How to Create a Wedding Style That Fits With the Venue

One of the most important decisions that you make about your wedding is the venue. The venue choice sets the tone for the entire day. Your venue should reflect the personality and theme of your wedding. Here are three ways that you can create a wedding style that fits with your venue so that you can pull off a seamlessly themed day.

Theme

When making sure that the overall style of the wedding fits the venue, it is important to look at the big picture. You need to decide if you are going after a classic style or something more modern. Another popular option is to plan a cultural wedding that incorporates traditions from you or your love’s heritage. The rustic wedding is also a trendy option for those looking to capitalize on the chic farmhouse vibe. This style of wedding is perfect for an outdoor venue or even an old barn.

Dress

Once you have decided on your theme and venue, you can decide how to dress the part so that your attire fits with the location. For example, a beach wedding will naturally lend itself to casual dress. Conversely, a fancy ballroom or reception hall will necessitate that you dress to fit the formality of the venue. This may mean tuxes for the men and traditional full-length dresses for the women. You should also find ways to match your hairstyle with your dress. Think about what ways you can use your appearance to highlight the distinguishing features of your venue.

Entertainment

The entertainment that you choose for your special day will have a direct effect on the mood that you set. Music is the cornerstone of the entertainment for your wedding. Be sure to choose songs that fit the theme of the venue. For example, country music is a good choice if your wedding is outdoors or in a more rustic location. Reggae music makes a good reception style for your wedding on the beach. The music and entertainment that you choose is a powerful determiner of the vibe that you convey with your wedding, making it important that you make appropriate choices.

Don’t let your choice of wedding venue go to waste. Using the location of your nuptials and reception to complement the style of your wedding will help you to plan a more cohesive event.

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The No-Nonsense Guide to Hiring a Jazz Band in Los Angeles

When it comes to planning an event, the entertainment is one of the most important aspects. Hiring a jazz band ensures a fun, upbeat and timeless solution to the entertainment needs for nearly any event in Los Angeles. Jazz ensembles offer an exciting element, with their versatility ranging from dinner background music to the dance music at a wedding reception. This is what sets brass groups apart from traditional bands. 

Jazz music was born over a century ago, and there is a reason it has remained popular over the decades. With soulful and upbeat melodies, it is a versatile genre that appeals to many different demographics. When people think of jazz musicians, they think of trombones, trumpets, clarinets and other brass instruments. So not only do they have good music, they are entertaining to watch while you listen to them. Los Angeles jazz bands are especially an ideal attraction for Hollywood glam events where celebrities may just make an appearance.

Why choose a jazz band?

While a lot of people may think that jazz bands in Los Angeles target a certain demographic that may have enjoyed this music in their youth, that doesn’t mean this is strictly a type of music for that specific group. Jazz music can appeal to many different demographics and isn’t confined to the music that was played a hundred years ago. 

Jazz bands can play Jazz standard type music, but they can also add a jazzy twist to popular tunes, giving it a very unique style that is memorable for all different types of people who like different types of music. Jazz bands are very versatile and add a classy and classic element to any event.

In addition to being an impressive and memorable style of music, jazz bands are also fun to watch. Rather than seeing a DJ flip a switch to change a tune, jazz musicians are not only musicians, but also excellent performers. In addition to providing music at an event, they also add an element of entertainment. People who don’t feel like dancing can sit and watch the band.

What Types of Events are Best for a Jazz Band?

There is no shortage of events in Los Angeles that will pair well with jazz music. Whether a small intimate gathering or a huge blow out, the melodies of jazz standards help to make a perfect setting for any event. Jazz bands provide a truly versatile music that hasn’t gone out of style in a century, and doesn’t show signs of slowing in this century.

