1609 W. Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 773.665.4682
info@StarEvents.com
StarEvents StarEvents
  • About
    • Overview
    • Our Team
    • Partners
    • COVID Safe Events
  • Corporate and Private Events
    • Corporate and Private Events
    • Certified Pandemic Compliance Advisor
  • Festivals
    • Upcoming Events
    • Event Services
    • Become A Vendor
    • Become A Sponsor
    • Band Consideration
    • Festival FAQs
  • Connect
    • Contact
    • Join The Team
    • Blog
October 12, 2021

10 Tips on How to Book a Wedding Band

By Star Events / Blog, Weddings

Do your research.

When looking for your wedding band, check out videos of their live performances. What genre of music do you want to be played? Are there specific songs you definitely want to hear?  Watching their other performances will help you get an idea of what kind of sound they can bring.

Additionally, reviews are the best way to know if a band is professional, experienced, and reliable. Look at Yelp reviews, or ask your friends and family for recommendations. On the Chicago Entertainment Agency website, each band has real reviews from their clients, and photos and videos of their act.

Determine your budget.

Wedding bands can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. You’ll want to think about the type of band you want, and how long you want to book them for. Big-name bands will be more expensive. Smaller, local bands, may be cheaper, and will require fewer travel expenses.  

Decide what size band you want.

The number of musicians you want will also depend on your budget, naturally, the more musicians you want, the more money the band will cost. Sometimes, your venue might put a limit to the number of musicians or the size of the band. Read over your venue contract while establishing this number.

Book the band far in advance.

Wedding bands are in high demand, so you won’t want to wait until the last minute. Ideally, you should try to find a band 12 to 18 months in advance.  As soon as you find the right band… book them!

Don’t forget to ask your guests for song requests!

If the band is willing to take song requests, give your attendees the option to request a song they want to hear. Nothing is worse than a band that doesn’t play anything you like. Make sure you and your guests are happy (and dancing)!

Think about how long you want the band to play for.

Will they be playing during cocktail hour? Do you want a live band during dinner? How late into the night will they play? Consider these questions when determining how long you’re booking the band for. Again, refer back to the question about your budget–likely, the band has an hourly fee rather than a daily price.

Decide if you want the first dance played live.

It might cost extra for a band to learn a new song for you. Ask yourself if this will fit into your budget, or if you’re willing to shell out a little extra cash for the band to play your first song.

Hire an event planner.

Someone who is experienced in the field will be able to help you find the perfect band. They might have a relationship with a highly desirable, hard-to-book band. Also, they may be able to get you a discount.

Ask the band questions.

Do they have a firm setlist? Will they take requests? What does their wardrobe look like? Don’t be afraid to ask too many questions- these will help you determine if they’re the ideal band for your special day.

Make sure you read and sign the contract!

Look over and sign the contract for the band. Make sure the date, time, and location are correct.  Determine if they are bringing their own equipment, or if you are booking the appropriate rentals. If there are any special requests you have agreed on, including if you have asked for specific outfits or songs to play/not play, make sure it is noted. Most importantly, you will want to confirm the amount of time you have booked them for, fees (including deposits), and their cancellation/refund policy.

Remember, this is your day, and there is a great band out there for you. An event planner will make this process much less stressful, but if you choose to go without an event planner make sure to keep these logistical things in mind. If you keep these 10 tips in mind, you will be in the perfect position to dance the night away on your big night.

