I'm trying to decide whether to have a band or dJ. I would like information from both. We are having our wedding at the Eastwind Estate. I also would like to know different things we can do for a cocktail hour. Thanks.
Check your forum email. I gave you a detailed explanation of several aspects to consider. STAN WIEST A .STAN WIEST MUSIC www.stanwiest.com Featured in Bridal Guide Magazine Sept/Oct 2003
Bands vs DJ's..... sometimes a tough decision.... but two main factors usually come into play for your consideration... quality of sound and cost. Both have different advantages. I've been in wedding bands as a trumpet player and have also operated my DJ service for many years so I'll give you an opinion from both sides.
Bands... Some people just love live music, and listening and dancing to the 'right' band is a great experience. Things to consider when choosing... excellent, larger sized bands (including horn section) tend to be a bit more costly due to the number of performers in the group. Be sure to hear them 'live' so that you can experience the volume level at which they perform. Great bands do not necessarily play 'louder.' In fact, many bands I've heard are louder than many DJ's! How will the band handle substitution of performers? There is the potential for this to happen, and some bands have better reputations than others. Bands sometimes do not realize what their limitations are. Ever hear a five piece band (with a sax) try to play In The Mood by Glen Miller? It just doesn't sound the same. Note also the style of the bandleader.... some have bigger ego's than others... how does this fit in with your plans for the entertainment to be the focus of the evening? Again, it all depends upon what you are looking for in your wedding entertainment. Some want a 'show,' others just want to be 'moved' to dance. We are fortunate in that there are many excellent bands serving our area.
DJ's.... very tough to select in that there are so many to choose from and their styles are very different. Generally speaking, people choose DJ's because they want to hear original music by original artists. As there are fewer performers, the cost is usually less although some entertainment companies do have packages as expensive as some bands! No longer are the days where the DJ is necessarily a badly dressed, egocentric guy acting like a 'ringleader' playing music at excruciatingly loud volume levels.... but be careful.... as these still can be found! One needs to be a very careful consumer when choosing a DJ and MC. Be sure that your DJ is willing to listen to your plans and follow through with your discussions to ensure that your style preferences and music requests are in fact adhered to at your wedding. How can you be sure? I'd recommend choosing a sole proprietorship (one system, one wedding at a time DJ/MC) with whom you will get to meet before the wedding and be there for you every time you have a question, without making you feel as if you are being intrusive or a pest. It's the client service that counts. This is not to say that all entertainment 'companies' do not play 'small.' Some do, but many do not.... the trick is to find the one that best matches what you seek and your degree of interest in being involved in the particulars.
Some people choose DJ for cocktail hour again, because of the variety of music that can be played... something for everybody. Cocktail hour tends to find folks eating, drinking and conversing without much attention payed to the music anyway. If a DJ will be performing at the reception, a live musician, duet, trio or jazz ensemble adds a unique addition of variety.
Whether you are considering Band or DJ, rely on your instincts to make the best choice for you. An opinion.... I've heard time and time again comments that bands are 'more elegant' etc... This makes little sense in that I've heard band leaders who have been more annoying and intrusive than the cheesiest of MC's. Generalizations are useless given the many different styles of professionals currently serving the wedding industry.
I hope I've helped somewhat. Good luck with your search!
Michael http://www.musicbymichael.com 631.928.5918
A cocktail hour has a lot of freedom because it is a completely separate part of your affair. Think about what kind of affair you want, if you have a theme, and if you have a vision of what you want it to be. Once you do that, it will be easy to direct your energies toward finding talented musicians & DJ's to suit your needs.
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