If you are recently engaged and planning your wedding, you likely have a lot going on right now! One of the most important things to do is to book the ideal wedding venue. You will be spending a lot of time visiting potential venues and imagining your big day taking place there.
Getting your live wedding entertainment and music correct can make or break your wedding day, so it’s important to know what restrictions or problems may occur when booking a band for your chosen venue. In this feature, Ian Hardy of Music8 reveals the 5 most important questions that you will need to ask your venue BEFORE you hire a band or a singer for your special day.
1. Can we hire a live band or singer to perform at the venue?
This is the first question you should ask your venue as live music will be an integral part of your big day. They may only allow a solo performer, so always check what your options are first. If you like so many couples love their music, and the venue doesn’t allow it then it, will be time to move on and check out the next venue. Also, check if they have a PA system in place and what the lighting is like. Most bands will supply additional lighting if the venue has none in situ.
2. Do you have a sound limiter in place?
Unfortunately, sound limiters are becoming more common at venues across the UK. Noise restrictions can exist at a venue for many reasons. The most common is the location of the venue and neighbouring residents.
A sound limiter will be set at a certain decibel (db), and when that level is reached, the limiter will cut off the supply to the band, which isn’t ideal. So always check what level it is set at before booking a band. The chart below will give you an idea of noise levels.
With some bands, they can swap their drum kit for an electric drum, which helps reduce the noise level. If it is set below 90 db, then an acoustic act would be the best choice. When you have all the information you need, you can then ask your band or singer if they have already played at a venue with the same level of restriction in place.
3. How much space is available for a band?
If you are considering a live band for your wedding entertainment it is a good idea to ask about the performance area for the band. If the venue only has a small stage area you can rule out a 7-piece soul and funk band!
It is beneficial to get a good idea of the overall room size. Check out where the band would be performing and the stage size. Also see if the size of the dance floor is big enough and the whole vibe of the room is right.
4. Can you recommend a band or singer?
You may already have an idea of a wedding band or artist you would like for your day. But if not and you are looking for a band to rock your wedding day, then it is a good idea to ask the venue for recommendations. They will have a list of suppliers like music agencies, bands, singers and musicians that have played there in the past. Take your time to check out their videos, repertoires and previous reviews from brides and grooms. Other helpful sources for live music are wedding directories and blogs like this.
5. Is there a curfew at the venue?
This is something you will need to know for sure, as you won’t want to find out on the night that the music has to stop at 11pm and the party is still in full flow. Most venues will have a cut off time for the music to finish, and the band will also need to know this in advance.
Professional bands and wedding singers will work to the times that your venue has in place and arrange their live sets accordingly. The usual performance times are 2 x 60-minute sets in the evening but often can be 3 x 40 minutes.
Our thanks to Music8 for these top tips! Book a singer or wedding band for your special day now at www.music8agency.co.uk.