Band or DJ?

LM Bride Posted: Feb 17, 2008 02:04 PM

Band or DJ?

Hi all... I am getting marired at Capitale and now begin the search for a band/dj....

FH wants a DJ and I always said how a band looks more elegant. FH is worried about the quality of sound... so we need an excellent band if we do in fact get one. One problem, the band MUST sing Italian - not just 3 or 4 songs, many songs!... I come from and Italian/American family and that makes a hgih impact!...
I also want them to look elegant/sophisticated and still sounds great - help!

So far I am interested in Creation (not much Italian singing though)

Voices/Caleps I heard of, but not sure how they perform ...

I would love all your opinions! Thanks!

Mrs B to Be Posted: Feb 17, 2008 02:07 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

maybe you can do a DJ with a few band pieces??? i know some DJs offer that.....a band is way out of our budget.........DJs run around 2K and Bands from what i've heard like 5K and up

LM Bride Posted: Feb 17, 2008 02:14 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

Yes, I thought about that too... One DJ I have in mind does have a percussionist and sax player... think this will help in trying to have a 'band feel'?...thanks

IrishBrideASmiling Posted: Feb 17, 2008 02:20 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

Well I know of two DJ companies with Italian singers: Bravura and Starlight. Ive heard Starlights guy but not Bravuras. Bravura is doing a showcase at Chateau Briand next week HTH

Maria31 Posted: Feb 17, 2008 02:25 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

I needed a band to sing Italian AND Spanish... We decided on Paris and they are absolutely amazing!

jennd311 Posted: Feb 17, 2008 08:55 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

try Bravura ... www.bravuraentertainment.com

they are a DJ company but with live muscians .. we had Paul sing and he is a phenominal singer .. and he did some Italian songs for us. Basically, you have a DJ company who are able to provide live music

check it out! good luck.

bluegreen08 Posted: Feb 17, 2008 09:05 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

I will preface this by saying I am not a music person. I love absolute silence.

It just so happens that FH is obsessed with music, studied with music on, plays the guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, harmonica.... etc.

I would have been totally fine with a DJ, they play songs the exact way they were originally recorded, and they are cheaper. However, my parents were adament about us having a band and so was FH.

We booked Code Bleu, who is supposed to be fantastic. Me? I wouldn't mind if the guy next door DJ'd from his ipod. (just kidding, I'm secretly glad we have an awesome band and I'm sure everyone will have a great time)

MKEA98 Posted: Feb 18, 2008 01:06 AM

Re: Band or DJ?

Posted by LM Bride

Voices/Caleps I heard of, but not sure how they perform ...

I would love all your opinions! Thanks!

I went to a wedding last year where Voices was the band, and the only reason I remember this is because they had their business cards on the table with a picture of the group, and FH thought it was just hysterical, and he took the card home with him and pulls it out everyone so often and laughs - don't ask me why, but he finds it amusing. Anyway, I thought they did a nice job, but me and my friends did think they were a bit weird. The lead guy talked A LOT and was saying weird stuff like how my friend's first dance song was a song that she went into a studio and recorded for her husband. Me and my friends were like wow, we didn't know she sings, and then the song came on, and it wasn't my friend singing. It was Monica's Angel of Mine. My friend had copied the song onto a CD to be played as their first song. And she didn't go to a studio to do it or anything, hahaha. So I don't know what the guy was talking about. The guy also had people come onto the dance floor when giving away the bouquet, and said they'd also win a trip to Hawaii, which wasn't true. I guess he was trying to be funny and get the crowd going, but after a while we just didn't want to hear him anymore.

Well HTH. Good luck!

LM Bride Posted: Feb 18, 2008 11:15 AM

Re: Band or DJ?

MKEA98:

WOW! hahhaha... that is strange!!
I could see he was trying to be funny, but doesn't sound funny! Also, i absolutely HATE when vendors try to advertise at your wedding! A photography company did that at my cousin's weddings... i was like 'what the hell?!'...

Thanks for al lthe opinions!
I found out that Creations ~ KimSozzi does sing some Italian songs and can play a CD of the songs we want... I can get a 10 piece band!!

Has anyone seen her perform in person? Heard anything about CREATIONS?

Thanks!

MaggieLuvsJoe Posted: Feb 18, 2008 11:33 AM

Re: Band or DJ?

I booked a Band/DJ (they do both), they're an Italian band that sings English too -- my brother used them for their wedding and we loved them....they're up in Westchester. FM me if you want more info.....their price was great, alot cheaper than Voices

MEMEJOR Posted: Feb 19, 2008 03:47 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

Hey LM... hope those pics helped at the capitale... i booked with starlight express... they have the most amazing italian singer... I booked him as soon as i heard him sing... I even brought my mom & dad to a showcase to hear him sing...
( my dad being of the boat scilian... totally loved him...) If u need info on starlight express fm me...

Julybride08 Posted: Feb 19, 2008 05:29 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

You and your Fh should go to the show cases and see how they are. And then decide which you like better. We picked a band. We got code bleu.

Smde39 Posted: Feb 19, 2008 05:54 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

We have a band called Heart and Soul. I hear nothing but great things about them and they are part of the franklyn wayne music group.
Another band to look into is faze 4. they are awsome but very pricy

LM Bride Posted: Feb 19, 2008 08:03 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

Thanks so much for all the info and recommendations! I will look into all of them if i can!!

BlakeG Posted: Feb 19, 2008 08:14 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

Posted by LM Bride

Hi all... I am getting marired at Capitale and now begin the search for a band/dj....

FH wants a DJ and I always said how a band looks more elegant. FH is worried about the quality of sound... so we need an excellent band if we do in fact get one. One problem, the band MUST sing Italian - not just 3 or 4 songs, many songs!... I come from and Italian/American family and that makes a hgih impact!...
I also want them to look elegant/sophisticated and still sounds great - help!

So far I am interested in Creation (not much Italian singing though)

Voices/Caleps I heard of, but not sure how they perform ...

I would love all your opinions! Thanks!

Caleps are phenomenal. My brother's friend used them and my brother said he kept looking up because he thought it was a dj it sounded so good, and 90% of the music was in Italian. Voices & Caleps used to be one band that split up. Voices is awesome too but out of the two I think the Caleps are amazing.

JennNicole Posted: Feb 19, 2008 10:45 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

Yes why don't you switch and have both during sets?

I have a great Dj I can recommend he is out of NYC.
WONDERFUL !!!! You won't be disappointed.

RobNCyn Posted: Feb 19, 2008 11:49 PM

Re: Band or DJ?

I booked the band Heart & Soul too. The reason my FH and I liked them is because they sound very much like the actual artists. My FH was dead set against a band until he heard Heart & Soul. You should look them up - they are also reasonably priced, especially if you want to go with a band like Starlight Express (who are an excellent DJ company - they are just VERY expensive). Look up Franklin Wayne music. You should go and see them at a showcase I know that they will be at Crest Hollow Country Club, I think it's March 4th or something. They play at the Watermill too if you are closer to Suffolk county.

Good Luck!