Wednesday, February 29, 2012

You Went to the Website...Now What?


So, you have been asking your friends and family about which band you should pick.
  • You have gone to the internet and shopped pages 1,2,3, and 4 on Google. 
  • You have gone to each band’s website and saw the pics, read the bios, and listened to the sound clips. 
  • After all this, you have created a list of about 5-10 bands...

What next???
All I can say is, “The proof is in the pudding!” Have a few date nights with your fiancĂ© and go see these bands play live (FIRST - be sure to check out www.brandyband.com for our next public performance). Most bands have a Public Appearance/Club Dates schedule right on their website.

The best time of year is the off season (November through March)...This is the time when bands fill their schedule with club gigs to give brides, customers, clients, and the general public a chance to go see them in action. There are still public performances that occur throughout the season as well, but usually much less. Also, many times, you can make arrangements to come see them perform at a wedding. This is not the most convenient option, as they will need to ask the bride/groom for permission, and you will need to observe from a distance. Be mindful that this is someone else’s most important day, dress appropriate (as if you are a guest at the wedding) and stay near the back of the room...And, please...keep away from the buffet table!!! This, most likely, will not be a good time to talk to the band leader, as they need to focus on the gig.


At the club
Be forewarned – When a band is playing a club gig, it is usually a bit different than what their performance will be like at your wedding. They are probably playing different songs, dressed differently, and sometimes they even have different equipment or instruments, but you can still tell if these guys are good.

A couple of things you want to be looking for and should keep in mind:
  • Are they professional? You can just take a look at them and tell that...What does the stage look like? Aside from wires everywhere, do they look well organized? Shiny equipment is not necessarily what you are looking for!!! As a musician, trust me, the best sounding stuff is the banged up guitar, worn down bass, and tarnished trumpet...That just means these guys are active! 
  • Keep in mind, at a club, the band is likely playing/practicing new tunes, tweaking set lists and trying out new equipment etc... So, this is not the finished product that you will see at your wedding, but you can get a real good feel for the band. 
  • This is an opportunity for you to meet one on one with the band leader and other members (during breaks between sets). What do you think? Do you feel comfortable with them? The band leader is the person you need to focus on, because this is the person who will be your partner.
  • Don't blame the band for blown fuses!!! Every club, function hall, and venue has it's own personality...Just like at home, if you plug the coffee pot into the same outlet as the microwave, you'll be sitting in a dark kitchen! Lighting systems, amps, PAs...These things take some serious power. 
So, come on down! Have a date night with your fiance, practice your dance moves, and have some fun!!! This is truly one of the best parts of planning your wedding.

Thanks!
Steve

Give us a call anytime and we can talk about availability and I can help answer any questions you might have.

Give me a call at 978.453.3337 or visit our website at www.brandyband.com!


Brandy is a high energy band that has been recognized throughout New England as one of the premier Boston Wedding Bands and has recently received The Wedding Wire 'Bride's Choice Award' for 2010 and 2011.

We have been a mainstay on the New England wedding band and music scene and have performed for numerous celebrities, charities, and dignitaries (even Presidential hopefuls). We still have a few dates available throughout the summer, and we are able to travel throughout New England including:

  • Massachusetts (Boston, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and out to the Berkshires)
  • Rhode Island (Newport, Providence, South County)
  • Connecticut
  • New Hampshire
  • Maine
  • Vermont

Friday, February 17, 2012

The Secret to a Reception they'll NEVER Forget!

Think about all the weddings you have been to. The ones that stand out in your mind are obviously the ones you had the most fun at. Correct?

If you really think about why one was particularly more memorable than another, it probably wasn’t because the food was so terrific (although, that certainly helps), and it probably wasn’t because the venue had the most beautiful spot for photos (that matters to the bride/groom). The reason guests will remember your wedding so fondly is simply because they had so much fun. The reason they have so much fun is because the whole party danced their tails off!

The secret to getting your guests out there on the dance floor, and most importantly, KEEPING your guests out on the dance floor lies within the partnership developed between the bride and the band. Sorry groom...You’re a great guy, and we all love you, but honestly, what it all boils down to is:

 A great band:
  • A great band that can play a wide range of music from today’s top 40 all the way back to the days when Swing was king.
  • A band leader/MC that can keep your night moving and deliver impeccable announcements, introductions, and has the experience to keep the show moving regardless of incident. I’ve seen everything from fire to flood and as they say, “The show must go on!”
  • A band that can “read the crowd” and make on-the-spot decisions to change songs and set lists to cater to YOUR crowd. Sometimes it’s Lady Gaga that gets them going and sometimes its Lynyrd Skynyrd...It’s the band’s job to figure that out!
A great bride!
  • The bride is the leader of the pack and truly the belle of the ball. All eyes are on the bride from the walk down the aisle to the last dance! It’s up to the bride to set the tone for her day.
  • The bride needs the band to sound great and generate excitement and the band needs the bride to serve as the centerpiece of the dance floor.
So what’s the secret? STAY ON THE DANCE FLOOR...ALL NIGHT LONG!!!

I have literally played thousands of weddings (no joke – thousands)...and without fail and without question, the single most important factor for a fun, swinging, crazy night lies squarely on the shoulders of the bride!

So get out there, dance your tail off, and have more fun than anyone else!!!


Thanks!
Steve

Give us a call anytime and we can talk about availability and I can help answer any questions you might have.

Give me a call at 978.453.3337 or visit our website at www.brandyband.com!


Brandy is a high energy band that has been recognized throughout New England as one of the premier Boston Wedding Bands and has recently received The Wedding Wire 'Bride's Choice Award' for 2010 and 2011.

We have been a mainstay on the New England wedding band and music scene and have performed for numerous celebrities, charities, and dignitaries (even Presidential hopefuls). We still have a few dates available throughout the summer, and we are able to travel throughout New England including:
  • Massachusetts (Boston, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and out to the Berkshires)
  • Rhode Island (Newport, Providence, South County)
  • Connecticut
  • New Hampshire
  • Maine
  • Vermont