We’ve all been to these events before: beautiful ballroom, delicious dinner, and your guests are now anxiously awaiting the entertainment, getting the party started. The band begins playing, but something just sounds off…it’s almost like a bad recording without any life and a vaguely fake feel. 

Your guests look at each other, but nobody is rushing the dance floor. Then the lead singer approaches the mic, and within minutes, bride and groom both realize that their reception is dead on arrival. All the time and money spent over the past couple years in planning that perfect wedding has gone to waste because the band lacks soul.

Few will remember the food or flowers, but everyone will think back to dancing all night. So choosing the right entertainment is key to creating a successful event. But how can you avoid making the same mistake?

“Cheesy Wedding Band Syndrome” can best be avoided if you heed the vital warning signs:

1. What’s in a name? Typically, these types of bands rely on single word titles, usually nouns and often quite vague. Just think “Emotion”, “Expression”, “Element” and you’ll get the idea. Generic names with no real meaning are a telltale sign of a cheesy band. Quality musicians care about what they do. And it’s highly unlikely that a talented ensemble would put such little effort into name creation. So if you encounter anything similar in your search, don’t walk…run!

2. Bigger is always better? Brides/grooms are sometimes attracted to on-line ads and snazzy websites belonging to the big entertainment agencies. Or perhaps these companies are recommended by the venue itself due to reciprocal kick-back arrangements. Of course, talent brokers have rent, office staff and other overhead. Now guess why their bands are twice as expensive. Twice as talented? Said nobody ever. Swapping out musicians? Sometimes. Cheesy? Quite slick and over-edited, so the talent is often far worse in person. Notably absent are any real reaction shots, showing actual audience interaction. And these bands tend to have just 20-30 client reviews at most. Needless to say, at $5,000-$10,000, you’re definitely not getting what you paid for.

So what should a bride and groom do before saying “I do”?

1. Quality over quantity. Look for an established band/boutique agency that focuses on just one event per night, rather than booking through a bigger agency that sends out several different groups at once, having far less attention to detail. However, you also don’t want something too small in case a musician becomes ill on your wedding night. Like any successful organization, the band you choose should have capable backups familiar with all the material. 

2. Nothing like the real thing. Make sure there’s a dedicated manager readily available to answer questions in the months prior to your event. Choose a band that has at least 50-100 client reviews and a real promo video showing them performing live to an actual wedding crowd, without overdubs and recorded tracks. Hiring a DJ is often a cheaper option, but there’s nothing better than dynamic live entertainment for creating an event to remember. 

3. You get what you pay for. Sometimes brides/grooms try saving money by using a band they’ve seen in a bar or one that a friend or relative plays in. But as you know, music makes the party, so if you’re already spending several thousand on an event, it’s never a good idea to try cutting corners on the band. In terms of bang for your buck, an extra thousand or two for proven quality is money well-spent, without going too overboard. Experienced, professional musicians know how to read the crowd which is always key for keeping folks out on the dance floor. And they’re far less likely to show up late, drink on the job, behave inappropriately, etc. 

Yes, finding a talented, soulful wedding band is a daunting task, indeed. But if you follow this advice, you’ll avoid the cheese, and the cream will always rise to the top!