Music serves as a source of cohesion and brings together people with similar tastes. Indeed, all villages, cultures, etc. play different types of music at social gatherings. In the same way, if you’re hosting an event in Australia, hiring a live band Melbourne is a sure-fire way to make the day lively. Music has the power to elevate people’s moods and tune their hearts to be in line with the event’s theme. (1)
Whether it’s a wedding, funeral, corporate event, family gathering, Saturday night club gig, name it, the right band should make the occasion more enjoyable. Every attendee will live to remember the day for years to come. But for the success of your planned event, you have to consider a few key things when looking for musicians for hire. Read below for details:
1. How much it costs to hire
The cost of hire is a critical consideration. When budgeting for an event, you must have allocated a given sum of money for entertainment. So, when you go looking for Saturday night live bands for hire Melbourne, make sure their quote matches your budgeted amount. Their prices vary with the music packages you opt for, like wedding bands, jazz bands, duos, trios, live bands, cover bands, corporate entertainment, or disc jockeys (DJs). In addition, their prices could also depend on:
- The popularity of the musician or band. If you’re after the best live rock performances ever, you may have to dig deeper into your pocket and hire a renowned music band that resonates with the crowd.
- The travelling or hotel costs they’ll incur.
- The number of members in a band.
- The time of the year your event is taking place. Usually, the summer months have higher demand for bands, meaning higher prices.
- The range of musical instruments and sound equipment the live band is using.
2. The space for their set-up
Some live bands Perth comprise only a handful of musicians and minimal stage equipment, while others have dozens of singers, instrumentalists, and sound gear. Knowing their size helps you know how much space they’ll need during the event. Aside from the stage size, they may also need to sit down whenever they’re not performing. Make sure you look into this.
A typical live band should have the following basic instruments
- Lead guitar
- Rhythm guitar
- Bass guitar
- Drums
- Piano
- Organ or saxophone
That adds up to about 6 instrumentalists. On top of that, they’ll most probably come with a lead singer, several backup vocalists, and a sound technician. So, on the lower side, consider budgeting for at least 10 people.
Aside from the instrumentalists and their musical instruments, you also need space for the following sound amplification gear:
- Loud speakers
- Power amplifiers
- Stage monitors
- Sound mixers
However, the list of the items a band may use is endless. Depending on the music genre, a band may add instruments like violins, trumpets, tenor and sop sax, flutes, etc, as was witnessed in the recent 9 Lives Festival Brisbane. Taking all things into account, the size of the band you settle on depends on the space available and how much funds you have allotted. The ultimate goal here is to ensure they fit comfortably in the event venue, which partly contributes to the quality of their performance.
3. Their music genre specialisation
Different musicians specialise in different music genres. The most popular types include:
- Jazz
- Pop
- Opera
- Rock
- Blues
- Western classical
- Country
- Reggae
- Hip hop
- Latino
- Traditional oriental (2)
On this account, try to think about what music is most appropriate for the occasion in question. For example, country music is a perfect choice for weddings, while a teenagers’ bash may need hip hop music. For a gathering of aged men and women, some cool jazz or blues will work the magic. And for Saturday night revellers at a club, you wouldn’t want to miss rock musicians. In short, assess a band’s song selections and genre to ensure they resonate with the audience.
4. Level of experience
Experience applies to every aspect of life. So, if you’re looking for live bands in Perth tonight, don’t just settle on any. You might get disappointed if you choose a new band that’s still on the learning curve, as they may fail to entertain your guests as you’d expected. Everyone with musical sense will definitely tell that the boys are just getting started.
Consider contracting those with vast professional experience. The more the performances they’ve done, the better. On the same note, read reviews from those who’ve hired them before to see if you’ll be getting your money’s worth. Also, look for some clips of their previous gigs and evaluate their vibe.
5. Willingness to adopt to your preferred dress code
Depending on your event’s theme, you could specify the dress code as all white, red and cream, all black, business formal, casual, cocktail, semi-formal, hip hop, or racy. The musicians you hire should be able to assimilate to your dressing requirements. Otherwise, should they dress contrary to your suggestions, they’ll end up looking out of place and spoil the fun.
6. A contract
A contract governs how things happen. Having one in place makes your agreement professional. Whatever live bands Yarra you hire, you must have a binding agreement that outlines the preferred arrival time, departure time, and the number of songs to perform, among other considerations. It ensures that all parties deliver what they promise and saves you from any unknowns you may encounter with the hired musicians. (3)
Conclusion
For the success of your planned Melbourne event, you must carefully select the musicians, as they’re the ones tasked with setting the event’s mood. With a proper choice you’re sure to make your audience happy and they’ll live to talk about the occasion for years to come.
References
- “The Importance of Music in Our Society”, Source: https://medium.com/illumination/the-importance-of-music-in-our-society-d4c68ce60257
- “Top 10 genres of Music Industry”, Source: https://medium.com/giglue/top-10-genres-of-music-industry-7f19cdb177cb
- “The Basics of Business Contracts and Agreements”, Source: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/basics-of-business-contracts-and-agreements-397811