• Corporate Events: Booking a jazz band for your next company party, retirement or corporate event is the perfect solution for an eclectic group of employees. It is easy listening and can appeal to everyone from interns to the CEO.
• Birthday Celebrations: Hiring a jazz band for a milestone birthday is a great way to have a memorable event for the special birthday person. Having live music will make the birthday all the more special.
• Weddings: Jazz bands are a great solution for weddings, because they can play the music for both the ceremony and the reception. They can even play soft background music during dinner or cocktails.
• Fundraising Galas: No charity event is complete without music and a jazz band for hire is a great solution. Providing special entertainment for people who could be huge potential beneficiaries is a smart option and sets the scene for generous donations.
• Dances: It is a lot of fun to dance to jazz music, especially the big band style and swing band. Any dance, whether it is 1920s themed or just a regular old dance style, jazz music is a great solution to get people onto the dance floor and twirling their partners.

How to find the right jazz band for your event

With so many different options for live jazz bands, it can be hard to decide which one will be the best option for your special event. But this does not have to be difficult once you ask yourself a few key questions.

 

• What kind of songs do they play? You know best what the vibe of your event will be, so making sure the Jazz Band you hire plays music in the appropriate style is important. Do they strictly play their own originals? This may be fine for background music during a cocktail hour, but jazz standards, classics and pop music covers with jazz influences are more likely to get people dancing during a wedding or ball.
• What kind of events have they played at? Different types of bands may specialize in certain types of special events. A chill Jazz trio may be used to playing music in nightclubs while people sit and sip cocktails, while a big band style may be geared towards getting big crowds amped up for a celebration. Some bands may have experience in parade settings, while others may specialize in weddings.
• How are their ratings? Ratings are hugely important when it comes to deciding on the Jazz Band to play at your event. Reading reviews can help you decide if the ratings are appropriate for your event. This can also help you to answer questions about the events they are best suited for and types of music they play.
• Is it a large or small group? The size of a group can matter depending on your venue and the plans for the event. Smaller venues may simply need a smaller group to give everyone the space they need, while the added noise level of a large group can help to fill a bigger space.

Booking a jazz band ensemble

Once you have selected the band you want for your event, it is time to book them and finalize everything. At this point you should have already made sure they are available for the date and time of your event. Once that is taken care of, you can discuss the logistics of the event day such as set up, any special requirements, and setlist.

 

• Set up: Be sure to know ahead of time where the band will set up at your venue and the amount of time needed to set up. They may ask if there is a certain entrance they should use, if they should have a point of contact the day of the event, and other various pieces.
• Special Requirements: Some bands may ask that the venue have certain equipment provided, such as electrical hook ups or speakers that are already in place. Some bands may even ask for specific travel accommodations, meals to be included at the event, or a set amount of break time in which you will have to arrange for alternate music.
• Set List: The set list is when you can finally have a little fun with the whole booking process. Talking with your band about any special musical requests, covers you’d like them to play, or order of operations, such as cocktail hour music versus dinner music, and when dancing should begin.

Come share the experience only jazz bands provide for your corporate event or wedding reception!

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The No-Nonsense Guide to Hiring a Cover Band in Los Angeles

Any Los Angeles event can benefit from live music, and it is only better when it is a cover band. Cover bands are the best of both worlds when it comes to entertainment – familiar and popular tunes paired with the charm of a live performance. Because they focus less on creating their own tunes, and more on recreating versions of existing songs, cover bands play many popular and well known tunes, bringing a lively aspect to an otherwise ordinary Los Angeles, CA event.

 

Hiring a cover band is an easy and effective way to liven up any event, especially if you want to get people dancing and having an overall great time. Live bands are an excellent addition to any event. Any of the bands in Los Angeles will be a welcome addition to an event, but a cover band will be even more memorable.

What type of event is good for a cover band?

When it comes to events in the Los Angeles area, cover bands are a great solution for a lively celebration. While they may be appropriate in many scenarios, joyous occasions pair well with cover music. Cover bands add an element of fun and entertainment to many different kinds of upbeat events. They will have people humming along and tapping their toes to their favorite melodies.

