Whatever happened to live reception music?

[malibubride]

Hi. I'm looking for an affordable live band in southern California. We would love a kick'n salsa band that can play other stuff too. Also open to cover band.
Many thanks for your suggestions!

[rachel in la]

I, too, am looking for a live band. We are thinking more jazz/R&B but definitely dance-able. Everything that I have looked up on listings has been out of my price range $2200-$3000. But my plan is to go to clubs and see if I can find a start-up band who would do the night for $500-700. Who knows if that will work, but people seem to have done this before.

[rachel in la]

I am posting again because I have found a great band for much closer to my original budget (still a little over, but a family member is going to help out). It has been mentioned elsewhere that Craigslist.org is a good place to find photographers or other things. I see some posts by bands and by agents for bands. I talked to a few of them but the prices where too much. Then I found a post from a person in the band, not an agent, who was looking for gigs for her band. Turns out they are just what we want - a big band sound with less members than a real big band. They play jazz/salsa/swing and they have a singer.

It was much better because I talked to the band leader directly and not an agent. We were able to work out a great price. Maybe it is just LA, but finding a band that is not so professional they are expensive, but still compiled of professional musicians who will have a great time out there. I suggest craigslist but ask lots of questions.