What size wedding band should I hire?
As we’re sure you have discovered, West Midlands wedding bands, party bands and function bands come in all shapes and sizes. There are acoustic-style duos, small pub-style bands, four to six strong wedding bands and large corporate party bands, not to mention specialist outfits like walking groups and tribute bands.
No matter what size wedding band hire you decide on, we think it makes sense to hire a wedding a band like FOUR ON THE FLOOR:
- Professional wedding band West Midlands
- Classic four piece line up of male vocals, guitar, bass and drums
- 100% live wedding band music sound
- Continuous music from start to finish
- Large live wedding band playlist
- Rock, pop, indie, folk, soul and more
- Your favourite song requests played
- DJ music provided free of charge during the bands’ breaks
- Sound system and lights
- Quick set up to get the party started
- Compact band set up leaves plenty of space for dancing
- No agency fees
- More entertaining than a duo, more affordable than a large band
Not only does the size of the West Midlands wedding band determine the style of music they are more likely to play, but it is also a deciding factor in whether they are suitable for your function.
Which size wedding bands in the West Midlands are going to be perfect for your big day? If you are planning a drinks reception or laid back gathering, a duo might fit the bill, but a large event band is likely to overwhelm your guests and kill the atmosphere.
If on the other hand you know that your wedding reception guests are full-on party animals itching to get on the dance floor at the first available opportunity, an acoustic act definitely won’t be up to the job of getting your guests on the dance floor.
Size is important
So as you can see, size is important in making the right decision. But with all of the bands in the West Midlands for weddings and entertainment agencies advertising their services online, competing for your attention and vying for your business, it can be easy to make the wrong decision.
Because let’s face it, regardless of whether they are small, large, or somewhere in the middle, the goal of most of these bands, or at least the ones featuring professional wedding musicians, is to get you to hire them. They’re not too concerned about whether they are the best fit for your requirements!
Small band, small sound
Small semi-acoustic wedding bands seem to be en vogue. A singer, an acoustic guitar and a drummer is definitely one of the smaller line ups you will be able to hire as your West Midlands wedding band, and if they have videos for you to watch, the music will often sound clear and nice, but in a live wedding reception scenario, you may well find that their whimsical approach of playing acoustic versions of classic and contemporary songs lacks the musical power and presence of a real live band. To put it succinctly, they may not rock.
When we say “rock”, we don’t necessarily mean loud heavy rock music of course – we’re talking about the ability of bands in the West Midlands for weddings to get your guests on the dance floor and keep them there.
We’re talking about the “wow” factor, something to impress your guests and make great memories. And if this is your plan, then it’s tempting to find a large party band with male and female wedding singers, backing vocalists, a brass section and various other musicians added into the mix.
Large band, big problems
Whoa, back the truck up. Let’s have a think about this. While a seven, eight or nine piece band may sound like a great idea in theory, the reality of hiring a large wedding band may lead to disappointment. Why? Well, request a quote and see what happens.
Firstly, you’re only likely to find larger bands on wedding entertainment agencies, and this means that you will be paying an agency commission as well as paying the band, so the final fee is almost certainly going to be REALLY expensive – and that’s without add ons like learning your first dance and providing DJ music during the bands’ breaks.
The more musicians you add into the mix, the more expensive the band becomes. Also, more musicians means more volume. Can you be sure that the large West Midlands wedding band you’re thinking of hiring is going to be able to perform at a volume that won’t break your wedding venues licensing agreement and won’t be too loud for your guests?
Wedding bands featuring a brass section (trumpet, trombone, etc) are really going to struggle if your venue requires entertainers to perform below a certain volume, because unlike amplified instruments like guitars or keyboards, a trumpet has no volume button!
And there’s one more thing which you may not have considered – when it comes to wedding bands West Midlands venues are often “all in one” rooms, where the wedding breakfast, bar and dance floor are contained in one space.
Once your table plan is confirmed, they may not be enough room for a large band to set up and perform comfortably, so they’re either going to have to squash into a small area, compromising their sound and performance, or they will spill out onto the dance floor, not leaving enough room for your guests to, well, dance. Oh, and large bands take longer to set up and soundcheck, so if your speeches over run, be prepared for your party to start late.
Four on the floor West Midlands wedding band – just right!
Like we said, size matters. That’s why FOUR ON THE FLOOR are a great option as a West Midlands wedding band. As a four piece, we have a full live band sound without the need for adding additional musicians, and we can set up quickly on the day, leaving the dance floor free for your guests.
We are also not going to break the bank when it comes to your entertainment budget; added to which, we provide continuous entertainment until the end of the night with both band and DJ music, including rock, pop, indie, folk, soul and more.
If that sounds like the perfect nights’ entertainment for you and your guests, get in touch! Call us on 0796 433 5657.
