Guest blogger Leigh Peterson is sharing her expertise with us this week. Look for more from her within the next few days.
In the wedding music industry, we hear from brides every day who can’t decide between a band or a DJ. Many times, the bride wants a band while the groom wants a DJ, or vice-versa. We often jokingly ask, “let me guess, the parents want a band and the couple wants a DJ,” and we are usually correct. Opinions vary as much as dresses and cakes, so how to decide?
The price of a wedding DJ versus a band is a big concern for many couples. Most good bands do cost more than a DJ by hundreds to thousands of dollars. The reason for this is that bands can have four to ten members or even more, and each person needs to be paid, whereas a DJ is two people at the most. Food must also be figured into cost. Any vendor staying for the length of the reception should be fed a meal.
With the extra cost of a good band comes more energy. This can be very helpful if you are not sure if your friends and family will jump right out onto the dance floor. There is also an air of elegance that comes with a band. The music is real and pure, and many true music lovers much prefer this to recorded sounds.
If you absolutely cannot decide between a band or a DJ for your wedding reception music, you can have the best of both worlds if you choose a wedding band that has a dedicated sound technician. This way, any song that you really want to hear that the band does not perform can be played by the sound tech while the band takes their breaks throughout the evening. The sound tech can even keep dance music playing while the band breaks down at the end of the night. Or, you can have the band play the beginning of the reception when things are more formal, and have the sound man act as DJ for the remainder of the evening when the dance floor starts to heat up.
About our guest: Leigh Peterson is Communications Manager for Jerry Bruno Productions, a full-service entertainment provider in Cleveland, Ohio.
Photo by bjearwicke