 

• Weddings: Wedding receptions are by far one of the most popular events for a cover band. They make great wedding bands because the familiarity of the tunes they play gets the party started. They are sure to know exactly what classics to perform that will have the guests singing and dancing along with the music.

• Dances: No matter the type of dance, chances are a cover band will be able to provide music, from the hits of all time to themed music such as 80’s, country or island. Dance bands like to specialize in covers as a guaranteed way to have people moving and shaking to the hits. Even if it isn’t a themed event, cover bands will play well known tunes that people recognize.

• Corporate Events: It is highly probable that if you are hosting a corporate event, you will have a wide demographic of individuals from all walks of life in attendance. Cover bands for hire are a versatile solution to offer a variety of music for the event entertainment. Whether the music is for a trade show, a retirement celebration or a holiday party, providing music by way of cover band is a sure fire solution.
• Private Parties: From birthday parties to New Year’s Eve parties and everything in between, a cover band provides popular dance tunes to make any party a memorable and exciting event. Anyone can hire a DJ for a private event, but a cover band with live musicians will add an element of excitement to a party. Party bands are an obvious solution for music at a band.
• Live Entertainment: Bars and nightclubs are always looking for a new way to draw in clientele, and bands are a great way to do this. What is even better is a cover band, which will provide musical entertainment and favorite music hits. Crowds flock to hear cover bands perform and to dance the night away.

Why hire a cover band versus a traditional band?

There are reasons to hire a cover band versus hiring a traditional band. While both offer amazing entertainment and will undoubtedly awe your guests, a cover band adds the element of favorite tunes to the excitement of live music. Live music is always fun, but it’s even better when it isn’t the first time you’re hearing a song.

• People love dancing to cover music: If people know a song, chances are they are more likely to dance to it. Most people have favorite songs, and when they are played, they can’t help but get up and dance.
• Recognizable tunes are memorable: People will remember hearing a fun and interesting rendition of their favorite song. When they remember the band that played the song, they’ll also remember the event at which they heard it. They’ll also want to sing along!
• They put on a show: Cover bands make their success on hit renditions of popular music. They don’t need to spend as much time creating their own music so they can focus on their performances. Hands down, cover bands will put on an entertaining event.

How to find a Los Angeles cover band

Finding a cover band in Los Angeles can seem overwhelming when it comes to finding one and selecting one to perform at your special occasion, with a plethora of options available in the LA area. It sounds harder than it is especially with the help of online resources. When looking at different options online, there are several key points to observe.

• Ratings and Reviews: Online reviews and ratings by other event planners are one of the most valuable resources available. By seeing other people’s experiences, you’ll have a good idea of whether they will be a suitable match for your event. Ratings alone aren’t as much help as reviews, as a five star band that plays hip hop won’t be a good match for a roaring 20’s party, so it is key to read both.
• Style of Music: Different bands specialize in different types of music. You can narrow down the bands depending on the type of music you seek for your event, which will help to make your event perfect.
• Types of Events: Different bands specialize in not only different types of music, but different types of events. Some bands may thrive in a smaller setting, while other bands are bigger and more suited for a large crowd. Taking this into consideration is important to making sure your entertainment is suitable for the event.
• Requirements and Special Requests: Each unique band may have a certain set of criteria in order to play at a band. Knowing if you and your venue have the means for this ahead of time will help you to determine if a band is a suitable fit for your event. If you’ve already booked a venue, and a band requires a space that isn’t available, you’ll have to decide on a different band.

Choosing the music for your event

One of the most exciting parts of booking a band is to plan the play list. The band may have preselected song lists, or they may have different themes or genres available for your event. If your event is a particular theme, this is the time to discuss it and choose the best songs. You may also be able to make special requests such as a school’s song for a graduation party, first dances at a wedding, and other fun music pertaining to your particular event.

