Having a good relationship with the musicians or disc jockey you hire is important for the success of your event. Never choose a band or musician until you´ve heard them play. What is their style? How versatile can they be? A good band or entertainer will be able to adapt to the setting, and you should be able to dictate what type of music is played during different stages of the celebration. Go over song choices in advance, but allow some flexibility with the order of songs.
Reserve your musicians as soon as possible - especially if your event has been planned during a peak season. Many popular bands or musicians take reservations as much as a year in advance. Also, check with your facility for time limitations with music. Some ordinances require that music be stopped as early as 10 p.m. if the facility is located near homes or other private living quarters.
Before deciding on your choice of music, ask if there are any selections that your church won´t allow. Wagner´s "Bridal Chorus" from the opera Lohengrin and Mendelssohn´s "Wedding March" from A Midsummer Night´s Dream are both popular wedding pieces that many churches consider inappropriate.
Background music is usually played during the first hour of your event. This allows guests to introduce themselves and mingle, so make sure the music during this stage of the party doesn´t overwhelm guests or interfere with socializing.
It´s likely that you will have people of various ages at the celebration, so keep that in mind when selecting music. Choose songs that will appeal to a wide range of ages and musical tastes. If there will be dancing, intersperse softer tunes with current favorites.
Things to include in contract: Name of band leader and band. Number of musicians playing. Hourly and overtime rates. Will we be billed for partial hours played as whole hours? How many breaks will be taken by musicians, if any? When is payment due? Explain your wishes carefully. Get written confirmation of booking and fee.
