By Anne Roos
Sometimes your clients want live music and entertainment at their wedding or event, but do you prefer to book a DJ or have them go with the iPod stereo? Are musicians too much trouble to hire? Is it difficult to find just the right musician? Are you concerned about their professionalism?
Don't give up! Here are some great reasons to consider live music and entertainment for your clients' weddings, parties, and corporate events:
· If your client has a tight budget and doesn't think live music is affordable, think again. In my research, many musicians will work for just one hour, if that's all that's needed (especially soloists and small ensembles). Soloists and small ensembles can be less expensive than professional DJs, too. And there's no special equipment to rent because musicians usually come with their own sound equipment. But the best part: Musicians that "need the gig" may also be in a position to bargain with you, especially in this economy.
· Great entertainers can make split-second decisions on the fly. They know how to read the crowd, from knowing when to wind down "Here Comes the Bride" when the bride gets to the alter, to knowing just the right songs to keep the party going at the reception. It's not like playing canned music on an iPod and suddenly truncating a song midway through or running out of song before the flower girls make it to the altar. Musicians can scan the room and quickly determine just what is needed.
· Live entertainment creates a memorable experience. If you ask couples what they most remember years after their weddings, they always remember the entertainment. When you fit musicians into the theme of a wedding or an event, they become something fun to listen to and watch. And they'll make you, the event planner, look like you saved the day by coming up with the idea to hire live entertainment for the festivities. Unlike canned music, great live musicians can make you look good.
Okay, so you're sold on having live music, but how do you go about hiring just the right musicians? Does the client know what kinds of music they want? Start with a discussion about their music likes (and dislikes). The basic rule of thumb is to remind your client to select the music that they love. It's the music they heard on their first date or the music that reminds them of special occasions. It's the music they choose to listen to on their car radios or on their iPods at the gym. Then, look at how their favorite music fits into their wedding or event theme.
Here are six examples of ways live music can work within themes:
1. Musicians to reflect the things the client enjoys-Use the music to paint a picture of the couple's personalities. For instance, for a country-style wedding, if they love bluegrass music, why not have a hayride between ceremony and reception sites, with a bluegrass band greeting the guests when they arrive at the reception?
2. Musicians to match the wedding or event location-Will the wedding be on the beach? Choose 60s surfer tunes for a vintage rock band to play would fit. A wedding in Hawaii can include a luau band that can teach everyone how to dance the hula.
3. Musicians to honor the religious background of the couple-The music that a couple grew up listening to in a synagogue, singing in church, or chanting in a temple may have specific importance to them. These sacred melodies take on a spiritual resonance when performed by musicians who can make them come alive within a wedding ceremony or special moment in a reception. Modern popular Christian tunes, when performed live, can also tug at one's heartstrings, as well.
4. Musicians to celebrate ethnicity-Allow the music to highlight the client's heritage. For a traditional Scottish wedding, what better than a bagpiper, in traditional kilt, to lead the bride down the aisle? Musicians can also dress according to the ethnic theme-think of the color that a mariachi band adds to a Hispanic celebration.
5. Period musicians for a period celebration-Choose a time in history and design the music, and the entire event, around that period. The musicians can play music that was fashionable then, plus, they can visually fit into the theme by wearing vintage costumes as they perform. Popular themes for weddings and events include: Victorian, medieval Romeo and Juliet, Roaring 20s, and Renaissance periods.
6. Musicians for a holiday celebration-Along with selecting decorations appropriate for that day, select music and musicians that can reflect the holiday mood. Gershwin jazz standards played by a jazz quintet on Valentine's Day or lively jigs played by traditional Irish musicians on St. Pat's Day are good examples.
Whatever the theme, it's almost a sure bet you can find musicians and song titles to match it. Or, you can create a theme around your clients' music choices for their special celebration!
Next time, I'll offer some ideas about how to select the right musicians for the venue and how to know good musicians from a not-so-good ones.
About the Author: Anne Roos has been playing the Celtic harp at weddings for nearly 30 years. She regularly appears on radio and television programs and is active in many wedding organizations. Roos' special Celtic wedding music album, Haste to the Wedding, is popular among couples looking for romantic music to accompany their wedding festivities. Musicians interested in performing at weddings will want to check out Anne's book The Musician's Guide to Brides, also available from Hal Leonard Books. She lives in South Lake Tahoe, CA For more information, visit her website.
