Showing posts with label Wedding DJ/Band. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wedding DJ/Band. Show all posts

Friday, February 25, 2011

Hiring a Wedding Band or DJ

After the engagement the first steps I always recommend to my clients are creating the guest list, selecting ceremony and reception venues, and hiring a photographer and videographer, as these are the vendors that are booked up the earliest.  After being turned down by all my favorite DJ's because they are booked for my sister's October 1, 2011 wedding, I now feel as though securing a DJ and/or band is also a crucial step at the start of the wedding planning process. 


A great wedding band or DJ can truly make a world of difference.  We have worked with great bands and DJ's and ones that are not so good.  What makes one DJ better than another?  One word....cheesiness (is that a word?  It is now ;))  A great DJ is reliable, professional, and articulate.  They will be the ones announcing the entrance of the bridal party, the cake cutting, the toasts, etc. so it's important they know how to pronounce all the names and actively participate in the line up of the bridal party.

A great wedding band is extremely entertaining, knows how to energize the crowd, draws everyone to the dance floor, and can rock out any genre of music from motown to hip-hop and everything in between.  They should have music that covers their breaks, are typically booked for a 4 hour time slot and can range in price from $2,000 - $10,000 depending on the band.


The BEST wedding DJ's and bands are booked far in advance, as we've been learning by planning my sisters wedding this October! I highly recommend securing them ASAP.  Who are the best you ask?  This is by no means an extensive list - but some of my favorites:

DJ Mary Ann Ross - http://www.maprodj.com/



Simone Vitale Band - http://www.simonevitaleband.com/




Friday, August 20, 2010

Wedding Band - Larry Lee & Back In The Day Band

We had the pleasure to work with Larry Lee & Back In The Day Band on July 31 at Misty Farms for Sara & Trevors wedding (scroll down to see their FABULOUS wedding!).  Larry and his bandmates were so amazing, arriving on time, setting up efficiently, and patiently going through the order of events with me.  And most importantly they rocked it out at Misty Farms for Sara & Trevor's reception.



Larry spent 17 years in the NFL (but is as warm and cuddly as a teddy bear).  After his career as a player, executive, and Vice-President of the Detroit Lions was over, he went back to his roots - music.  In the short five years Larry and Back In The Day have been a band, they have played with Brian McKnight, Chaka Khan, Los Lobos, KEM, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and Little Richard...to name a few.  Larry and BITD have played countless weddings, private events, Superbowls, casinos, festivals and more.



How much does a band of this caliber cost?  Larry Lee can adapt to most budgets, they have an eight-piece group with vocalists and horns and an optional five man vocal entity.  Date, travel, production, and length of show are all factors of pricing.  Smaller versions of the band are available also.

You can contact Larry at:

email - larry@backinthedayband.com
phone - 248-330-8640

See an upcoming show:

Sept 3rd - Motor City Casino
Sept 5th - Arts, Beats & Eats in Royal Oak, Michigan