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Live bands vs. DJ services

Let's face it, when we throw a party, we want people to be impressed; to talk about it afterwards; to remember it. The number one most memorable part of your party is your entertainment - whether that be a DJ or live band. Far too many hosts spend on flowers, food, and decorations, and underspend on the most important part: the people entertaining your guests! Think back to receptions or parties you've attended in the past... what do you remember most about them? If you're like most people it's probably not the decorations. It's how much fun you had on the dance floor with your friends and family!

While it's true that a band can be more expensive than a DJ, in today's world, just about anyone can download a collection of "thousands" of songs and call themselves a DJ. Having a "bunch" of music is just the beginning when it comes to entertaining your guests. With a live band, you're looking at a group of talented musicians who not only have spent years honing their craft, but through working on that craft have spent a great deal of time performing in front of people and putting on a show.

Nothing can compare to the energy of a live band or leave as lasting an impression on your party or reception guests. There's a reason live bands, and not DJ's, are hired to entertain guests at festivals and arenas around the country. Nowadays, one can listen to their favorite music in the car, on the bus, mowing the lawn, doing the laundry - wherever, whenever... it isn't enough just to hear your favorite music today - for it to be special you need to see it, touch it, explore it, and watch it evolve. That's why people enjoy live music, and that's why you should do everything you can to hire a band for your party or reception.

What should you expect from a "Wedding Band?"

As you probably already know, there are a LOT of things that go into planning a wedding. Things you never considered until you were faced with them recently. One of these things is how to entertain your guests. You only plan to do this once, and you've never done it before - so how are you supposed to know what to look for? We can help. Not all bands are created equal, and not all bands you see in a bar are going to be appropriate for your wedding. Musicians can be a strange breed, and it's very important that you hire a band that understands how important this day is to YOU. Following are a few things to look for in or ask of your wedding band:

• They should be willing to sit down with you to discuss your hopes and expectations. You'd be surprised how many bands will not do this.

• They should be able to help guide you through the process of arranging your reception the way you'd like it, along with helping you understand the things that need to happen throughout the course of the night. First dance? Check. Bouquet toss? Check.

• They should be able to advise you on when things are best suited to happen - for example, when is the best time to hold the grand march? Do you know the answer? They should.

The bottom line is that you want to ensure that the band you hire for your wedding understands how and why a wedding is different. If they don't, you may want to reconsider.

What can you expect from Wavelength?

Previously we discussed what you should expect – at a minimum – from your wedding band. Let’s talk a little bit about what makes us different.

We discovered a while back that we were uniquely suited to perform for weddings. Our excellent range and flexibility with numerous genres made us a perfect fit musically, but beyond that, being led by a husband and wife team gives us that extra edge. When it comes to weddings: we get it. We understand what you want and need for your wedding because we’ve been there too!

Here’s what sets Wavelength apart:

• A face-to-face meeting with each couple to ensure that all facets of your entertainment are exactly the way you want them.

• A structured, checklist-based approach to ensure that every detail is accounted for – so that you can enjoy your reception instead of worrying about what the band is doing.

• We have the unique ability to offer you cocktail and dinner music – or even ceremony music - via our sister act, The Honeymooners. This means ONE source for all of your music entertainment all day long.

• A commitment to learn a minimum of one song at the request of each couple (usually their first dance) – in our experience, nothing gives a greater feeling of joy to a bridal couple (and to us!) than for that first, special dance to be one uniquely theirs.

• The ability to have our frontman, Brian, MC your entire reception.

• We custom tailor our bumper music to match your musical tastes and preferences – what we mean is: if you want to hear it, and we can’t play it, you’ll still get to hear it! We offer the best of both worlds by mixing in a “DJ-style” play list when we take our break.

When it comes right down to it, there’s a lot to think about when it comes to the entertainment of your guests:

• What do we do for music during dinner and cocktails?
• Who will MC the event?
• When should the first dance, parent/child dances, grand march, or bouquet/garter tosses occur?
• What if we don’t want to have some or all of those special dances?

Let us assure you that these are questions you will need answered whether you book us or another band. We can also assure you that we have considered all of these things and we have the answers for you.