So took me forever to convince my other half to let us have the band play for the evening. Took me ages to find one i really liked. It also includes pre recorded music for inbetween their sets. Either 3 x 40 min or 2 x 60.
Now my dilemma is, do i ring up and see about changing it to a full on DJ. Things like requests and the atmosphere that comes from it didnt bother me before. I love live music and thought band would be perfect. However after spending ages friday night with my family trying to work out timings for the sets & then the buffet, and we're now having a photobooth so timings for that, it just feels like everything is going to be armyfied /regimented. like a schedule. I want people to have fun not clock watch for something new every 45 minutes you know?
The weddings and events I've been to before usually have a band playing the whole evening, so everything flows, whereas obviously this band are doing it in sets. The band is through an agency, we paid a deposit direct to the agency but we pay the band in cash on the day so am contemplating contacting the agency and seeing if can keep the deposit towards a DJ & change it over.
If it werent for the fact we are now having a photobooth & also looking into chocolate fountain rather than candy cart it would be ok. I tried explaining to my OH earlier. He was quite unsure about whether to book a band in the first place. Not cause he doesnt like live music (we love it) but because as he explained.... They can be risky, especially if doing 'sets'. if on the night they are great and everyone loves them then yeh great success but if not and dont play well we havent got the DJ to lift spirits, just pre recorded playlists - and what if they dont play much of what people like on those lists? as cant take requests etc. with this band it would be more regimented as some people wouldnt want to do fountain or funbooth during set list - then we're wasting money on things that arent being used. whereas with DJ he'd play all night, he could choose songs to suit the tempo/mood and change it up or down depending on whats going on you know?
Am I just waffling?? Advise guys....!?
:-( xx
Every Once In a While In The Middle of an Ordinary Life
. . . Love Gives Us a Fairytale. . .
CommentAuthorKatya
i understand completely! we are the other way around. my h2b wants a band, but i think a DJ would be best. I too love live music, so am thinking of asking the college to put together a band to play for a few songs including our first dance but then having a DJ for the rest of the night, if the college have a dj thats perfect lol
Find out who you are & do it on purpose!
CommentAuthorsarah
I agree that all the scheduling may become a bit distracting from the atmosphere. Anyway you can just have one longer set and then switch to music?
CommentAuthorGillianE
oh this is a tough one. I think i would go for the band for the live music aspect, however a dj who would be on all night may work out better because there are no akward gaps and like you say with the photobooth and chocolate fountain people can mingle where ever as there will be something going on all the time. Major plus side would be that it isn't regimental and people won't feel like been shepherd around when a new set starts.
xx
CommentAuthorPenguinJ
Im having a wedding singer and a dj. so it should flow quite nicely .......i hope
Sarah - I did ask this myself but unfortunately they only do the split sets. And even when they are not playing its all pre recorded playlists that we confirm 3-4 weeks before, but I think the idea of LIVE music overruled the idea of requests on night and decent varieties of music. Cause obviously DJ has a WIDE range of music... whereas pre recorded would be you get those and thats it.
Ahhhhh x
Every Once In a While In The Middle of an Ordinary Life
. . . Love Gives Us a Fairytale. . .
CommentAuthorsarah
:( That's a tough one. I'd contact the agency and see what they offer if you change your mind and maybe that will help you make up your mind.
CommentAuthorLulu1388
I have emailed them, after reading through their T&C's it looks like cannot cancel and if do under extenuating circumstances then within 90 days of event 75% of payment has to be made, so not worth cancelling. If we lost deposit or something thats one thing but not £500+ quid!
In the email I may have tweeked the truth slightly, by using something to do with my religion to maybe see if that makes a difference. We have guests coming who are currently in the 12 months of mourning - if you are that religious then you do not attend celebrations/parties or anywhere that has entertainment/live music and we're not sure whether they would come anyway due to this nature - depends how far into mourning year you are or how religious you are or how close you are to the event's hosts etc but am saying that they are hoping to attend but wanted to know if live music could be altered to DJ set so that they dont have to spend the time the band are playing out in another room... pre recorded music is like someone having radio on which is one thing but having live music and missing most of the nght they are willing to attend despite religion wise not really allowed to etc....
I mean they may not come at all then doesnt really matter, but using it to my benefit really. Abit cheeky and feel a bit bad but it may help the situation in the long run. Get the guests there that I want there and so they feel comfortable enough etc.
xx
Every Once In a While In The Middle of an Ordinary Life
. . . Love Gives Us a Fairytale. . .
CommentAuthorLynD
white lie lula.... white lie and nowt ventured nowt gained x
CommentAuthorsarah
edited
what's wrong with a little spin? Let us know how it works out. I've got my fingers crossed for you x
CommentAuthorLauraJo87
Our bands are in sets too, however we have a DJ in between sets (mainly because we only wanted one particular band and didn't know if we'd be able to have them, so booked the DJ first just in case)
Personally, I don't see why they can't play one longer set - alright, maybe not as long as two sets would have been, but it does sound like they aren't very flexible at all.
Ours are doing three sets however were not having photo booths etc. however do your guests need to know a specific time for the photo booth / chocolate fountain? (sorry if I'm being dense, i dont know how they're set up usually)...
At most weddings there are swells and lulls on the dancefloor- would guests not use these to go the booth and use the fountain? it seems a shame to sacrifice the live music element...and I'm not sure that a DJ would make all that much difference, if you know what I mean.
Xx
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorLulu1388
Oh yeh totally Laura but the problem is they all have so many hours set up... just seems like a lot of tooing and froing and regimented schedules whereas with a DJ like you say you'll move on and off the dancefloor to other things throughout the night, whereas if live sets you'll be thinking right i gta stay here until they finish before i can move on to something else etc... its like a fair ground haha.
I guess im just being silly, hopefully will hear back! x
Every Once In a While In The Middle of an Ordinary Life
. . . Love Gives Us a Fairytale. . .
CommentAuthor*KelBel*
At least you've asked, if u don't ask u don't get xx
Velcro...my wedding day twinny! The Two Kel's!
Got engaged 14/10/12 in Central Park NYC!
Became Mrs Macdonald 13th September 2014
Mummy to 4 girlies and baby blue boy Due 10/05/2016
