There are several different ways you can keep yours guests entertained, you could have a stand up comic, a clown, dancers, the works! Most people however opt for the more sensible and widely used musical entertainment for their guests. But it is not as clear cut as that, oh no, you need to consider the different types of musical entertainment. There are effectively three options: A singer, a live band or a disc jockey. If you have the money, or know someone who sings or is in a band you can always ask them to do it for you.
Keep the venue in mind however, don’t go making plans without permission or without asking/checking. Search the singer/band/DJ up before you book them and make sure that they are diverse, you can’t just play one genre of music as your guests will all be different and want to hear music from their own tastes. Think about what you want your first dance song to be too, everyone will be watching so choose wisely. You can go one of two ways: play a slow and romantic song or something fast and full of life that you can choreograph a dance for.
Check if the venue is band friendly (http://www.hitched.com.au/wedding-venues/ , believe it or not for a venue to play any kind of music they need to hold a current and valid music license, no license means no music! Also check that any live band or musician playing has public liability insurance as it is the difference between them paying up and you paying up if there is an accident. On the day live bands should have a sound check of some sort, seems like an obvious thing to point out, but it essential to keeping the music flowing and guests happy.
You need to keep finances in mind too, if you hire a band or DJ you need to both be clear on what the price will be and on how long they will be working for. Do not pay in advance! No sane person should pay any money before the actual event as there is no guarantee they will be any good. If they require a deposit then you should still pay that as it will cover their travel costs for the day and stops you from having to fork out hundreds of pounds for a shoddy service.
So what are the key points?
- Figure out what kind of entertainment you would like for you and your guests.
- Can you afford it? Be aware of your budget and account for all costs that would be involved.
- Check them out – Make sure that they are what you are after and are willing to play.
- Paperwork- Be sure that the venue and entertainers hold the right licences and are insured.
- Be diverse – Don’t be selfish, play whatever your guests want alongside what you are after.
- Do not pay until the day – Do not let them spoil your big day, if they are terrible, do not pay them.
Photo courtesy of dancerconnection.com.
