Weddings

[elom]

My band has been booked to play a wedding - our first. The couple know the kind of stuff we play and said that they didn't want a typical wedding band. I'll be meeting them at our next gig anyway to discuss exactly what they want anyway but I thought I'd ask here for any tips.

So what does a pub band need to know before they play a wedding? Any advice gratefully received.

Also, they've asked if we could provide lighting. I said we'd see what we could do and get back to them but I haven't really got a clue. Hire or purchase? What are the options and the costs? I've done a bit of net searching without much success.

Thanks

elom

[OldGit]

[quote name='elom' post='56924' date='Sep 7 2007, 12:49 PM']My band has been booked to play a wedding - our first. The couple know the kind of stuff we play and said that they didn't want a typical wedding band. I'll be meeting them at our next gig anyway to discuss exactly what they want anyway but I thought I'd ask here for any tips.

So what does a pub band need to know before they play a wedding? Any advice gratefully received.

Also, they've asked if we could provide lighting. I said we'd see what we could do and get back to them but I haven't really got a clue. Hire or purchase? What are the options and the costs? I've done a bit of net searching without much success.

Thanks

elom[/quote]

Wedding playing is a skill of it's own. Lots to it. Most of it has nothing to do with whats on your set list. However... What's in your set list now?

Lighting - not a big deal
For years we just had 6 little planks (yup real planks) about 14 inches long with angled bulb holders screwed to them with simple coloured spots and long mains leads. You position two behind the band pointing up the wall, two pointing in from the sides and then two pointing at the lead singer stuck on top of the PA tops.
If you make another pair point them at the kit .. all that chrome reflects really nicely.

Simple but effective mods included screw in big eyelets and a bit of string so that, if needed, you can hang them up somewhere to get a better angle on the singer's face (essential) and silver foil baking cups. You push the bulbs through these so that the white light that comes out of the back of the spot bulbs gets reflected back. That gives a much better effect than loads of white light spilling out.
We have all our lights on one foot controlled switch so we can turn them on when we take to the stage and turn them all off between last number and encore (amazingly effective - people are trained to roar "more!" when the band stops and the stage lights go out and "Yeah!" when the lights go back on again .. Thanks, Mr Pavlov )

Oh and pack the bulbs in a well padded cardboard box between gigs 'cos they break. Buy a couple of spares
Don't use any green lamps they make people look horrible Red blue and yellow work fine.

These simple lights will transform your look on stage.
Total cost about 25 quid and some time...
Bits inc bulbs from B&Q

Or Maplins sell simple lighting kits with flashing bits, stands and all that malarkey

Edited September 7, 2007 by OldGit

[beerdragon]

A Wedding set list is make or break i think, i know a local band who were are asked to leave half way through their set because they just did'nt go down at all. but you say they are'nt a typical couple so maybe there guests are'nt either, tough one. A wedding band has to have a pretty big set list to cover any eventuality from Motown to pop ballads to rocknroll, i suppose her'e a typical wedding set list by a band i know.

Commodores
Three Times a Lady

Rod Stewart/
Van Morrison
Have I Told You Lately
Moondance

Lonestar Amazed
Gareth Gates etc
Unchained Melody

Harry Connick Jnr
It Had To Be You

Beatles
Something
Till There Was You

Enrique Iglesias Hero
Wet Wet Wet
Love Is All Around

Elvis Presley The Wonder of You
Jamie Cullom Beyond the Sea
Frank Sinatra Come Fly with Me
Bryan Adams Heaven
Bread Make It With You
Westlife Flying Without Wings
Paul Weller
You Do Something To Me

Ronan Keating
When You Say Nothing At All

Bee Gees/Boyzone
Words

Savage Garden
Truly, Madly, Deeply

Robbie Williams
She's The One

Percy Sledge When a Man Loves a Woman
Eric Clapton Wonderful Tonight
Lou Reed Perfect Day
Sting Fields of Gold
Dr Hook
A Little Bit More

Eagles Best of My Love
Elton John Your Song

[johnm]

last couple I did
[attachment=2149:091206.doc]
[attachment=2150:Wedding.doc]

[OldGit]

[quote name='johnm' post='57001' date='Sep 7 2007, 02:40 PM']last couple I did
[attachment=2149:091206.doc]
[attachment=2150:Wedding.doc][/quote]


Looks good.. is that your lighting settings in the code?

