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Tips on Hiring a Live Musician

Live music is the perfect way to ensure an elegant wedding. There are a variety of ways that you can use live music at both the ceremony and the reception. Create ambiance at your reception with a simple, elegant quartet and spice up your reception with a variety band.

When choosing live musicians it is important that you hire an individual or group that reflects both your personal taste and the mood of the wedding. For this reason it is often appropriate to hire different musicians for the wedding and the ceremony. Here are a few things to consider when choosing live musicians.

What type of music would be most appropriate?
At a church ceremony it is often enough to use the church organist, however, many brides choose to include a small group of musicians, such as harpist or violins, to help create their special moment. When choosing music for your reception you have much greater range of choices. For a sit down dinner it is often enough to have a small group playing music to create atmosphere. For the dancing part of the reception it is best to hire a band that will create the mood you are looking for. A variety band is great for keeping everyone on the dance floor. If you are planning an afternoon wedding or a slightly tamer affair it is best to look into more subtle music to match.

What type of music would be most appropriate?
This goes hand in hand with choosing a type of musician to hire. Most musicians are very specialized, however some are well versed in a variety of styles and can accommodate the various parts of your ceremony and reception. Choosing a type of music for the reception is most vital. Remember, your guests will most likely be a variety of ages with a wide range of musical tastes. Although you wont be able to please everyone, do try and make selections that will get everyone dancing.

What should I ask of my wedding musician?
Make sure your musician is not only a talented and experienced performer, but has played at many weddings. Exactly hitting the cues at the ceremony and keeping the crowd on their feet during the reception are not easy tasks and you want to ensure that your musician can make these things happen.

How much of the music should I select prior to the wedding?
Important songs, such as the first dance and the father-bride dance, should be carefully selected. Choose meaningful songs that will put everyone in the desired mood. For the rest of the reception choose a flexible playlist of songs that you would like to hear and that you think would please your guests. Beyond that, let the musician make the choices. An experienced musician will be able to gauge the crowds reaction and tailor their selections accordingly.

What important booking details must I keep in mind?
Really think about your choice of musician. They play a vital role in ensuring that people enjoy and remember your event. Good, in demand musicians generally book six months to one year in advance and will require a security deposit. Also, make sure that your space can accommodate the musicians you hire, as well as their equipment. If you are planning an outdoor affair make sure that their instruments are safeguarded from the elements. Plan a detailed schedule of your event. Make sure that everyone is clear on when the important toasts, dances, and bouquet toss will happen as well as when the musicians will get breaks.

Here is a checklist of important questions to ask when choosing a wedding musician:

1. How many weddings have you performed at?
2. May I have at least three references from past wedding you have performed at?
3. Will you be the actual musicians playing at my event, or are you part of a large company that manages many acts?
4. Will you be able to perform guest requests or do you have a set program?
5. What kind of contingency plans do you have in the event that you are unable to perform at my wedding?
6. What space and other requirements do you have for your instruments and other equipment?
7. What kinds of breaks will you require throughout the evening? Will you provide recorded music to be played during the breaks?
8. Do you have back-up equipment?
9. What type of contract do you require?
10. How much of a down payment do you require?