The big debate over DJ or band never seems to end. Let us look at the pro’s and con’s of both of these choices.
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The big debate over DJ or band never seems to end. Let us look at the pro’s and con’s of both of these choices.
DJ – On the plus side, you have a wide variety of music that they can play, including ethic music. Usually they are less expensive than a live band. On the negative side, DJ’s have a reputation for being sloppily dressed, and many just talk too much in between songs, or they don’t talk at all which can be a disadvantage if the dancing is slow and people need to be encouraged to get up and dance.
If you choose a DJ for your wedding, make sure you find a DJ who specializes in weddings. They usually understand the wide range of ages in your guests, and are able to play music suitable to all those age groups. You want someone who can talk up the crowd if needed, or who can sit back without interfering with the flow of the wedding—in other words, someone who can read the crowd and respond appropriately. You should know if you want your DJ to MC the evening, or whether someone in your bridal party will have that task.
You want to know that your DJ is a professional—professional sound equipment, and professional in their dress and behaviour. Be careful with what kinds of accessories a DJ might bring with them. Do you really want strobe lights and a fog machine at your elegant wedding? You need to know what time they will set up, what time they will start to play music, how many hours they will play, whether you will feed them or give them drinks—all these things should be specified in your contract.
Band – On the plus side, there is nothing like a live band visually, and most wedding bands are excellent at what they do. On the negative side, they can be more costly than a DJ, and a live band takes breaks, but you can have taped music played during that time. Again, you want a professional group that has been together for some time, and have a good reputation. The best place to find professional musicians is through a music agency. Not all music agencies are the same, and some agencies create a band with “pick up” members—meaning they put musicians together to play for one or two gigs, and then other musicians are substituted. So be careful. You want a regular band, you want to know the band member names, and want to see them perform, and you want references so you know what you are getting.
As always, a little research, a few phone calls, and a few reference checks are in order. Make sure you see them perform live to make sure of what you are getting. Make sure you review the SmartBride Checklist so you ask the right questions when you are looking for your reception music.