Main difference between a wedding and a pub is that the audience have not chosen to see you - yes, OK the couple and 20 of their friends may love you and think you are fabulous and the sun shines out of your b'ass but ... It is not an ego trip for you, you are working towards making the day the best it can possibly be for that couple.
It's a racing certainty that over 50% of the audience are not going to like 50% of the stuff you play and wish they'd booked a nice disco to play Dancing Queen and all the hits they love and the godawful Grease Megamix ...

The room will also be full of family members from new born es to great granny so you have to be very sensitive to the fact that you have been thrust upon these poor people and they are not a crap audience if they don't show their love for you at all times.

You must:
- Dress appropriately. Torn jeans and t shirts may look cool for a pub band but smart (outlandish) casual or the whole band in black trousers and white tops will score many more points and show some respect for the occasion.
- turn up on time, but be prepared to sit in the car park for an extra hour cos the timing's gone astray (almost always!)
- Setup, sound check then shut up (play CD's through the PA) No one will want to hear you learn a tune at the sound check.
- play the exact amount of time they want you to. if you have 3x45 planned and they want 1x 30 and 2 x 45 that's what you do. If they want 20 mins more you play it, If they want you to break for the food midway through your set you do it. That's why wedding sets are dynamic and have loads of spare tunes. If you run out, just play your best stuff again (we've had a request for this one again, we don't usually do it twice but we like to please..." Better that than to fill with a long slow boring blue or some unrehearsed number.
- Play a professional show. Plan it, rehearse it and make it flow nicely but be flexible and if they call for Moondance play it.
- Play Mustang Sally (it's the Law)

You must not
- Moan about starting late
- Moan about them not rushing to the dance floor
- Spit
- Swear on stage
- Smoke on stage
- drink too much
- behave as guests
- be overtly sexual
- Pull the married or engaged or dating women.
- wind up the drunks
- tell dodgy jokes
- make a lot of noise in your break
- drink too much
- Noodle between tunes

Under absolutely no circumstances must you play too loud. If you do that you will spoil the poor couples wedding reception.. Preempt the problem by sound checking properly and telling whoever is in control - groom, bride or best man - that they must tell you to turn down if you are too loud. Then do it.

Remember that , if only for ego and pecuniary reasons, you really would like their mates to book you for their weddings too so you are out to give the audience a really good time. It's their show not yours...


You see why they pay better than pub gigs?

Edited September 7, 2007 by OldGit

[Phaedrus]

Hire the lights unless you're thinking of buying them anyway.

DO learn some songs that suit weddings - plent advised already. Don't go in with the attitude, "well they know what we play, so that's what we'll play".

We did that at a golf club gig recently. Spinal Tap event. One woman in her 60's told me that we were playing for ourselves. If we'd got even 5 or 6 "wedding" songs down, they'd have loved us.

Learn fron my mistakes. I wish I could.

Mark

[bass_ferret]

[quote name='beerdragon' post='56990' date='Sep 7 2007, 02:28 PM']A Wedding set list is make or break i think, i know a local band who were are asked to leave half way through their set because they just did'nt go down at all. but you say they are'nt a typical couple so maybe there guests are'nt either, tough one. A wedding band has to have a pretty big set list to cover any eventuality from Motown to pop ballads to rocknroll, i suppose her'e a typical wedding set list by a band i know.[/quote]
Pass the bucket

[P-T-P]

Some very good advice from others which I can only agree with.

Most important thing I think anyone has said is that while the B&G may know what you are like and may not want a typical wedding band but it is a virtual certainty that most of the people there will enjoy themselves far more if they get something akin to a typical wedding band. We charge a lot more for a wedding than we do for a club gig but we can do it because we are versatile. We may have a set in mind when we start off, but once things are underway everything can change.

With regards lights, you may need some lighting for the band, but more importantly you'll need some flashing colours on the dancefloor. Remember the people aren't there to watch you, they are there to celebrate.

