What makes a wedding memorable? For us a large element comes down to the atmosphere and entertainment. That moment the bride walks down the aisle to a string quartet playing a moving Adele track, sipping on a glass of champagne while an acoustic act sets the scene in a venue’s beautiful grounds, or later on when the band strikes up at the evening reception and you just can’t step off the dancefloor no matter how much your feet hurt.
So to make sure your wedding is one to remember, today we’re quizzing Adam Mezzatesta, the founder of musical entertainment agency Bands for Hire, about the different types of musicians available for couples’ big days and how live music can enhance the celebrations.
Having just expanded into the North of the country, there are plenty of acts on the books to choose from and Adam is even offering Brides Up North readers an exclusive discount for bookings made in the next 30 days. So, listen up…
Tell us about Bands for Hire and the services that it offers to wedding couples?
adam says:
The agency has been going for over five years. Having performed at weddings and events myself for a number of years, I found many of the agencies we were working with weren’t moving with the times, and booking a wedding band via the net had completely taken over. As a web designer and musician myself it seemed like the obvious step forward. We started out with just four or five bands on our books and since then have always made it a priority to keep our standards extremely high. We now represent almost 200 weddings bands, jazz bands and classical acts across the country.We’re pleased to hear that Bands for Hire has recently expanded into the North of England. What was the reason for doing so?
Whereas some agencies are keen to add as many bands as possible, we prefer to only accept bands who we feel are the best out there; that’s meant our roster up North has taken some time to grow but I think it’s been worth the wait. We now offer function bands in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds going right up to North Yorkshire. As our roster up North continues to grow we’ll also be covering Newcastle and eventually Scotland. But one step at a time!
What types of bands do you offer for weddings?
We try to cover a broad range of bands, our most popular are wedding bands that focus on hits from the past six decades, from rock ‘n’ roll and 60s music to Motown, indie, rock and contemporary chart songs. Classical, jazz and swing is very popular for wedding music and we’ve recently extended our world music section to cater for those couples looking for something a little different from the norm.
In your opinion how can live music help to enhance a wedding day?
Live music is just so important at a wedding, there’s nothing like the emotion of a live string quartet as the bride walks down the aisle or the raw energy of a live band at the end of the night. Recorded music is one thing but that’s just not how music was intended to be heard!
What are the plus points for couples arranging their wedding entertainment through Bands for Hire?
We pride ourselves on our high level of organisation and professional service. Organising a wedding is usually a completely new experience for couples and so it’s nice to know there’s a friendly voice at the end of the line to answer any queries and offer peace of mind about the big day.
What type of feedback do you get from wedding couples?
We receive lots of positive feedback about the service, mainly that we keep things simple and organised and are quick to reply to emails. There are a number of reviews on our Facebook page for anyone interested, just visit www.facebook.com/bandsforhireagency/reviews/
Can a couple book more than one band for different stages of their wedding day and do they receive a discount for doing so?
Yes, it’s quite common for couples to book all of their live music through us as it means there’s just one contact for everything which makes things easier for everyone. We’re certainly happy to offer discounts when booking a number of bands at the same time.
How long do bands’ sets usually last and do they provide music between sets?
Bands commonly offer two 60 minute sets with iPod/laptop disco music between sets, we find this is about the right amount of time to cover a whole evening.
Can couples hire a DJ through Bands for Hire?
We have a number of DJs on our roster, as well as wedding DJs we also look after specialist DJs, such as an electro-swing DJ and a female DJ/percussionist. Hiring a DJ is a nice addition if the budget is there, it helps to keep the momentum going between band sets and ensures a full dance floor.
Can couples pick songs for bands to perform or do they have their own set play lists?
From a band’s perspective it’s nice to have some freedom on the set list so we usually request that couples send us about 10-15 of their favourite songs, along with any dislikes. This is usually a good starting point for the band’s set list.
What advice would you give to wedding couples when deciding on what musical entertainment to have for their big day?
If you’re after an unforgettable party my advice would be to spend most of your budget on the evening band and see what’s left for the rest of the day. Many bands offer acoustic sets as an added extra so it’s worth mentioning this in your enquiry, it can often work out much cheaper than hiring a separate band for the drinks reception or meal.
Do bands usually need a lot of space to perform and do they supply all their own equipment?
All of our bands come fully self-contained with PA system and lighting so the quote clients receive is all-inclusive. We usually recommend about a meter width for each musician and at least 2.5-3 meters depth if the band includes a drummer.
Are travel fees included in the price of booking a band?
Yes, all of our quotes include travel expense.
Can you do a discount for Brides Up North readers?
We’ll do our best! Please mention Brides Up North when enquiring and we’ll do a discount on any bookings made up North within the next 30 days.
How can Brides Up North readers get in touch with Bands for Hire/ hear more from the bands?
Head over to www.bandsforhire.net and see what bands take your fancy. To view bands based further North you can click on your area in the right hand column (or at the bottom if on a tablet/mobile).
Anything else to share?
We’re busy bees here in the office so keep your eyes peeled for lots of new and exciting acts coming in 2016!
