Live wedding band - pop / funk / recent chart hits

[EllaFitz]

Hello everyone,

Have been researching a lot to find a live wedding band. Ideally a 4 piece band with a lead female vocalist but a lead male vocalist would also be fine if they sing the right genre.

The bands on the usual booking sites only quote for 260 min sets or 340 minute sets usually which seems a bit short for the amount of money they charge and seems a bit inflexible. Found a local jazz band for a much better price (£800 for 4 hours of playing) but they were too chilled and not dancey-enough.

I was hoping to think outside of the box or get someone else's recommendations.

Preferred genres are pop, latin, swing, jazz, funk, soul, 80s, 90s, early 2000s, and only light rock. No Mumford sons / rock type bands.

We also have a sound limiter so need someone to work within that too.

If you know of any upbeat / dance friendly bands that you have come across in a local pub in London or at an event please let me know!

We're in London.

Can't help but in London but the timings seem right, generally it's a 2.5 hours with a break half way (I book bands) and £1500 is the going wedding rate (not london) but it's cheaper for other events, around £800 typically.

Your best bet is to head to pubs who have live music on weekends, here we have a great choice of free entry places so you get to know all the local offerings. I'm just too far to recommend anyone

Thanks for this! Yes, I have been seeing 3 x 40 min sets more in the £1500-1700 range online for 4 piece bands. Would ideally like to find a band that charges normal event prices given we are having a small wedding. Visiting a local pub is a good idea.

You won't get a covers/function band for the price you want, especially in the London area. It's simply not worth it. My son is in a band and his band will take bookings for less in pubs etc when they are able to play all their own stuff (originals plus a few covers)

They don't charge any differently for a wedding than for say a xmas party but it is all based on set times and waiting around times (so they will charge more if they have to set up earlier in order for the room to be clear for a meal/speeches etc)

The cheapest way of doing it would be to allow them to turn up half an hour before they are due to play, set up and do a sound check (you would need to make sure the area was clear of people during this time) and for them to be able to pack up and go as soon as they have finished playing. This just does not happen at most weddings.

There are 4 of them, they have to have public liability insurance, vehicles to transport instruments, pay for rehearsal room charges etc etc. Their minimum rate for up to 4 hours (the clock starts at the time from which they are expected to be set up and ready) would be about £900-£1,000.

Thanks! Makes sense. Yes we are looking in the 900-1500 range depending on how the band is but I would like the band to play for most of the time they are there (rather than 3 x 40 min sets for example). We actually do have a separate set up room where the music will be and I don't mind them leaving when they finish playing (assuming they play till the end) so maybe that's something I could suggest to bands.

You are being unrealistic wanting them to play for most of the time. Paying an instrument and singing like that is physically and mentally demanding. they will need breaks. Playing for 45 minutes non stop is about the limit before a 20 minute break or so (a bit longer if it is less arduous easy listening/improvisation etc).

Most covers bands will have enough music in their repertoire to play 2 x 45 minute sets plus some songs in hand. Now when my son does theatre work you can stick the sheet music in front of him and he will sight read it with not as much prep but there is an MD to keep them tight in that instance. A pop covers band will need to be playing/rehearsing their core rep to keep it tight.

Also take note the prices I've quoted are cheap northern city prices.

London rates are likely to be higher.

Of course they need breaks! :)

The issue with most online band booking systems is that you book them from 5pm-12 for example, and they only play for 2 hours of that. Also, you have no direct contact with the band until you've booked which is why I'm posting here :)

Those prices seem right for wedding bands from what I saw when we were booking ours (married this year). We used an online booking agency site too.

As for timings, we had 3 x 40 mins + 1 hr additional acoustic set and it worked perfectly.

Acoustic set was playing in one room for the guests while the rest of the band set up in the other room. They did a sound check while we were cutting the cake before going into the main reception room
but that could easily have been done before the doors were opened. Then we did our first dance to a CD track, and the full band started immediately after our first dance and did a set. Then there was a playlist on for a little while so people could go to the bar, have a dance break to chat etc. (cake cutting could also happen here instead). Then there was another set, then stopped for evening food while they played the band's playlist, then the final set.

There wasn't a moment the dance floor was even close to empty while they were playing, but the breaks meant people could still dance if they wanted (to the playlists the band provided) or catch up with friends they hadn't been sitting with for the reception/grab a drink. If they had played any longer, to be honest I think the floor would have emptied because guests don't generally keep going full pelt for several hours uninterrupted. They want to get a drink and use the loo. Plus the band needs a break if they are going to keep the quality up.

We had a friend DJing afterwards who jumped straight up to keep the party going while the band packed up, but a playlist would have also worked. We had nothing but amazing feedback about the band so I wouldn't have changed a thing.

I'd say 2 hours is a reasonable maximum length of time to expect someone to play for in one evening.

I've never used an agency though (although ds has just joined one, he has only filmed a demo so far)

Thank you for your reply, your perspective is very helpful :) Some good ideas in there!

Have you tried looking at local pubs etc that do live music - go a long if it’s the sort of thing you’re after, and if you like them, go and have a chat after - my ddad’s been gigging your years, and this is how he’s got weddings in the past. You’ll get a much better idea of what they do

Hope you manage to find the right band soon it's such a minefield. Although we couldn't talk to the band directly, the agent we were dealing with through the website was great and really responsive when we had questions so we weren't left floundering on the run up to the day.

Thanks everyone. Takeaways are: check out local pubs for bands, and 3x 40 min sets are standard for functions.

If there are any flexible bands are out there who reading this who are happy to play 4 x 45 min sets as part of your standard package or 3 x 60 min sets - DM me ;)

Just make sure that if you do approach a pub band directly that they have their own PA & backline (assuming your venue does not supply one) as not all bands do, especially those that only usually play music venues/festivals.

Yes thanks - Very important point.

We used this band and they were brilliant (they also have a huge repertoire)

www.entreepartyband.com

Oh and we had a sound limiter in our venue too