Band/DJ problems - Overbooking? (Re-post)

(I may have posted this on the wrong page.)

I hope you ladies don't mind a mom posting here! I didn't want to hijack the thread about the beautiful bride who had DJ problems on her wedding day (if you are reading this, you looked gorgeous! and I am so sorry and angry that your DJ disappointed!!), but it raised an issue I've been wondering about - Do they maybe overbook themselves and then they run into problems?

My daughter is in the process of booking her band, and one guy said 'Oh Sat. night? that's fine, we're booked Sat. afternoon, but we can do Sat. night.' Red flag.

Do they actually try to race from one affair to another? Especially with a band, aren't they exhausted after doing the first wedding?

So - are any of you aware if your night-wedding DJ/band is also doing an afternoon affair? Is it a common practice and I shouldn't worry?

TIA

Find out what time the other party is supposed to go to. Most professional vendors will be able to tell you for sure if they have enough time.

You really have to go with your gut on this. I'm sure many DJs and bands book two a day and do it just fine. Say one party ends at 5 and the other starts at 8..you would think if it's not too far from each other they would have enough time.

We had a DJ but it is very different with a band. Our DJ did our ceremony music, cocktail hour and reception. He was at the hall early to set up - 3 set ups since the ceremony was outside. I know he was at the hall when I arrived to take photos in advance of the ceremony and that was hours before the party.

As for a band, they typically only play for the reception so if the afternoon wedding ends at 5 p.m. (most do) then the band will be packed up and on to the evening party. Assuming the travel distance is not too far they could conceivably pack up at 5 p.m. and be at another event by 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. For an evening wedding most start cocktails by 6 p.m. so the band would need to be set up and ready by 7 p.m. for intros and the party.

Hope this helps.

my band told me they had two sets of equipment, so someone is setting up at the evening wedding while they're finishing the afternoon wedding. then they can leave while someone else packs up.

i would think they would be tired after doing this, though.

I'm getting married on a friday eve, so hopefully, i'm the first wedding of their weekend.

i was at a sunday eve wedding where the band (who i'd seen at another wedding) did seem *not* up to their best and i thought it might be b/c they'd already done 4 other weddings that weekend!