How many members are in the band? What instruments? How many of them sing?
How long have they been together as a group, with their current personnel? Watch out for bands that change personnel often. Groups that have just been formed pose the potential for problems if the group breaks up. This isn't to say that established bands don't break up, but over half of all bands formed break up before their first anniversary. The longer they have been together, the more likely they will be to remain together until your wedding date.
Are they always the same members, or do they use substitutes on a regular basis?
Do they have a contract? Does the contract specify the individual members of the band? Are they willing to make additions to the contract to meet any special needs you may have?
How many songs on their songlist? What styles of music do they play? (Are the styles they play the kind of music you want to have)?
If you want a jazz band to play background music for a non-dancing reception, you don't necessarily want to hire a variety band that plays "some" jazz.
Hire a true jazz band.
How much do they charge for an "x" hour reception? Are there any other charges above and beyond the quoted price? How much do they charge for additional sets?
What will they wear? (This isn't as obvious as it might appear. I once saw a club band show up in jeans and t-shirts for a wedding they were hired to do. They had no clue as to what appropriate dress was)!
Do they accept more than one performance a day? (This could be a problem if they are late leaving the first gig to make it to yours).
How long do they require to set up?
Will they be set up and ready to play when your guests arrive at the reception site, even if they are not supposed to start playing right away?
How long are their breaks, and do they provide any music during the breaks?
Can you request any special music during the breaks?
Will they learn any special songs for you if they're not already on their songlist?
Do they expect to be fed?
What are their deposit and payment requirements?
Do they expect payment in full before the day of the reception?
Are they experienced in doing weddings?
If you are booking a band through an agency, will
you be able to deal directly with the band leader, or must you
communicate with the band through the agent ?
In ~wedding-services~
UK case, after initial contact you deal
direct with band.
Sequencing - Does the band use keyboard sequences or other pre-recorded backing tracks? This is an interesting area of discussion. Sequences,that is, a computer playing a MIDI sequence to drive a sound module, is becoming a popular way to cut down on the number of people in the band. In many cases this can make a three or four piece band sound like a 8-10 piece horn band. As long as you know that the band is using sequences, this is fine.
However, some bands have people standing on stage acting like they are playing instruments when those instruments aren't even plugged in! They give the appearance of a bigger band (and consequently charge a higher fee), for doing nothing more than standing on stage playing air guitar! A sequence can help a band perform a song that they might not ordinarily be able to perform without more members. However, there are those that feel that hiring a band that plays nothing but sequences is like hiring a Karaoke guy to come in and sing along with his CDs. Indeed, some of these bands actually USE Karaoke CDs to play along with. Sequencing limits the amount of spontaneity that is inherent with a live band. They cannot extend a sequence in the middle of a tune, and they can't cut a song short without it sounding strange.
The key is to know UP FRONT if the band is doing this. The best way to tell if a band is using sequences in their live performances is to watch the drummer. If you hear cymbal crashes when the drummer doesn't hit the cymbal, or if you hear a backbeat on the snare when the drummer is playing the hi-hat, the odds are they are playing to a sequence. Another key is if the drummer wears headphones while playing. While this last is not a sure sign of a sequenced band, (some drummers use headphones instead of standard stage monitors), it does indicate that you should watch him/her more closely.
Videotapes - Videotapes can be an excellent way of narrowing your choices of bands, but should never be the deciding factor unless you absolutely have no opportunity to hear the band perform live. Whenever possible you should make sure you attend a performance (or rehearsal) of the band before signing on the dotted line. Bands have the opportunity to take advantage of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of high tech equipment available in professional audio and video studios to make them look and sound better than they actually are.
Although most bands make every effort to ensure that their video is an accurate representation of what they sound and look like when performing live, there are groups out there that sound and look nothing like their video. What you see is not necessarily what you get.
Scottish Music ----- English Music
Welsh Music ----- London Music
Questions to ask before getting married . . . . Why are you not married yet ? 25 Answers