For most of us, planning a wedding is fairly new territory, so it's not surprising to hear that sometimes couples get a little stumped on the questions to ask their suppliers - so I've compiled a list of our most commonly asked questions, and the one's you need to ask your wedding musicians before you book, or at least during your planning process!
1) Does your wedding venue allow live music?
Some venues have very strict regulations on whether you can have amplified music, which means any musicians you book may not be allowed to play through a PA system, and instead have to play acoustically. This would work for a quartet, or similar, but wouldn't work so well for a live singer or guitarist to backing tracks. This question is a MUST ask with your venue before you book your musicians.
2) Do you have a set repertoire, or can you learn additional material?
This is important to know especially if you have some not so well known songs that you'd like your musicians to play, so knowing if they are comfortable learning new material is key - most musicians will have a set list you can choose from, and then either an additional amount of songs they can learn, or a charge per additional song.
We have a wide range of around 300 songs that you can choose from, and an additional 3 songs is included in our packages.
3) How much time do you need to set up and move between areas of the venue?
If you are needing your musicians to work around different areas of the venue, you will need to check how portable they are, and how much time they need in between sections of the day. This will help you to plan your timings, and to plan when you would like your musicians to play. For example if your musicians need a 30 minute window to move from area of the venue to the next, you might ask them to play for your ceremony and wedding breakfast, or your reception and room turnaround, and not in back to back sections of the day.
Depending on the equipment we bring, we can turn our set up around in as little as 10 minutes as a duo!
4) Do you have any set break time requirements?
Most musicians will need some form of break in between sets, we all have human needs, so even just for a quick toilet break! For singers to stay healthy and at their best throughout the day, some regular short breaks are usually required, especially if you are booking a full day package. Most singers will happily do a full ceremony and reception set, with a short break somewhere in between this, and then into a wedding breakfast or room turnaround set - but if you offer a food break you'll be their best friend! Just check what break requirements your musicians have, as this will differ from person to person
We usually require a food break if the booking is over 4 hours in total, and will often keep our breaks short and sweet during the drinks reception to ensure the music continues throughout as much as possible!
5) Can you work to a sound limiter?
This is more applicable to evening parties, but some reception areas do have this in place as well, so it's worth checking with your musicians if they are able to work to a sound limiter, and what measures they have in place to monitor this.
Our digital mixing desk allows us to work to exact decibel levels, so there is no danger of us accidentally tipping the sound scales over!
6) How soon do we need to decide our wedding music?
For key moments of the day, and for any handpicked songs, most musicians would like a good chunk of notice in order to ensure the track is fully prepared and learnt in plenty of time. Depending on the track, they also may need to create something bespoke for you, so this also needs to be considered. Check your musicians cut off time for song choices to be in, and for their cut off time for changes to be made.
We would usually require a minimum of 8 weeks for song choices to be submitted, and after this time ideally no changes to be made, however we will be flexible with you! Our cut off time for any bespoke tracks to be sourced is 8 weeks, to ensure there is enough time for this to be created and learnt.
7) How many power sockets do your musicians need?
This is worth an ask, as depending on their set up, some musicians will need at least 2 wall sockets, possibly 4 wall sockets, close by to where they are performing. This might also dictate where your musicians can play during your day, as if there isn't ample power this might restrict where you can have your musicians.
We generally need x2 wall sockets for our acoustic duo set up. We do have a battery powered PA system, but this is never a guarantee so should not be relied upon.
8) What space to do you need to load your equipment in and set up?
Depending on the amount of equipment your musicians have, they may need a clear load in space, and may not be able to go up to different floors of your venue if there is no lift access. Always check the set up space, and if there are any stairs, or narrow doorways, as again this may impact how your musicians get in and out of your venue.
We prefer to load in using our heavy duty trolley system to save our aging backs, and we also prefer a lift if we have to travel upstairs in a venue.
9) Do you allow speeches or basic announcements through your PA system?
This is something to ask if your venue doesn't have a PA system or microphones, especially for speeches. Some musicians will allow this, but it depends on their set up, and whether they have to move their equipment elsewhere in order to set up for another section of the day.
If we are booked to play over your wedding breakfast, and are not required to move our equipment to play for your room turnaround, then we will be able to provide a wired microphone for your speeches. This will mean your guests will need to do their speeches near our PA system. Wireless microphones won't be available for your guests to use.
10) Can we upgrade our package with you once we've booked?
Sometimes when booking musicians, you might be unsure exactly which package you'd like, so you might find yourself wanting to add on to your original booking. Some musicians may book evening parties on the same day as a ceremony and drinks package, so it's worth checking from the outset if this is possible.
90% of the time we will only book one wedding in the day, so there is a high chance if you want to book us for longer, we will be available. There are occasions where we do take on other work after a wedding, so please do check with us first.
Those are your most commonly asked questions answered, but if there's a question I've missed, please drop me an email and I'll come back to you with an answer!
Comments