Pros and Cons of a Live Band
Entertainment is a big component of your wedding reception. For some couples, the decision to book a DJ is easy. However, there are plenty of people who debate over hiring a live band to provide music for the night’s events. If this is a choice you’ve been deliberating, it is helpful to weigh the pros and cons. By poking around the ups and downs of the decision, you’ll have greater insight into how the service works and what you can expect.
Pro: A Live Band Experience
Perhaps the biggest advantage to hiring a live band is that it is not a common decision anymore. Before the digital age, live music was par for the course at a wedding. If you’ve ever been to an event with a band instead of a DJ, you know how memorable the experience can be overall. A live band creates an electrifying and engaging performance that a DJ simply cannot compete with. While this is a great point to keep in mind, you need to base your final decision off more than just how unique the concept might be.
Con: An Expensive Decision
As expected, creating a memorable experience at your wedding is far from a cheap endeavor. The main reason people opt for a DJ over a live band is the price. With a DJ, you’re usually hiring one or two people to help provide you with music throughout the night. A live band, on the other hand, is comprised of a group of people. Unless you have a connection with someone in the band or they are very new to the scene, you can expect to put down a decent chunk of change for this service.
Pro: Guests More Likely To Have Fun
Getting some guests to get up and dance can be a serious challenge. Whether you’ve got older relatives who can’t get down with modern songs or your friends are the type who need coaxing to groove, live music makes it a lot easier to guarantee a good time. Live musicians feed off of an audience’s response. If the crowd isn’t dancing, the band will find a way to change things. When it comes to reading the room and adjusting the night’s music as needed, a live band can accomplish far more than you might expect.
Con: Playlist Will Not Be as Expansive
Ask any DJ and you’ll learn fast that requests are a huge part of providing entertainment at a wedding. Guests all have different tastes, and alcohol increases the odds of friends and family making demands of the DJ. The drawback of a live band is that requests are more difficult to accommodate. Though an exceptional cover band will be able to take on a good number of tracks, you’ll be able to provide a more robust selection of music when you’re working with an entertainer who has a laptop connected to the internet.
Pro and Con: Live Band Performers
A DJ is usually a silent fly on the wall, sometimes interjecting with messages from the couple or information about the night’s events. A live band, meanwhile, will have a bit more personality. This can be a pro or a con, depending on the band. Some performers know how to make the most of the time on stage. Others, sadly, take frequent breaks or try to outshine the happy couple in terms of grabbing for attention. Read reviews of the band in advance to get an idea of what you can expect in this regard.
Though entertainment is necessary for a wedding to be complete, you want to be certain you enjoy whichever act you decide to book. Though it might be enticing, be sure you know what you’re getting into when hiring a live band. While there is no correct answer, understanding the advantages and disadvantages does make the decision more clear.