Music Is What MAKES an Event! Music

BY REBECCA TALLY

While planning an event, music is, and should be, a crucial part in making it memorable. By hiring a “band,” the host is limiting the “styles” of music and creating many other unforeseen problems.

Many bands only feel comfortable playing certain genres of music. Perhaps the bride and groom have invited guests from other parts of the country, or even other parts of the world. With a DJ (disc jockey), the wedding planner is able to request general or specific songs to allow all the guests a moment to share with the celebrat- ed party on the dance floor.

The mother of a young lady who celebrated her sweet sixteenth birthday, complained that the father/daughter dance was ruined because the band did not have the proper device to play the track. Even more horrible was a complaint that a band did not remember the lyrics to a very special, pre-selected, “first dance” song at a wedding.

Guests are the ones who will provide the most honest feedback. Some complain that a band plays their music too loudly, that the microphones are not thoroughly checked and that the mood dies when the band decides to take a break. Often the crowd is discouraged by such a drastic change to a song once it is sung by a new person, rather than the original artist they grow to love.

If a host is planning an intimate event and is limited to the amount of space for a dance floor, a DJ is by far the better option, since not much space is needed for the equipment. This also does not take away from the celebrated party’s main table or beautiful cake on display for all the guests to enjoy.