[bass_ferret]

Weddings require a level of tact and diplomacy that the Ferrets lack so we dont usually do them unless someone begs. It is too much like work but as others have said - it pays well.

It is usual to start with a slow dance for the bride and groom - make sure you have one that is NOT about breaking up!

Lights can be a real asset to pub bands cos most dont have them and most pubs dont have any either. The bands with lights will always be perceived to be better. There was a good thread about lights on Bassworld and I think it got copied over but you may have to look hard to find it unless it was pinned.

[warwickhunt]

I personally 'kin hate Wedding Does!

As has been highlighted earlier you have a captive audience and no matter that the B & G and a dozen friends worship your musicianship the rest of the wedding party are trapped in a room with a bloody noisy band playing a racket (their view not mine). However, that said we all do them... unless the prospective customer contacts me rather than someone else in my band; in which case we're booked that weekend, "but I haven't told you the date yet"... yeh but we're booked permanently from now till Beelzebub gets a snowball in the kisser.

Not helpful to you what-so-ever, so I shall include something that hasn't been covered by the others.

Ensure you personally go along and see the actual room you will be playing in. You may not want to be too loud that you upset the OAPs but there's nothing worse than being told by the venue organiser/groom/bride/best man that you're PA is plenty big enough (WTF do they know) for the room and when you turn up you find you're playing an aircraft hanger with a 300w vocal rig. It will destroy your Kudos quicker than asking for a pork pie at a bar-mitzvar.

Enjoy

[MuddBass]

Lights are a must but don't go overboard with your expense unless you're planning on doing more function gigs.

Make sure you do run all lights with a simple trip RCD extension for safety reasons & ensure no young curious fingers can touch the lights near the dance floor - or you'll end up in court!!!!

On a less (or more) serious note - don't do this:

At a friend of our singers wedding we played. The bride & grooms introduction to the dance floor was announced by our singer - all was ok until he introduced the groom as the brides EX-HUSBAND - NOT THE CURRENT ONE!!!!! - Oh, he could have died that night - so so so not the thing to do!!!!!

[OldGit]

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='57084' date='Sep 7 2007, 04:46 PM']Ensure you personally go along and see the actual room you will be playing in. You may not want to be too loud that you upset the OAPs but there's nothing worse than being told by the venue organiser/groom/bride/best man that you're PA is plenty big enough (WTF do they know) for the room and when you turn up you find you're playing an aircraft hanger with a 300w vocal rig. It will destroy your Kudos quicker than asking for a pork pie at a bar-mitzvar.
Enjoy [/quote]

Good point.
We do 50% weddings but we are a barn dance band, sure we are loud for a barn dance band but we are not a rock band until the last 15 minutes so we don't need masses of oomph on all night.
So our rule of thumb for PA is this:
I ask the fire limit for the room. Ou 300 watt FOH, 200 watt Monitors rig is fine for up to 175 (we are not loud) most weddings are not that big.

A 300 capacity room with 50 people in it is another no no - disaster just wating to happen no matter how good you are.
actually a 50 guest wedding is damn hard whatever size of the room ...

Don't play the first dance for the bride and groom, let them bring a CD track to dance to and play it on your CD player through the PA - yes you'll need one of those unless there's a disco.
Then get on stage just before, say hello, turn the "before" CD music off and invite everyone up to take pics of the B&G dancing their first dance.
If they have not worked out a spiffing routine to the first dance (google "thriller wedding dance" for an example) they be doing that first dance shuffle and feeling exposed and embarrased so half way through you invite the guests to join them on the dance floor "hey don't let them dance all along, Everybody join in, lets dance for Sharon and Shane!"
Then, magically, you have a full dance floor for your first number which you go straigt into as their special CD track fades ... sneaky eh?

OG

[spike]

Don't raid the buffet until the guests have had a chance

[Pbassred]

This was our list. Different kind of band with a 2 female singers.

