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Live Band

Live band or DJ at your event?

Live band or DJ is probably the first question that you will ask when planning your event, whether it be a wedding reception, corporate function or private party. There are certainly advantages to each and indeed many events planners often choose to hire both when planning their entertainment.

So what does a live band offer your function?

Well, all live music serves to furnish an atmosphere. This can be achieved in many ways so the question is about defining what kind of atmosphere you want to create and booking accordingly. Is the idea for example to conjure a pleasant background ambience that will wash over your guests, while they eat, chat or sip champagne? In this case the presence of a band will be far more effective than a CD and a good band will increase or decrease the energy level of their music in keeping with the general mood of the event. Are you planning on the other hand to put on a show? If so the image or theme of the band can contribute enormously to the atmosphere. Do the musicians have costumes? Will they entertain in ways other than just by their music?

Will you want people to dance at your event and if so what kind of dancing will that involve? A popular option with regard to dancing is for the event organiser to hire professionals; perhaps a professional couple, to lead the dancing, entertain or even give lessons to the guests. Dancing lessons can be a fantastic icebreaker at an event and dancers along with a live band can be very powerful entertainment.

So what does a DJ offer your function that a live band doesn’t?

Musical variety is the main answer. A band may be limited in their repertoire and may not be able to produce every style of music from country to punk, although having said that, an experienced function band should be pretty versatile and open to accommodate requests! What else? Well, a DJ may be cheaper. You are paying one person instead of several after all. Certainly it is possible to get hold of someone with some equipment that will play at your function for next to nothing. As always, however, you get what you pay for and good DJ’s will not be extremely cheap. They can and do charge more, because they are in demand and they know what their skills are worth. Read our Wedding DJ article for more information on this subject. Or contact us for further advice on the question of DJ or live band.