Tied in a Bow May 2015 | Page 38

Finding Entertainment For Your Wedding Day

by Bruce Mullen

Congratulations! By now you have selected a date for your nuptials and a venue for your wedding! That was a huge step you just completed. But it is far from time to rest on your accomplishments.

If you think that was hard, you are just beginning to uncover the series of decisions that are important to your entire event!

The music, weather it be a live band or a DJ, reflects a lot about you and your tastes. Who you select to entertain you and your guests the evening of your wedding makes a huge impact on the entire flow of the wedding.

The decisions are endless and can be quite daunting once you start the process; and the budget is of course a huge concern to take into consideration. Budget will of course be based on the date you have selected, whether it is a holiday, such as New Years Eve, or Memorial Day weekend, or another date on the calendar.

Entertainment companies are endless and offer a wide range of services. By now you probably have attended several weddings of your friends or colleagues and you have specific tastes in music that you and your future spouse enjoy. This is only part of the equation.

DJ or Live Band?

The first choice you have to make is do you want to hire a DJ, or a live band. This decision is based on a personal preference and budgetary concern. Both are excellent choices as long as you hire a professional, reputable company that comes with references, and that you have been able to see.

Look for Live Showcases

Entertainment companies have several ways of allowing you to see and hear their product. The first is to request a CD from them. Sometimes they have tracks on Youtube, and they have live cuts they can send you. Another way, which I prefer, is what is more commonly called a Showcase.

What’s a Showcase?

A showcase is where an event in which an entertainment company has several of their bands perform a set for potential clients. Usually, it is hosted at some sort of music venue. DJ’s and bandleaders are available to talk with potential clients.. This is a perfect opportunity for you to see the bands, to hear the bands, and to interact with the bands. You get the opportunity to ask all the questions that you need answered. Costs, lighting, song repertoire, continuous live music or mixed in CD’s – come with your notebook!.

What Does a Quality Band Look Like?

A quality band will offer continuous live music throughout the evening. Remember, this will not be dance music all night long, some people may want to have quiet dinner music, but it will be live the entire time.

An entertainment group that I work with a lot in Philadelphia is BVTLive!. They have an incredible array of

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