Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
Original post by eliz808ssdbk
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
We want to make arrangements for our vendors to eat at the cocktail hour. That was a low cost solution. Otherwise, I might not be able to afford a large band. I talked to one band so far and it seemed like this was more than they got at some other weddings. I was surprised about that!!! Also, our caterer was really nice and told us that if our band is nice to work with, (or if we use the house band) the kitchen staff would hook them up if they wanted something.
May05Bride
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
my ceremony starts 7:30, but I am still feeding everyone. Its not nice to keep people hungry.
CPAPPAS
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
Besides cost, your band is what makes or breaks the wedding...i'd want to keep them happy! Not feeding them is ensuring a far less than spectacular performance! sorry
RedRoses
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
I don't think it's really a matter of being cheap or not. It's just basic courtesy. My dad's a musician, so maybe I'm a little sensitive to the issue. I know that if you feed them, they will be in better spirits. A good band makes it look like what they're doing is painless and easy, but remember that they're working their asses off. They shouldn't be hungry or feel like you don't deem them worthy of food. The catering hall should feed them for at least 1/2. Check with the hall. And, they should alternate breaks. Check with the band to ask how they manage that.
Stacey04
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
Dh and I were all set to feed our band, then when we had our final meeting with them and mentioned them eating dinner or at the CH (both or whatever they preferred), we were told not to feed them, they are working. They eat before they leave for work, and when they get home if they are hungry. He said we are being paid to be there, not to be your guests and eat. So we gave them a bigger tip instead. I felt kind of bad about not feeding them, but we had a kind of a large band and it definitly saved us some money.
ETA: You wouldn't put that in your band contract anyway. The fact that you will be feeding the band has nothing to do with the band contract, unless you mean the hall contract.
nicknmb
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
That's kind of like chosing only certain family members to feed at your wedding. You have to feed the band. They are the ones that are going to make your whole wedding. It is very tacky or whatever you want to call it if you don't feed them. - and even worse if you only feed one member
jesslangen
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
I'm a little late, but first of all you should always feed your vendors unless they specify otherwise. I would think it to be very rude to feed one and not the others. And if that did happen dont you think their performance my diminish due to being insulted? Is that worth it?
tourist
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
Posted by eliz808
Its not really a price issue I just want my music to be 'continuous' and the band having a meal takes away from that.
They may break anyway- ask their policy. A singer can't sing non-stop. Mine had it in their contract, that they take 15 minute breaks. They had pre-record instramental music ( i thikn from the keybard) playing during breaks. They ate when we ate, but for shorter spans of time, so no one really noticed.
ETA- it wasn't in the contract, but the forms we fille dout at the end, that that asked if meals would be provided. I had to feed them--too many musicians in my family and my mom lives to feed people, she was trying to feed the limo driver at her house since he was early
LO13LO13
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
Posted by eogara
yes, it's 'cheap' or 'tacky' or whatever you want to call it. Those people are working for many hours, often straight through what would be dinnertime, etc. They need to eat.
Also, you want them to be at their peak for performance. Not feeding them is a surefire way to assure they will not be.
i agree!
VS11
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
Posted by eogara
Posted by eliz808
Its not really a price issue I just want my music to be 'continuous' and the band having a meal takes away from that.
The band members fainting from hunger may have the same effect...
I almost fell off my chair at work!!!!!!!
And yes,,it will look tacky if you dont feed them,,,,is water allowed???? j/k
patti08
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
I do not hink that it's appropriate. You should feed them all.
jill13bean
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
they eat at the cocktail hour.... i would not want my band stopping in the middle either
halfpintny
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
I would not under any circumstances not feed your wedding band (especially that you're even considering feeding ONE member). It's tacky and rude.
amy&anthony
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
O.K. I have a question - does the DJ, and photographer and cocktail hour musicians count as a head? Like do I pay for their plate? Is that what youre saying b/c I really have no idea LOL
Charly
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
In my opinion you should feed them all. The band we used had continuous music during dinner (it was just 2 band members playing lite dinner music) - They took shifts. It worked out perfect!!!!
Charly
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
Posted by amy&anthony
O.K. I have a question - does the DJ, and photographer and cocktail hour musicians count as a head? Like do I pay for their plate? Is that what youre saying b/c I really have no idea LOL
Most halls charge you half price for your vendors if you met your minimum head count. If you are under your minimum then they will use some of the vendors as a full head to meet your minimum and the rest at 1/2 price. Does that make sense?
I fed my photographers, videographer and band (11 people.) I was under my minimum by 3 people - so I paid full price for 3 vendors and the rest were 1/2 price.
Hope that helps!
prncssrachel
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
As a musician, I would be extremely PISSED OFF if you did this to me with hopes that I wouldn't break. Have you ever played a musical instrument? It takes endurance and A LOT OF ENERGY. Have a little more respect for the people you are hiring to do a service for you. I don't know why, but I find this to be very irritating that you asked this JUST because you want continuous music. How about calling them and asking them to set it up so that they don't leave the room with no musicians? That's the RIGHT and MORAL thing to do. And you not feeding me wouldn't make me magically keep playing.
Jax430
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
We flat out asked our band about food, and they said that they are there to work, not to eat, and that eating off of the cocktail hour was fine.
We had continuous music, but the band members took rotating breaks while the courses were being served. To me, it looks and sounds very strange when the whole band breaks at the same time and there's no music at all.
milla
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
definitely see if the hall will charge you 1/2 price for the band plates....another thing to consider is at most weddings while people are eating the main courses the band takes their break...it is a chance for people to eat and talk to each other w/o the band or DJ playing.. you don't necessarily want the band playing during this time, you may want just one person singing, etc.
Imagin916
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Re: Is it cheap for me to write in my band contract that I will only feed the keyboardist?
You have to feed your band, they work very hard and you want to keep them happy. If they choose not to eat or to only eat at the cocktail hour, that is thier choice, but let them make that decision. As far as the continuous music goes, I have never seen a band that just stops the music dead at any time. There is always at least one person playing through dinner, or there is prerecorded music that plays. Its not like there is music, and then the plates of food come out and then dead silence!!
