’ll be getting what you expect.
In addition to the performance, it’s worth considering the entertainment before and after the band has played its sets. Bands can often provide background music, a DJ service or in some cases extra acoustic or jazz sets depending on the event, which as a bundle can save on your budget. Therefore it’s well worth mapping out what you want the entertainment to look like throughout the whole event not just while the band is playing.
So we’ve covered some of the things you should look out for as part of the entertainment.
However much of the hard work happens before the event and with so much planning, time, money and effort going into your event, its critical you consider working with a band that has the organisation and experience to support you. A quality band should provide you with high levels of professionalism and organisation right from the initial interaction to after the event. They’ll need to take the lead on liaising with the venue and other providers before and on the day, therefore its worth looking for bands with this experience of these types of events. If you’ve never arranged entertainment before, just having the support and peace of mind is invaluable.
Here’s a couple of things to look out for when it comes to organisation. To start with most good bands will have a decent looking website and will respond quickly to your request for information or a quote. This should set out detailed costs and expenses against your requirements. Before making any decision its worth talking to them over the phone. This will give you an idea of their level of organisation. They should not only show experience but leave you with the confidence and clarity on the logistics and a feeling that you are in safe hands.
Once you decide to book a band, for peace of mind, they should provide a full written contract clearly setting out what will be provided from both parties. Be aware that a busy band will typically request a deposit to hold the date.
On the Health and Safety side, look out for whether a band holds public liability insurance (PLI) and are fully electrically PAT tested. This is a basic must for events now, however is often not carried by many less expensive or experienced bands. More and more hotels and venues are requesting bands have PAT and PLI certificates as part of their policies and will reject a band without this.
Lastly, and just as importantly, there’s the cost of the band. You’ll notice there’s a huge range in pricing which often reflects the range in professionalism and experience. Whilst you’ll be able to find a decent sounding pub band for less money you need to bear in mind that some of what we’ve discussed is likely to be missing. Just having that organisation and experience is often well worth spending the extra on.
So I hope this has provided you with some of the elements to look out for when you’re searching for a quality band for your event.
At Amanda’s Music Events, we believe that entertainment is the heartbeat of any event. We are passionate about delivering unforgettable experiences that leave a lasting impression.
Whether you’re planning a small, exclusive event or a massive festival, we promise to provide you with top tier talent that elevates your occasion and creates memories that resonate long after the final encore. We can tailor to any event and any budget.
Contact us today to discuss how we can make your next event unforgettable.
