It’s likely that you’ve never booked a wedding band before so you might be wondering how to tell if a band is any good. What do you look for? How do you know if they’ve got what it takes to rock your wedding? In short – what makes a truly great wedding band?
To help you out we’ve made a list of our top tips for what to look out for when it comes to choosing a quality wedding band.
Looking To Hire A Wedding Band?
Personalisation Is Key
You’re hiring a band for your wedding and therefore deserve to have what you want. A great wedding band will offer to learn your first dance for you and most will do this free of charge, meaning that you can personalise this special part of your wedding reception and ensure it’s totally unique. Having it performed live will feel so much more intimate than is possible with a recording.
When it comes to the rest of the music they play, a good wedding band will work with you the ensure that their setlist for the evening is suited to your style and includes the songs you love from their repertoire. Equally they won’t include any songs you don’t want played. It is your special day after all and the band should want to make it as perfect for you and your partner as possible.
Pure Passion
When your guests can see that your band loves what they do and can feel their energy, it makes it so much easier for them to let their hair down, have fun and enjoy the party. A great wedding band will exude passion for their craft and appear to be having as much fun as your guests! When choosing your wedding band, make sure to check out their videos, which should give you a good idea of what they will look and sound like when they perform. If you get great vibes from their video, imagine what the atmosphere will be like when they play live!
Experience
As with anything, the more you do something the better you get at it and an experienced wedding band will have the know-how to fill your dance floor, read the crowd and drop the perfect song at the right moment to keep your guests excited to keep dancing. They know the effect that each song is likely to have on your guests and will interact with your crowd to keep spirits high and make everyone feel part of the celebration. There’s a difference between being able to play the guitar and being able to inspire guests to dance, and this knowledge is usually gained through years of experience. The bands at Entertainment Nation have performed at hundreds of weddings so you can be sure that they’ll bring the energy and exhilaration you’d expect from a quality wedding band.
A Killer Repertoire
A wedding band with a wide-ranging repertoire is able to quickly change the mood and pace of the dance floor and respond to your guests far more easily than one with just a few songs up their sleeve. Variety is the spice of life, so keep things interesting by checking that your band has an eclectic song list with a diverse range of genres so they can cater for all ages and tastes.
Professional Equipment
Ever been to an event where the PA system buzzes or distorts the sound? You certainly don’t want this to happen at your wedding as it’s likely to repel rather than attract your guests to the dance floor! A quality wedding band will have invested in professional PA and lighting systems to ensure that the sound is top-notch and their show looks great too. It is one of the reasons why professional bands cost a little more than amateur ones, but well worth the extra pennies to save your ears! When you hire a band with Entertainment Nation, nearly every band will bring their own quality equipment with them, leaving you to focus on more important things – like finding some comfy shoes!
Checking Everything Is Perfect
Why do wedding bands need so long to set up and complete a sound check? It’s because they want to ensure that the sound is perfect for your event. You don’t want the volume to be too loud or too quiet and the band need time to get the levels just right for the acoustics of your venue. They need to balance the sound from each instrument and microphone to make sure that the overall effect hits the spot. Hiring a band who takes their time doing their sound check will ultimately mean that you reap the reward of the best sound possible.
Outstanding Reviews
Finally, you know you are hiring a wonderful wedding band if they come with high praise from past clients. Word of mouth is one of the best indicators that a band will keep your dance floor packed and provide just the atmosphere you’re looking for. All our wedding bands are thoroughly vetted by our industry experts before they join our books. This includes ensuring that they come with a wide range of glowing reviews from past clients, so read through what other people have to say about them for a true reflection of what they’ll bring to your celebration!
They Provide Daytime Entertainment
To keep your guests entertained during your drinks reception or wedding breakfast, it’s a fab idea to hire a musician to play for everyone while they mix and mingle. Singer guitarists, acoustic duos, pianists and string quartets are very popular choices, but did you know that it will nearly always work out much cheaper to have your wedding band perform an acoustic set instead? The majority of the wedding bands at Entertainment Nation offer a range of acoustic options that are absolutely perfect for the more mellow parts of your day!
How Do I Decide Which Band To Choose?
At Entertainment Nation we’ve made it easy for you to choose a quality wedding band, as everything you need to know before booking is displayed on each band’s profile, including videos, alternative line-ups, optional add-ons, repertoires, reviews, set up times and more! The booking process is quick and simple too. These are just some of the reasons why booking with us is a great idea. And if you’re struggling to decide, why not give our friendly advisers a call or send them an email? They’re ready and waiting seven days a week to help you out. So take a look and start the exciting journey to finding your dream wedding entertainment!
