What makes a great wedding DJ/Band?

... there are many elements that contribute to a good band, but the most important thing is the bands ability to 'groove' together. That is to say that the rhythm and tempo of the song is not forced, rushed. I remember when I first started playing in bands when I was fifteen. The band leader who was much older and more experienced used to say to us. We are playing too fast. When I protested he produced a 'tape' of the gig that we all listened too and much to my surprise, the songs were indeed, way too fast.

It was all about nerves and adrenaline. You don't think you're playing too fast cause you're going for it. But when we started to relax, get in the groove, rock and roll with the music, much to our surprise people started to dance. People can feel this. Its contageous.

It's important as a musician to realise that you don't create that groove by playing louder or faster. You create mood and vibe by having groove and vibe, by going to that happy place first, yourself/yourselves. The party starts with you. You lead and others will follow.

This comes with experience, too. 

When I chose my musicians for my band I make sure we 'gel' and that we keep a steady tempo for dancing and celebrating. We are there to do a job and not to make a concert. 

Knowing exact tempos is a secret to a very successful band. 

My dad was a dance band saxophonist from the old school and I used to go to his gigs as a youngster. He would know if a song was too fast by one beat a minute, by the feel of it. 

He would say to his band 'We're going to do a "Bossa Nova" at 'X' beats per minute'. I used to think 'Are you kidding?' How would you know if the band plays it at  'so many'  BPM. .... ...well... he would know. And he was right. No iPads back then. It was the way the body moves. He knew how to get people on a dance floor and keep 'em there. 

I'm grateful for his knowledge passed on. There is a psychology to the dance floor. You don't just play a classic song an expect people to dance. A song has to be rendered and thought about.

Flexibility, stage presence, professionalism, and the ability to create whatever vibe you guys are after! And first and foremost, the ability to read the crowd and play what they want to hear, and be flexible enough to change direction if need be. Musicianship helps too. ;)  

Hi Emma,

 

Passion, experience and professionalism are the key elements to look for when choosing a band or DJ for your special day. A band or DJ possessing these attributes will value each and everyone of their clients and work closely with them to create a unique wedding soundtrack that reflects them both as individuals and as a couple. They will be transparent and flexible regarding their services, more than happy to learn new song and arrangement, and able to accommodate last minute changes on the day.

 

A great rapport between you and your entertainment supplier is also vital to a successful wedding day. So make sure when picking your wedding entertainment that the band members or DJ you are booking are the actual band members or DJ that you will get on the night. We hear too many stories of last minute swap outs by larger franchise bands and DJ services. Weddings are such an intimate occasion and so you generally do not want to be meeting new people on the night. Smaller boutique bands who play regularly together (due to their comradery) will bring a lot more energy and life to a wedding than a DJ or larger franchise bands whose members are often sourced at short notice from all around the state.

 

Twice voted ‘Best Live Wedding Entertainment’ by Victorian brides and grooms, INKASOUNDS understands just how important a part music plays in creating your dream wedding and works hand in hand with you and all of your suppliers to make your dream wedding a reality. Performing together for over 12 years and with over 800 songs in our extensive repertoire the versatile members of INKASOUNDS work with you to create a fun and romantic atmosphere that best reflects you individually and as a couple. Able to perform acoustically and/or with the addition of professional, customised instrumental tracks for a full band sound, the INKASOUNDS Duo or Trio will deliver the perfect soundtrack for your special day. Visit our INKASOUNDS storefront for more information.

A great wedding DJ or band knows what song to play at the right time to fill the dance floor, not just sticking to a playlist

Hi Emma, great questions and not that straight forward to answer. There are a lot of things to consider. So I collated some tips over the years to help with this question.

7 Must - know - tips for finding the right musicians for your wedding

1) Do some research: Try to find out what is really important to you and what you would like for your wedding by talking to friends and by doing research on the internet. Find out as much as you can about prices, music styles etc. There are great wedding advisor groups and chats on Facebook or other platforms available.

2) Style of Music: This is a very important factor in deciding which wedding band to hire and often underestimated. Sit down with your partner to find out what style of music you really want to be played at your big day, are you more into classical or contemporary, into rock or soul, into blues or country….? Do love acoustic music or a full piece band? Which instruments do you really love? What about the voice, do you prefer female or male singer or both? Which songs do you really need to have at your wedding? Once you have answered all these questions get out there to find the band that can do all of the above in the way you want it! A professional musician will of course be able to learn any song you request, however, most musicians won't learn an unlimited amount of new songs for free. So find out how many they would learn for free just for your wedding and what other songs they can already play.

3) Get their expert advice: There are many people out there that really want live music but don't really know the when, what and how. That is totally fine, don't freak out if you do not know exactly what you want. An experienced musician will be able to guide you through the process of finding the music that is just right for you.

4) Meet with the musicians before booking: On your wedding you will have thousands of things going on and you will need to be able to fully rely on all of your vendors. Meet with the musician to get the full experience of their personality, style and professionalism. In the end, they will be present when you and the love of your life will say 'yes, I do'. If no personal meeting is possible, have a phone conversation at least. See if you feel comfortable with their personalities.

5) Listen and watch: Recordings are great to find out if you like the style of the musician. However, anyone can sound amazing on a studio recording but not everyone will sound great live! So, listen of live recordings, watch videos of live performances or check them out at their next live performance if possible. This gives you a better idea of how they will really sound.

6) Check References: Make sure you get some real reviews from clients, these are hard to fake and will give you a better idea of who are dealing with.

7) Ask questions: There are no stupid questions! Ask as many as you can. Try to find out as much as you can before you meet or call the musician so you can be specific. Ask about their experience, how many weddings have they done, how many years of music they have played (wedding experience is great but in the end they need to be experienced as musicians in general), ask about the legality of your agreement (do they have a contract?). What if you cancel? What if they cancel? Are there any hidden costs? Do they have another booking on your day or will they be able to fully concentrate on you? What is the price? How much is the deposit? What exactly is included in the cost? Do they carry liability insurance?

If chosen wisely, you will absolutely love your wedding musicians and will say afterwards 'I could not have chosen better!'

A great DJ/Band will take the time to listen to the clients musical desires and be able to accurately read the crowd and know exactly what songs are going to work best throughout all aspects on the day/night. Experience is paramount and experienced musicians/DJ's will nail this, making your wedding special and unique!

The band will be professional in their attitudes, response times, communication, organisation, arrival times, performance times, presentation and equipment.

Experience & personality!

Firstly, forget about how many lights, what brand of equipment or how powerful the speakers are. The most valuable possession a DJ can bring to your event simply can not be bought. At all. For any price. Anywhere.

A good DJ will 'read' the crowd – this capability only comes after many, many years of playing to varied audiences. They will utilise their music knowledge with an ingrained knowledge of what will and what will not work.

They will communicate with the crowd, taking requests, smiling and enjoying themselves. Most importantly, they will instinctively know when to speed things up, slow things down, change genres and maintain a good 'flow' to maximise the dance floor potential.

Finally, they will keep the background music to a level where your guests don't have to resort to sign language to make themselves understood to the person sitting next to them!

Experience, professionalism, taking the time to listen to you and plan a wedding that matches your vision and dream. the ability to 'read the crowd'.