In theory, booking a wedding band should be one of the best parts of the wedding planning process. It’s more fun listening to bands and deciding which one you like best than it is, say, deciding which tablecloths to use at your reception.
But at the same time, you don’t want to make a hasty decision when it comes to choosing a wedding band. After all, the average band costs couples about $4,500—with some bands costing a whole lot more than that!
The key to narrowing down your search and selecting the right band is asking smart questions when you’re talking to your different options. Here are five questions you should ask each band you meet with.
1. How Much Experience Do You Have as a Wedding Band?
For a band, performing at a wedding is much different than performing at a local dive bar or even playing at a larger venue. Wedding bands need to cater to the crowd and make sure everyone has a great time.
Therefore, you should ask bands to talk about how much experience they have performing at weddings. A band might have two decades of general experience, but if they’ve never done a wedding before, they might not be the right choice for you.
2. What Is Your Specific Style?
Some wedding bands like to spend a lot of time engaging with the crowd at a wedding reception. Others prefer to keep the engagement to a minimum.
Some wedding bands like to bring as much energy as possible to a wedding reception. Others prefer to take a more laidback approach.
Ask bands about their specific style. You want a band that will be a great fit based on your own personal preferences.
3. What Kind of Music Do You Prefer to Play?
A great wedding band like Jackson Broadway can play a little bit of everything. From The Eagles to Keith Urban, they’ll be able to feel the crowd out and play what they think is best in the moment.
But not all bands are like this. Some prefer to play a specific type of music, and if that music isn’t what you’re looking for, they might not be the right band for you.
4. Can We Customize Your Playlist?
Certain wedding bands are very protective of their playlists. They want to have complete control over what they do and don’t play at a wedding.
If you don’t mind relinquishing control to them, that arrangement might work well for you. But if you want to customize your wedding playlist, find a band that will allow you to do it.
5. Is It Possible to See You Perform?
Before you hire a wedding band, you should always check out some of their past performances.
Most bands have made this easy by setting up performance videos online. But if possible, you should also try to watch them in person to get a good feel for their energy.
Search for the Best Band for Your Wedding
Now that you know some of the questions you should ask a wedding band, set up interviews with some of the bands you like best.
Run through these questions when speaking with them and see what they have to say. Their answers should shed some light on whether or not they’re the right band for you.
Learn more about planning the perfect wedding by checking out some of our other blog articles.
