If we’ve said it once, we’ll say it again – for us a wedding just isn’t complete with an element of
live entertainment
.Whether it be a string quartet playing during the drinks reception, a pianist performing during the wedding breakfast or a band encouraging guests to get on to (and never leave) the dance floor at the evening do, professional musicians not only help to set the desired ambience and tone, but they also make a big day much more memorable.
As such, today on the blog we’re quizzing Brides Up North Sponsor and online entertainment agency Bandtube, on what type of music options are available to wedding couples and how these performers can enhance the big day.
Founder of the company and lead singer of band The RUSH, Gavin Jones, also explains how brides and grooms can book reliable and hugely talented acts at the simple click of a button. Take it away Gavin…
Tell us about Bandtube and the services it offers to wedding couples?
gavin says:
Bandtube was set up in January 2016, though I have been in this industry for 15 years, and owned a music agency for weddings for ten of those years, previously whilst also singing in my band The RUSH.In some ways, it’s similar to a lot of agencies out there, you are looking for top quality entertainment for your wedding, you come to me, and I have all the contacts to find the perfect act(s) for your big day. The way I’ve tried to differentiate with this business is by embracing video. Video is an amazing way for people to communicate online nowadays, and many agencies show band videos, but quite often they are buried on a page behind pictures and other information. On Bandtube, video takes centre stage, it’s the first thing you see, and I only include acts who have quality videos, this increases the couple’s chances of making a more informed decision.
The other thing I wanted was ease of use, so with one click, you have a page of wedding bands and their videos all on the same page, and it’s so easy! I’m very conscious that I try to make the wedding planning process, from the entertainment point of view easy, fun and stress-free. It’s one of the sexy bits of a wedding! As far as I’m aware, there is no other website that you can view band video’s side-by-side making it easier to compare and contrast their merits before making a decision, and when you want to find out more, then you go into their full profile page. Simple!
What types of bands do you have listed?
The website is still growing, it will never be finished because there will always be new acts to upload! Regardless of what is on the website, I still have hundreds of contacts from my years of experience, so I can actually supply any style of entertainment, from mainstream general cover acts, soul, pop etc, to much more quirky niche acts, like reggae or steel drums.
Of course I also have solo acts, string quartets and the like, so pretty much a one-stop-shop. I have also just agreed deals with two companies who I will work together closely with for other acts, one for DJs ran by a multi-award winning DJ, and one for vintage and retro acts. These guys know their market so well, so I think a wedding couple can benefit from their experience and expertise through Bandtube.
How can live music help to enhance a wedding day and why would you encourage couples to have live music at their weddings?
Live music is so sexy! When done well, it can really take a wedding from being a good one, to a great one. It can make a wedding memorable, and have your guests talking about it for months, or even years afterwards. That’s one of the best compliments I get from couples. It’s nice to hear, and it shows that you have had an impact, which of course is what they paid you to do!
It’s important to remember that it’s not just about the evening music, although that is the main entertainment element of a wedding, having the right music throughout the day can really add that something special. I recently sang at a ceremony just with our guitarist, the bride chose a Foo Fighters song and we did our own acoustic version for her. She walked down the aisle in floods of happy tears, and she told me later that it was the song that had really got her emotions going! I have to admit, that is the sort of thing that gets the hairs on the back of the neck standing up and it’s things like that that make me feel really fortunate to be in a position to work in this industry.
What are the benefits of couples arranging their wedding entertainment through Bandtube?
There are a few:
- The website makes the search for a great act easier and quicker. You could be trawling through pages and pages of Google searches, but at Bandtube there are great acts, all in one place.
- Dealing with an agency is peace of mind, if anything goes wrong, which to be honest is rare, but should it go wrong, the agency has the infrastructure to solve any problems for you.
- Bandtube only uses professionals, so it is extremely unlikely that a band will not turn up, or pull out of a wedding. You can probably book a band of part-timers locally for £150, but if the drummer gets ill, then what happens? Professional bands usually have deps in each position so if one is unavailable, another steps in. I have had so many brides over the years, calling me two weeks before a wedding saying that their band has split up or pulled out, it doesn’t happen with professional bands, they have safeguards in place for these circumstances.
