the choice of your music gives the reception its pulse!
Unless you’re going with a particular reception theme (country and western or swing, for example), don’t limit yourself to a band that plays just one style of music. After all, your band will need to accommodate a variety of age groups and tastes. Bands who play weddings regularly will be especially well prepared for this; your cousin's garage band may not.
Ask if they're giving a live performance you could attend. If this won't be possible you'll need to review a tape instead. If that's the case, be sure to request a tape featuring the same number of musicians you're considering — listening to 10 pieces when you only want five won’t give you a clear picture of how the band will sound.
Listen for:
Balance: Is one instrument in particular drowning out
the others?
Vocals: Do all the musicians in the group sing, or just the vocalist?
Do you like how their voices sound?
Quality: If there’s a synthesizer, does it sound tinny or
obviously electronic? A good keyboard is almost indistinguishable
from the instrument it’s mimicking.
Composition: Are the musical arrangements creative, or does every
song sound just like the one before it?
Preparedness : How easily does the band move from one song to another?
Are the sets organized or do the musicians seem to be scrambling
for the next number?
Repertoire: Is there an ample array of musical styles?
If you’re watching a video or live performance, critique the appearance of the musicians as well. (If you’re only hearing a tape, then ask to see a picture.)
Happy with what you heard? The final step before deciding is to sit down and meet with the bandleader. Remember, if he is going to emcee your wedding, you need to be absolutely sure you like his style and personality. The interview is also your chance to iron out the details of what the band offers and to make sure the bandleader understands what you’re looking for.
To give him/her a sense of what you want, talk about your impression of the audition tape. You might even create a checklist of songs you did and didn’t like, but don’t shy away from a band because you didn’t like one or two selections. Audition tapes try to reflect the full scope of the musicians’ abilities. It doesn’t mean that every style of music has to be played at your wedding. Ask to see their play list for a sense of the band’s repertoire. It’s also helpful to mention which artists or types of music you like and any songs you definitely don’t want played at your wedding.
Get References and ask each reference the following:
-Overall opinion of the band
-Was the bandleader available for consultation during the planning
stage?
-Did they arrive on time?
-Did they remember to include all special dances and events, and
to follow all other requests?
-Was the bandleader careful to pronounce names correctly?
Finally, before you sign a contract, make certain it covers every detail of your agreement. If something is missing, write it in by hand. Be sure to write in that the bandleader you’ve interviewed must attend your wedding "in person."
First, be specific about the set-up time (at least an hour in advance). Then settle on the exact hours they will play, as well as how many minutes per hour will be spent on breaks. (While many bands talk about "continuous flow," most play in full for about 45 minutes. During the off time, individual musicians will take breaks while the remainder of the band plays on.
Bands are harder to book than disc jockeys, since most of them perform in two or three different areas. If you find a band that you want, book them ASAP.