Set 1
Signed Sealed Delivered
Knock on Wood
Le Freak
Street Life
You to me are everthing
Where Did Our Love Go
Upside down
Band of Gold
Forget me Nots
Rock With You

Set 2
If I Can't Have You
Love Come Down
I say a little prayer
Blame it on the Boogie
Play that funky music white boy
Ain't Nobody
Car Wash
Boogie Oogie Oogie
Disco Inferno
Ring My Bell

Set 3
Good Times *
Lady Marmalade
Use it Up Wear it Out
Wishing on a Star
The look of love
Superstition
I wish
It's Raining Men
We Are Family
Young Hearts Run Free
I Will Survive *
Waterloo


On the lights issue. I would hire. I bought a 3.5m light pole for the first gig (for spots), and a projector for the second. I got no thanks from the band but It really sparkled up the show - then the band split and I'm stuck with it.

What is your set list now?

Edited September 7, 2007 by Pbassred

[redroque]

[quote name='spike' post='57184' date='Sep 7 2007, 08:21 PM']Don't raid the buffet until the guests have had a chance[/quote]
this should read don't get caught raiding the buffet........etc!

I've done a lot of weddings this year - with both bands - proper function and proper rock! The rock band was booked by people who know us, know the material and were all happy and friendly. Did a couple of do's that were booked via recommendation (function band)- all very well but you are treated as less important than the catering staff and a bit more annoying! It's why we charge large!
Lots off good advice above - esp. the bit that most people are not there to see you so don't overdo the power. We play to the dance floor, fire the speakers in a bit and ignore those at the back!
Mustang Sally, as stated above - the law. For fun, change the key by a semitone either way just to upset the singer. It generally takes a line for them to figure and then it's too late! Sorry, sounds a bit unfair, but then function band leader (guitarist)gives us a count in to a song while telling us 'try this one with a bit of swing', or 'think this will sound better in Bb'.
max

[andyonbass]

Be prepared for some real challenges with regard to getting a decent sound. With the trend for holding weddings in ever more outlandish venues, most of which were built without a second thought to accoustics, you're gonna need to be well clued up on tweaking your PA/backline. We've got one in a castle tonight and I know its gonna be a b*gger

[chris_b]

These posts keep calling them an audience. They are not! They are wedding guests and generally (99.9% of the time) they do not want a loud, intrusive racket. Most weddings seem want aural wallpaper ending up with a mad thrash for the last 3 numbers.

I did a wedding once where the brides dad saw us at a gig, thought we were great and booked us. Everyone else was horrified when a full bore blues band struck up after the speeches. We got lots of dosh, played to an empty room and we did get to the buffet before the guests. They should have been quicker.

These gigs are great if you are sympathetic to what is needed and flexible. Pbassred's set list looks about right for most ages and tastes at a wedding gig.

[lee4]

If You play in a punk or heavy rock band and the happy couple like that,fine,but you have to make certain sacrifices to keep all the guests happy.
I've played at a few weddings,and we have always told those who book us that we play what we play but are willing to take on board suggestions/requests if the are given in good time.
As we play some ska,Stax-Volt RnB,disco and old school rock we seem to cover all bases,but do'nt be afraid to try or suggest something different.
So far we have been well recieved,but remember that you will never please all the guests all of the time.
Ask the happy couple what they want you to wear.You may all have to scour the charity shops for cheap suits to sweat in!
Tell them that as a band you ca'nt play quieter than the drummer!
We had two complaints at a soundcheck for a wedding by local residents,so always be diplomatic too.
If you enjoy the songs you play it will show,and make the wedding guests happier too.

[terryblyth]

This is quite an interesting thread - I earn about 70% of my income doing this sort of gig (and I MD the band) so here's my 2p.

1. Have stacks of material (at least 60 songs), covering all bases. Then if you must plan a set, try to keep genres together rather than randomly picking songs.
2. Your competition is a DJ. They cue records up, and segue them - you need to do this live. 7 seconds delay kills a dance floor (I've timed it!)
3. Don't work off a set. Have your guy in charge 'call' the songs, and make sure he can read a dancefloor. If it's pumping out there, and your next song is Angels or somesuch, you'll kill it and have to work very hard to get them back.
4. Get your contracts etc sorted out in advance, and make sure the clients have a list of what you need that they sign.
5. Interesting what OG said about CDs for first dances. We always play them live as it tends to give the client the feeling that they've got bags of value for money. But insist on a reasonable amount of warning on what it is!
6. Make sure you've got your business cards/brochures/DVDs with you as referrals are almost always preferable to agencies.
7. Common sense really, but turn up in plenty of time so you're never rushing and getting stressed.
8. Get paid BEFORE the gig!
9. Do some shopping, and get matching outfits. It gives a much better impression.
10. Play Mustang Sally, but not in 9/8, because people fall over.

