Boogie on Down

The DL on Booking Your Wedding Band

Choosing the entertainment for your wedding reception is often left to the end of your overwhelming “Wedding To Do List”—but it shouldn’t be! We know booking a wedding band can seem like an intimidating process; most likely you have never had to do this. The easy answer - Turn to the pros! We asked three of Birmingham’s best wedding band booking agencies for their advice on how to find the perfect band for your venue. Enjoy!

Q & A

What does the process of working with a booking agency look like? Is there an additional expense to use the service?

HL: We are experts! We deal with bands and weddings all day every day. We know who to use and who to stay away from. Bands work with us because we generate work for them. Therefore, we negotiate with bands for our fee not the other way around.

SK: The booking agency is paid by the band. Because of the agencies’ buying power, a lot of times you will save money.

RK: When a newly engaged couple comes to me to book a band, I am going to look at their venue, budget, guest count, type of music that they are interested in, and the type of reception they envision and put together a list of bands that fits their needs. There is no additional cost to using bands through Music Garden, and our exclusive bands are only available to book through us.

What is a realistic budget for a live band?

HL: I think a nice starting budget is $5,000. There are bands cheaper and bands more expensive but I think this price allows you a lot of different and more professional options.

SK: Minimum of $3,000 but more like $5,000-$7,000.

What are your top three Birmingham wedding venues where you love to book bands?

HL: While I love just about all venues here in Birmingham there are some that are better than others for bands.
1. Iron City – Fabulous stage, production and dance floor. It is impossible not to have a good time.
2. B & A Warehouse – Intimate lighting, unique design and a fabulous stage.
3. Winwood Equestrian – One of the best outdoor stages in the state.

Why are these venues your favorite to work with?

HL: I love it when venues get it! These venues understand that we all work together to make an event a success. It is always nice when the venues not only work with their vendors but go above and beyond to make things as easy and seamless as possible. That’s what you get when you work with these folks!!!

RK: I like working with venues who have an experienced staff that is capable of understanding all the pieces that must fit together in order to make a reception successful. Venues like Iron City, The Florentine, and spaces managed by Go Pro Event Solutions are ones that have that kind of staff and make planning a wedding simple.

If a couple knows they want a live band for their reception, what are the top 3 things they should consider when they are picking out a venue?

SK: Does the venue have a good area for the bands to set up? How loud is the room? Rooms with a lot of hard surfaces can make it hard to play at lower volumes. Is the venue receptive to bands? Some venues make it very hard for bands.

What pointers would you give to a couple who is looking to book a live band for their wedding?