Let Take a poll

Whats everyones opinions on feeding the band?
Background:
They are getting paid $5800 for 4 hours and there are 7 people. It will cost me another $300 to feed them all. The wedding is early in the afternoon and they are booked for another wedding that night. Please Help!

Re: Let Take a poll

personally i think it is ridiculous also but i guess it is etiquette (sp?) we have no choice it is in our contract that we have to feed them! i guess you should feed them b/c maybe if you dont they might get offended and not o the best that they could do the rest of the reception! so for 3oo.oo you might as well....what they hell at this point!!!! dont tip them as much as you were going to to save that way at least they cant do anything then the wedding is over!!!!

Re: Let Take a poll

Oh my god I completely forgot about tipping them. These compaines are just ****ing me dry

Re: Let Take a poll

i totally agree with diamondgrl

Re: Let Take a poll

They edited me. I guess I will say they are milking me dry

Re: Let Take a poll

Maybe you can ask them to eat during cocktail hour instead of a full dinner.

Re: Let Take a poll

I hate to differ, but I think there is nothing wrong with feeding the band or any other vendor. The band is going to be at your reception for a multitude of hours and they are going to get hungry. I'd rather spend the extra money making sure they are fed and happy, then have them get fidgity or worse, pull a snack out of a brown paper bag!! The band/dj is one of the most important parts of the wedding. If they fall short on performing then thats what the guests are going to remember...My vote is to feed them well!!!

Re: Let Take a poll

You should definitely feed them. If you factor in the travel time, set up time, performance time, pack up time.....it's a lot of time!

Re: Let Take a poll

Definitely feed them

Re: Let Take a poll

You should feed your vendors. I think people forget about setup, travel, and breakdown. A 4 hour wedding is really 6-8 hours for them. They can't pack a lunch (tacky looking) or run to McDonlalds on break. They should be fed, if even a simple meal from the kitchen (many places will make simple vendor meals)

Re: Let Take a poll

We fed all our vendors, but then again we're Italian, and feed everyone..lol

Re: Let Take a poll

Our band MC mentioned that if he knew the Matre D at the reception site, he would have the band eat at the ****tail hour ==> but he doesn't so we'll have to feed them. I don't see a problem with feeding them at half price, though. You could give a smaller tip.

Re: Let Take a poll

Feed them. You don't need a bunch of hungry band members on your hands.

Re: Let Take a poll

LOL Michelle! That's so very true about us Italians!

Re: Let Take a poll

I have to agree with Stephanie, after all of the money I'm paying my band, the thought of spending hundreds of dollars to feed them on top of it seems a bit much. I guess I just think about the fact that I work 8 hour days and my employer doesn't feed me! I know it's different job and I want my band to be in top condition to perform, but spending a lot of $$ to feed them gets to me, too. I organize fundraising galas at work and our caterers always prepare 'crew meals' for our bands, which are not as fancy as our guests meals. This seems like a good compromise, although I don't think my hall offers it.

Re: Let Take a poll

I agree feed them..

lesley you are right that your employer doesn't feed you, but they do give you time to go somewhere...as well as let you take out a brown bag with your lunch...

you could ASK the band...what would they want? dinner...or the money for a tip...maybe they will decide to take the money...since they have another wedding..


but I know I can get cranky without food for 6 hours...

Re: Let Take a poll

I always believed in feeding the vendors. I do know to some it sounds ridiculous, but it really is not. Vendors get hungry too, and hungry workers are NOT happy workers. And how tacky would it be for your vendor to take out his/her lunch box and eat a sandwich?

Re: Let Take a poll

I would definately feed them.
Would you want to work and not get to eat?

Re: Let Take a poll

Feed them. Your hall should offer discounted prices. I know we didn't pay full price for our band, photographer & video guys to eat. They are performing a service for you, and often the 4 hour wedding is really an 8 hour affair. Since yours is in the afternoon, they may be early enough for the cocktail hour. Speak to them and see if they'd rather eat at the cocktail hour. Otherwise, have the hall give them dinner - it's only right.

Re: Let Take a poll

You should definitely feed them. It's a lot of hours to expect someone to go without food - at least at work you have a lunch-hour or break. It's not like these guys can run out and get a snack. The hall should definitely have discounted plates for them - I think my hall was $40 per vendor as opposed to the regular $100 or so.