[OldGit]

[quote name='terryblyth' post='57951' date='Sep 9 2007, 11:02 PM']5. Interesting what OG said about CDs for first dances. We always play them live as it tends to give the client the feeling that they've got bags of value for money. But insist on a reasonable amount of warning on what it is![/quote]

We do it because we can't do it justice - my band that plays weddings is not a covers band as such and so learning Lady In Red is a bridge (and several verses) too far for us.
Also I've heard bands absolutely massecre a couple's really important special tune and they don't want that at their wedding reception.
We always try to remember tha this is a very important day for them, not just this weekend's gig.
You only get married a few times in life so it is nice if as much as possible goes right and Roberta Flack does "The first time ever I saw your face" a hell of a lot better than I'll ever do it. (An I love listening to the bowed bass on that through our PA)

However if you do a terrible version of their tune they will hate you on the nigt but probably laff about it for many a year afterwards ..
I'd not risk it 'cos I want referrals ....

[dub_junkie]

do the holiday park season for practice - 2 x 45 minute sets,which is half that of a wedding set and the crowd is the same mix of age groups as yer average wedding

and from my own experience you need about 80/90 songs in your repertoire to do a 40/50 song wedding set list

DJ

[paul, the]

[quote name='Pbassred' post='57208' date='Sep 7 2007, 09:29 PM']This was our list. Different kind of band with a 2 female singers.

Set 1
Signed Sealed Delivered
Knock on Wood
Le Freak
Street Life
You to me are everthing
Where Did Our Love Go
Upside down
Band of Gold
Forget me Nots
Rock With You

Set 2
If I Can't Have You
Love Come Down
I say a little prayer
Blame it on the Boogie
Play that funky music white boy
Ain't Nobody
Car Wash
Boogie Oogie Oogie
Disco Inferno
Ring My Bell

Set 3
Good Times *
Lady Marmalade
Use it Up Wear it Out
Wishing on a Star
The look of love
Superstition
I wish
It's Raining Men
We Are Family
Young Hearts Run Free
I Will Survive *
Waterloo
On the lights issue. I would hire. I bought a 3.5m light pole for the first gig (for spots), and a projector for the second. I got no thanks from the band but It really sparkled up the show - then the band split and I'm stuck with it.

What is your set list now?[/quote]

Dear Lord. I'm 18 and male and that's probably my ideal realistic set list as a guest at a wedding. Bar waterloo.

"It's raining men! Hallelujah!

[stingrayfan]

Dress smartly. Don't need to go wild. But no jeans, it's not the pub.

[stingrayfan]

Just had a look at your website and the band looks good. Dont change too much, you don't need to go cheesy like some of the suggestions above. They've booked you because they want some better music than "Once, Twice, Three Times a Lady". Groan. I'd maybe just learn 4 or 5 older songs that will appeal to the parents and slot them into the set. Suggest: Town Called Malice, 20th Century Boy, something 60s (My Generation, Beatles etc) something 80s, and I hate to say it, Brown Eyed Girl. People love that song when they're p1ss3d. Good luck, hope it goes well.

[OldGit]

[quote name='paul, the' post='57993' date='Sep 10 2007, 05:22 AM']Dear Lord. I'm 18 and male and that's probably my ideal realistic set list as a guest at a wedding. Bar waterloo.

"It's raining men! Hallelujah![/quote]

Ha ha yeah
I heard a wedding Dj on the radio once he said if the ladies was busy and queuing and his girlfriend needed to go he just played Dancing Queen and the queue would all head for the dance floor ...

Also there's a whole "website of the day" discussion about the best Wedding Disco tracks here
[url="http://www.websiteoftheday.info/2004/11/name_artist_chi.html"]http://www.websiteoftheday.info/2004/11/name_artist_chi.html[/url]
It's not a live band set list as such but if you do this stuff it's a good list.