- Contracts are so important, I have a brilliant contract system which is all online, signed by the couple and by the act, it’s legally binding on both sides, so again you have that peace of mind that things are going to run smoothly.
- I have years of experience in doing this, and through singing, I have easily performed at over 1,000 weddings, so I’ve seen all types of weddings and I’ve been to most wedding venues in the North West, so I can help and give advice were required.
- I think because first and foremost I’m a singer, I also look at things through the eyes of the acts, and I try to make their life easy and stress free, which in turn I think makes them happier at the wedding and in a better frame of mind to do a great job. A lot of agencies lay down rules and guidelines for how an act should behave at a booking, I don’t do any of that, they’re professionals, they’re adults, they should have responsibility enough to do a great job, they don’t need to be told how to do it otherwise I wouldn’t be recommending them.
What sets you apart from other wedding entertainment companies?
I think because it’s a small company, we don’t have targets, there is no massive drive for turnover, so if a couple has a budget of £1,500, I won’t necessarily spend the £1,500 if the right band becomes available for £1,000, and I think that’s important, because wedding budgets can completely spiral. I would also say the video aspect of the website is very important, and that’s what I’ve tried to focus on, because I really believe that searching for a band can be a difficult process, video makes it easier. It is hard to listen to a few MP3s and look at a couple of pictures and decide from one band to another, however in a video you get a sense of the bands personality, and that is something you can relate to, and I think that’s important.
Can a couple book more than one band for different stages of their wedding day?
Of course, you can have anything for any part of the day, like I said the website has a lot on it already, but my brain has even more information! So even if there is something you want that you can’t see on the website yet, chances are, I will have something in mind for you.
Will bands learn a wedding couple’s first dance song to perform live?
Yes they will, the only thing that might make it difficult is if the particular song is not suitable for the singer, or the arrangement of the song is particularly different from what the band instrumentation is, but if the couple are happy with the band playing their own version of a song, then that is possible.
Any suggestions of first dance tracks for those looking for inspiration?
Couples are completely at liberty to choose any song they want really, and most simply choose a song that is special to them. My advice would be that if you are uncertain about a first dance, or don’t particularly have a special song, pick something lively, something uplifting, something that you can dance to and something that can get your guests up dancing as well. It’s a great opportunity to start the night off well, so take it!
Beyond the first dance, can couples pick songs for bands to perform or do they have their own set play lists?
This is down to the band, but in my own band, you can pick off our list or leave it to us to pick. We pick songs as we are performing on the night, so the set is never the same, it is tailored to the crowd, but most bands are different and have a set list they write out and stick to.
What advice would you give to wedding couples when deciding on what musical entertainment to have for their big day?
Firstly, try to book it as early as you feel comfortable in deciding, the best bands, like the best photographers, get booked up sometimes two years in advance, so start looking early to avoid disappointment.
Secondly, use the agency or act and speak to them, use their knowledge, don’t be afraid to admit you are unsure, and ask their advice, this can be any number of issues, timings, set list, first dance anything really, they will only be too happy to help.
Thirdly, when you look at your budget, what is most important, what will you get the best value out of, what will have the biggest impact on the day and assign importance to those choices.
Do bands organise their own equipment/insurance etc?
All professional acts will have Public Liability Insurance, PAT Testing (if required) and their own sound system. There may be a circumstance that a sound system might have to be hired at extra cost for a massive venue, but those situations are rare.
Are travel fees included in the price of booking a band?
The bands we have listed cover all different parts of the UK. The travel fees will be either included in the price quoted as a whole, or mentioned as band fee ‘x’ and travel fee ‘y’.
How can Brides Up North readers get in touch with Bandtube / hear more from the bands?
You can find us many ways! Visit our website www.bandtube.co.uk or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You can also email me at gavin@bandtube.co.uk.
Any exciting news to share?
Although the website and company launched in January, but I am planning a very exciting Bandtube night in Manchester at a top venue where I will be showcasing three or four bands, so watch this space!
