Music Must be planned, It is an important ingredient in setting a mood.
You have endless choices live entertainment, high energy bands, symphony or glass orchestras, disc jockeys, and jukeboxes. The music played at your wedding cere- mony does not have to set the tone for your wedding reception. One can be soft and romantic and the other a joyous celebration. Consider all of your musical opportunities, such as guest arrival, pre-ceremony as guests wait, during the wedding, post-ceremony, and at your reception.
What Your Musicians and Entertainment Company Need to Know
In addition to the Supplier’s Information Worksheet, your entertainment company will need to know:
- Whether you are considering having them play at both the ceremony and the reception or just one or the other
- The age group of your guests
- Whether there will be dancing
- The feeling you are looking to capture at your wedding ceremony
- The mood and ambience you want your wedding reception to project
- What the interior of your wedding ceremony site is like
- Your wedding color theme
- How you want them to dress
- Your musical and entertainment needs
- How you see your wedding ceremony unfolding
- What will be taking place during your wedding reception
- What type of music you want played
- What other music or entertainment will be taking place
- The room layout
- Whether they will be performing on a stage and, if so, the dimensions
- Whether there are any noise restrictions they have to comply with
Questions to AskYour Musicians and Entertainment Company
- What are your power needs?
- Will you be providing your own sound system?
- Are there any special requirements you may have (e.g., such as a piano tuner) that may need to be factored into your budget?
- What do you require for a smooth move in and setup?
- What time would you be setting up at our wedding ceremony and/or reception?
- Will you be doing a rehearsal and require rehearsal time blocked?
- When will you be doing a sound check?
- Would you be performing somewhere else prior to coming to our wedding?
-What equipment will you require us to provide (e.g., a disc jockey may require a draped table and chair)?
- What are the terms of your technical rider (e.g., dressing rooms, staging, lighting, travel, and meal provisions)?
- Ask them for their song list and have your list prepared before you speak with them.
- Can you handle special musical requests?
- What do you typically wear to perform?
- How far in advance of the start time will your musicians be at our wedding ceremony and/or reception site?
Tip: It is advisable to schedule the music to begin playing at least fifteen minutes before your actual start time to ensure that all musicians are in place and ready to go well in advance of when you want the music to commence.
- How long are your sets and what is your break schedule?
- What do we need to put in place so that when you take your breaks there is no dead air?
- Do you do encores? (These have to be negotiated as part of your contracts.)
- Is there anything in your act that would require fire marshal approval and permits, such as the use of pyrotechnics?
- Are you bringing in anything that requires fire retardant certification?
- Do you have insurance?