So you’re getting married, and the plans for the wedding are beginning to fall into place. The date is set, the venue hired, now the steadily growing to-do list to be checked off gets longer by the day. It can be an overwhelming responsibility to plan a wedding, there can be pressure from all sides to have every detail to perfection. One area that needn’t cause any grief or stress is the wedding music, because if you hire experienced professionals such as Jazz Fever they will ensure the reception runs seamlessly and adhering to your run sheet. But choosing the right band, with the right musical qualifications and experience can make or break your event.
The size of the band you hire depends a little on how large the venue is. It is a good idea to ask the venue staff manager for a copy of the floor plan with approximate room dimensions on it. This will help you when drawing up the seating plan, and deciding where to position the band, cake, gift table etc. Assess whether the venue has any kind of stage available for the band to perform on. Is there sufficient lighting and a dancefloor so your guests can party the night away? Ask the venue staff manager whether there are any noise restrictions (if it is situated in a national park or close to residential housing this may be an issue to consider). Does the venue impose a time limit or cut off time for amplified music? For instance there have been venues to be known to not allow live music nor DJs after 9.00pm, which is a bit of a let down and make the reception fizzle before the scheduled finish time.
The size of the band you choose will depend a little on how many guests will be attending. Jazz trios and quartets are the most commonly requested lineups, however if your wedding is a small intimate affair of less than 50 guests you might like to hire simply a duo. If you wedding has 150-200 guests a quintet might be a better option. And if you have 300+ guests a swinging 10-piece big band could be a really fun option that will be an impressive showstopper at your wedding. Imagine how delighted guests will be as they walk into the reception venue to find a full piece jazz orchestra up on the stage? It will leave an indelible impression in their minds for years to come.
Of course the size of band you choose will also largely depend on your budget. This is the all important question. Jazz Fever’s rates are very reasonable and are around $100 per musician per hour. So for example if you wanted a jazz trio to perform for only the cocktail & canapé hour of your wedding reception, you would be looking at paying around $300. If you wanted a jazz quartet to perform for a typical reception of 6 hours duration, you would be looking at $2,400. When you consider how important a role music plays in the success of a wedding, this is a proportionally small fraction of a typical wedding budget. Nevertheless if you are working on a shoestring wedding budget, converse with the Band Leader Scott as he regularly customizes cheaper packages to fit within your means. Jazz Fever is not a booking agency or music agent only interested in the bottom line. Our musicians live to perform and enjoy nothing more than performing at weddings. Jazz Fever regularly offers discount codes on our blog and twitter pages so be sure to mention them at the time of booking to get a good discount. Wedding jazz bands are an essential investment if you want to have the best entertainment for your wedding day. Hiring a cheap band comprised of hobby musicians how perform at weddings in addition to their ‘day jobs’ can be a big mistake and lead to disappointment in the end. Jazz Fever boasts some of the very best musicians on the Sydney music scene. They are full time professional musicians which means they earn their living from performing music, they have trained at the Sydney Conservatorium and do not have other careers on the side. They live, breathe, work and play music, so you are guaranteed the best music entertainment for your wedding.
Brides have been hiring wedding jazz bands since the 1920s. This type of wedding music entertainment was also hugely popular in the 1950s. One of the reasons of this is because jazz bands appeal to all individuals, regardless of their age or cultural background. The best bands will play a range of different music from different decades and genres. After all, you want your live wedding entertainment to please you and all those who attend the wedding.
A last thing to remember is that good live bands, like most wedding vendors, are busy all year round, so they are probably not going to be free at a moment’s notice. Book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
The author, Scott Simpkins, is the Musical Director of Sydney's #1 Wedding Jazz Band 'Jazz Fever'.
Website: http://www.jazzfever.com.au/
Blog: http://jazz--fever.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jazz-Fever/112177122184974/
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