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The No-Nonsense Guide to Hiring a Brass Band in San Francisco

Throwing a wedding, corporate event, Mardi Gras shindig, or any other type of party is serious business. Well, even though you may want some nonsense to go on during your party (is it really a fun time if nothing weird or wild happens?), you don’t need or want any nonsense during the planning phase. Even if you are a party planning pro, you may have never hired a brass band before. There is plenty of information floating about the internet on how to hire DJs, and maybe you even have experience in that aspect of planning, hiring a real live brass band? This is new (sounds mildly intimidating!). Therefore, we present to you this no-nonsense guide for hiring a brass band in San Francisco.

What are you looking for in a brass band?

Start with asking yourself the tough questions. Brass bands have a lot of range when it comes to style and type of music they can play. Some tend towards the traditional marching band/parade style, others provide light background music, some have the ability to play modern dance songs that really heat up a party, and then you have very versatile bands that can play in any of those styles. So then, what flavor do you want for your event? Are you looking for a band who does wedding marches or second line parades? Knowing what you want will help you focus and zero in on the bands that will work best for you.

Do your homework

School only prepared you for the homework you would have to do when looking to hire a killer San Francisco brass band, but we can promise you that this homework is way more fun (and there’s no surprise quiz afterwards). If you want to hire a brass band, you can’t just go and ask “Hey, are you guys any good at this?” and expect an unbiased answer. Instead, you need to go to (mainly) unbiased sources to find out. What sources my might you turn to?

1. The experts online. Not the sarcastic type of online “experts”, but the real deal. Check out bands that are featured or reviewed in blogs, online magazines, and well-respected websites like com and marthastewartweddings.com.

2. User reviews. Though sometimes online reviews may need to be taken with a grain of salt (watch out for the “Karens”), you’ll bet a good overall picture of how the bands performed from former clients. Check out sites that contain plenty of client reviews like Wedding Wire, The Knot, and Gig salad where you can search band by region, zeroing in on the bands that play in the San Francisco area.

3. Social media. This one might be a little more of a double edge sword (we hear it can be ground zero for many “Karens” to congregate) but it certainly has its value. You can find mostly honest reviews (look at the overall review picture, not just one or two), information about the band, event photos taken by clients, and possibly even some videos of events that allow you to hear the band play.

4. Go take a listen. You know who is going to give you the very best review tailored just to you? Your ears.  Watch and listen to videos on the band’s website and even better, if possible, go see them in action (ask the band when and where you can hear them live).

Talk to your venue

Even though it’s your event and your money (or maybe your company’s money), different venues may have different rules, requirements, or restrictions (like noise, size of band) that can affect your choice of a brass band. Talk to your venue and ask the right questions before swipe right on your band match—the band you want and the venue you’ve booked might not be as compatible as you envisioned.

Interview the band

Now that you’ve made it through the venue gauntlet (yay!), your journey takes you towards your next quest—interviewing the band. This may seem nerve-wracking but remember that you hold the power. You know the venue rules and restrictions, and even more, you know what you want. Its time sit back and let them impress you. Ok, maybe it’s not quite that relaxed, you’re going to need to ask them plenty of questions. If you’re brain is as gold-fishy as ours, you’re going to want to make a list. Some of the questions you might want to ask:

• Is the band familiar with your venue?
• How many members are in the band and which instruments do they play (the size and instruments can vary somewhat with brass bands)
• Do they have a signature style and what is it?
• What’s their overall vibe? (lowkey, high energy, both?)
• Ask to see their song profile. Are you able to choose the songs they play (if that’s what you want) or is it a set playlist?
• Talk about when during the event and how long you want them to play

Once you get the “fun” questions out of the way, but sure not to forget the more serious business of talking pricing, contracts, and band breaks/requirements (they are human afterall and need to rest, pee, and eat).

Brass bands can be super fun and exuberant, add class to an event, or give the event you planned that little something extra (you know you love being a little extra) that makes it stand out. They come with different styles, sounds, and flairs and might just be the best party planning decision you’ve ever made. So do your homework, know what you want, and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. Happy band hunting!

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