A coordinator friend, had a bad experience the other day with a band who turned out to be a DUD!!! They asked for so many things and performed unprofessionally.

This normally happens when couples insist on hiring bands who are not the usual wedding band suppliers which coordinators usually refer and prefer.

Below are some tips on how to choose and hire a Band for your wedding / event:

1. Make sure you are protected by a contract that stipulates arrival time to the venue with a provision for a sound check just before you allow guests to enter the venue / ballroom
2. Make sure you made it clear to them, the timing of the program and which part of the program they will be playing.
3. Make sure they dress really well suited to the occasion (You don't want the band members to wear grunge maongs and grumpy t-shirts at your wedding / event. Remember, they also represent you)
4. Insists that balance will be paid in full on the day of the event, even in cash just to make sure they will honor their commitment
5. Be clear with their meals, whether its crew meal, cash allowance etc. and stated in the contract
6. Make sure you got from them a list of their playlists to choose from, what songs they will play, what is their forte (For sure you don't want them to sing songs about heartbreaks)
7. Play time should be clearly stated in the contract whether its straight or with a break
8. Make sure you got the names of the players and stated them in the contract as well. Just to be sure, ask if the musicians you watched in the gig (practice session) will be the same group for your wedding
9. Ask how much they will charge for extensions or overtime and have that stated in the contract
10. Ask the technical rider requirement (equipment to be used) of the band and ask if this is part of their package or can be outsourced
11. Can they play a special request or learn a new song for you? If yes, do they charge extra for this?
12. Find out how many musicians will play and put them in contract
13. Ask how long the group has been together. (Note, most bands can just disband anytime so best to book reputable bands )
14. Make sure the important aspects stated above are written in their contract as agreed upon before actually signing it and giving them a down payment
15. Lastly --- if the band seems to have unusual, weird requests, better to stay clear of this bands and avoid hiring them as they are sure warning signals of possible STRESS on the day

Music and Food all go together for the overall success of your event. Its okay to experiment with a Band you saw in a bar, a gig or a show, but be careful and smart as they can make or break your wedding party.

Don't assume a lot of things in verbal agreement. The same goes when getting a friend to do a small favor for you on your wedding day / event. They should know what your expectations are and someone has to be accountable if something goes wrong.

(Third Ave. with our couple Ambie and Jam at Acuatico Beach Resort)