Hidden costs with Bands

[VirginiaCleveland]

I just wanted to make a post. A relative is in a band that plays weddings and since I've gotten engaged, they gave me a few tips. I wanted to pass them on. First and foremost,do not offer the band a meal. It can tack an extra 1-2K on your reception if you have a multipiece band and are paying anywhere from $90 on up. Odds are very good that they will have eaten before if your reception starts at 5 or 6. If you do offer them a meal, make sure there is a written clause for continuous music provided during the reception. Most bands will have a tape of pre-recorded music they can play while they eat. Something else I was horrified to learn. Some bands will be familiar with the place you will be having your reception. If they are chummy with the kitchen staff, they could wind up leaving with plates( and I mean PLATES) of uneaten food that the bride and groom have paid for at the end of the night. Also, as another horrifying note: This same person told me that the band had a formal portrait done for publicity purposes, it came out so well that the studio where they took it blew it up and put it in the front window. To make a long story short, anytime a couple came in and asked how to contact the band, they were given a card of the band as well as a card of the studio. When they couple gave the band the studio's card after hearing the band, they were automatically jacked up 20-30% over cost because they had worked out a side deal about referral fee with the portrait place. Be careful on this one...
Virginia Cleveland
Virginia Cleveland

[megangross]

Was just wondering after reading your message how the band would tack on $1000-2000?? I personally can't imagine paying $90 a plate, and on top of that having 10-20 people in a band. Probably just depends on how much a person wants to spend on things, but since most plates are in the 15-40 range, and the average entertainment is 1-5 people, it's personal preference, although not a necessity nor an expectation to feed the entertainment.

[VirginiaCleveland]

Sure, be happy to explain. In the Northeast, for a sit down dinner just outside of NYC, (where I am.) an inexpensive sit down dinner can range from 70 per plate to 120. That's an estimate in NJ. For a sit down here with banquet hall and the whole nine yards,not using your own caterer, but going to a place that does banquets, they are considered reasonable. I've attended many in Manhattan that are much more per plate than that. By far the priciest I had ever seen was a club in Long Island that asked the bride and groom for 220 a plate. For chicken. Many of the weddings I have been to have bands with a minumum of 6 members. Most of the bands up here are actually even bigger than that especially since Motown has come back again big. My relative's band has 9 members in it and is booked every weekend in May and June for weddings. If you do not go with a place that has an all inclusive price and rolls in the liquor and the gratuity (places here can charge up to 18% maiter di fees and service fees.)You can really get nailed. A safe bet would be to say by the time everything is said and done anywhere between 1-2K once you get around to rolling in fees and gratuity. I don't know about anywhere else, but a full blown sit down in the Tri state area can really cost. Catering is always a great chioce to avoid some of the headaches that you run into in stuff like this.
Virginia Cleveland

[NJscubadiva]

Just FYI - I also live in the Northeast (Northern NJ) - I found that most of the reception places I looked at only charged 1/2 price for children under a certain age (mostly 12 y.o) and 1/2 price for "professionals" (band, DJ, photographers, etc.) The way I look at it, when I book our DJ and photographer, I will ask if they want dinner, or do they eat before-hand. I'll give them the option because I'm worried if I don't give them an option and just don't feed them, then they may get a little upset & not do the best job that they can (I'm probably being paranoid, but better to be safe then sorry)...couldn't hurt to ask.

[virtualvoice]

Our DJ said he does not take breaks, unless he is playing live music the whole time, then he would appreciate a break or two. Definitely it's something that should be on your question list...

I didn't ask about food, but if he doesn't take breaks then I imagine he won't be eating, haha.