Written By Jessie Burdett

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
dance Event Planner music Private Event Planner StarEvents wedding band Wedding Planner Weddings

Post navigation

Older Post
Newer Post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

September 22, 2023
Retro On Roscoe 2023 Photo Gallery
 
August 16, 2023September 22, 2023
Fest Italiana 2023 Photo Gallery
 
July 12, 2023September 21, 2023
Southport Art Fest 2023 Photo Gallery
 

Categories

  • Andersonville Homecoming (1)
  • Andersonville Midsommarfest (8)
  • Bark In The Park (2)
  • Bavarian Block Party (1)
  • Birdhouse Festival (1)
  • Blog (189)
  • Celebrate Clark Street (1)
  • Chalk Howard Street Fest (1)
  • Clark After Dark (5)
  • concert (2)
  • Corporate Events (5)
  • COVID-19 Chicago (6)
  • Edgefest (4)
  • Event Industry (15)
  • Event Venues (4)
  • Festa Italiana (8)
  • Festival Insight (8)
  • Food (6)
  • Forest Park Music Fest (4)
  • Halloween (1)
  • Hyde Park Jazz Fest (4)
  • Live on Lincoln (2)
  • Long Play Music Fest (1)
  • Mayfest (9)
  • Mole De Mayo (7)
  • Music & Entertainment (13)
  • Naperville's Last Fling (1)
  • Pizza City Fest (1)
  • Ramen Fest (2)
  • Retro on Roscoe (7)
  • Rocktoberfest (4)
  • Roscoe Village 5K (2)
  • Roscoe Village Halloween Party (1)
  • Ruido Fest (2)
  • Southport Art Festival (6)
  • Success (7)
  • Taste of Lakeview (1)
  • Taste of Randolph (10)
  • TPAN's Ride for Life Chicago (1)
  • Walk MS Illinois (1)
  • Weddings (3)
  • West Loop (1)
  • West Loop Art Fest (4)

Want notifications about our Events & music festival line ups?

Instagram

Who's excited for the Hyde Park Jazz Festival this Who's excited for the Hyde Park Jazz Festival this weekend?! ✋ It's going to be a beautiful weekend in Chicago to enjoy some jazz, local food, and vendors! 🤩
🎶 Groovin' into the weekend with the smooth sou 🎶 Groovin' into the weekend with the smooth sounds of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival! 🎷Who's ready to swing to the rhythm with us this weekend?🙌 

- S Woodlawn and Midway Plaisance
- 9/23 1pm-10:30pm & 9/24 1pm-7pm
A big thank you to our sponsors at the Bavarian Bl A big thank you to our sponsors at the Bavarian Block Party this past weekend! We hope you had a chance to check them out 👏
🥨 Prost to a weekend filled with brats, bretzel 🥨 Prost to a weekend filled with brats, bretzels, and Bavarian fun! 🌭Join us at the West Loop Bavarian Block Party this Saturday from 12pm-10pm and Sunday from 12pm-8pm. Get ready for a taste of Germany right here in the heart of the city!🎉
Don your Lederhosen and fill your stein with a var Don your Lederhosen and fill your stein with a variety of German beer OR your favorite non-alcoholic drink and say “Prost” to the West Loop! 🥨

Featuring an amazing lineup of Oompah music, kids activities, brats, bretzels, and beverages for everyone! 

Join us Sept 16th - 17th, 
Sat. 12pm-10pm and Sun. 12pm-8pm 🍻
ON SITE TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!! THANK YOU FOR COMIN ON SITE TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!! THANK YOU FOR COMING!!!
This past labor day weekend we brought art to the This past labor day weekend we brought art to the West Loop! Thank you to our sponsors for supporting the community 😍
Get ready to dive into a world of creativity and i Get ready to dive into a world of creativity and inspiration at the West Loop Art Fest this weekend! Come connect with talented artists, listen to toe-tapping live music, and explore stunning artworks. 🎶🖼️ This Saturday and Sunday from 11-7, see you there!
Brushes at the ready,colors in full bloom - get re Brushes at the ready,colors in full bloom - get ready to immerse yourself in a world of creativity at our art fair this weekend 🎨✨ Join us this Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 7pm as we showcase some incredible artists! #ArtFairWeekend #CreativityUnleashed
Follow on Instagram

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Upcoming Event

There are no upcoming events at this time

OFFICE HOURS

Monday: Closed
Tues – Fri : 9am – 5pm

Information

  • Apply
  • Who We Are
  • Our Team
  • Careers
  • Company Blog
  • FAQ
© Star Events 2019 All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn