Live Wedding Band or DJ?
Ah, weddings are a very special occasion for all of us who choose that path in life! The planning stages for that special wedding day and wedding reception party never seem to start early enough and sometimes take over a year to plan. Every wedding detail is scrutinized, from the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses, to the photographic/video arrangements to capture that special day. From the “look” and ambiance of the reception hall, to the chair coverings and tablecloths, china and silverware settings, seating arrangements, flower arrangements, wedding cake, beverage arrangements, dinner arrangements, and the choosing of entertainment and music for your wedding party. Every moment is agonized over for that 6 plus hour perfect event called “The Wedding Reception”. Of course, you want it to be the most memorable experience of your new lives and all of your wedding guests. Some folks go as far as to hire a wedding planner to ensure that no detail is left out or stone unturned. A great deal of your time and resources are invested in your wedding, so you want it to come off without a hitch.
Choosing Your Entertainment
Let’s digress a moment and recall some of the fond memories of our youth. If your interests lie in music, you might remember the first time you went to see your favorite live music group in concert. If your interests are in professional sports, do you remember going to your first live game verses the first time you watched a televised game? If you love traveling, do you remember going to the Grand Canyon verses viewing a photograph or film of it? If you are in the majority, your experiences of the live and in person, far out-weighed the recorded or televised events.
The spontaneity, charisma, excitement and energy of live performers and the flexibility of the live performers to adapt and interact with the crowd make live entertainment create an indelible mark in our memories.
Now let’s get back to your choice of entertainment for your special evening. Would you want your guests to be entertained via recordings from a CD or a live band’s interactive performance with your wedding guests on one of the most important days of your life?
There is always a much “classier” appeal to a live wedding band as opposed to a DJ or just pre-recorded music. Although it may seem that either a DJ or a live wedding band can provide the appropriate dinner and dance music that can appeal to all of the generations attending your wedding party, there are several differences between the two.
Ask your friends and relatives what they remember about the last wedding they attended. Chances are it will be the entertainment. They will always remember that you had a live wedding band. The probably won’t remember your DJ. It gets down to creating an indelible impression upon your guests. This article is intended to help you think about HOW memorable you want your day to be for you and your guests.
You can, and should, certainly do your own research. There are several hundred articles on the internet to list the pros and cons of either hiring a DJ or a live wedding band. Some of the articles are good, some are bad.
You alone know your budget constraints. How much did you allocate for the photographer/videographer or the flower arrangements? Did you select chair covers for the reception? What kind of food will be served to your wedding guests? Did you consider the real importance of your entertainment budget portion of your reception first or last?
Be sure to get references and / or try to see the act in the proper environment. Be careful about hiring the wrong style or a live band based on seeing them at a concert or a festival. Remember the “Blues Brothers” being booked into Bob’s Country Bunker? See the wedding band in a wedding environment to help make your decision.
Some Things To Consider
Is the DJ someone who is working for school tuition or is he a dedicated full time professional in the entertainment industry?
Can a DJ interact with your guests like a live band performance can?
Keep in mind, just like a DJ, a band can and will also play your favorite recorded music during their intermission.
Choose a “Wedding Band”. Not a band that does not have a great deal of experience in playing weddings. An experienced wedding band will keep the volume correct, will dress appropriately, will understand how to lead your special dances and announcements.
A well seasoned live wedding band will always have a better all around sound quality than a DJ. Live music is more dynamic and exciting for the listeners and dancers.
A live Wedding Band will be far more Interactive and energetic with your guests than a DJ going through the motions of playing CD’s.
An experienced wedding band will have wide styles of music for older and younger guests. A DJ may advertise having thousands of songs available, but keep in mind that you will only need about 60-80 songs for the whole evening. That means that a live band or a DJ will be playing many of the same songs.
DJ’s will leave the choice of song selection to you. A truly experienced wedding band will work with you and advise you on what has been successful in the myriad of weddings they have played. They will advise you on things that can go wrong with the wrong selections.
Will you accept a “substitute” DJ if your DJ can’t make it? Will it be alright if they are running late or will they have back up equipment if they have equipment problems?
A professional wedding band will have contingencies to ensure that they have back up equipment, the players are on time, ready to go and the event brings a good feeling to all the attendees.
