Organising live entertainment for a wedding can be lots of fun and yet overwhelming all at the same time. Wedding planners and event organisers have years of experience and many contacts that they can turn to for help. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford the expense of a personal Wedding Planner or Event Organiser. We believe that Act Sharp can offer our clients a unique and far less daunting experience in this respect. Our professional and experienced management team can help ease you through the process and will liaise with the venue, the caterers and other management teams, as required.
Before deciding on the entertainment for your wedding, we would recommend that you consider the following hints, tips and pointers. They offer a useful insight into the typical issues that can arise as well as advice about simple measures you can take to address them.
TYPE OF VENUE……
Does the venue permit live entertainment? Are there any noise restrictions or sound limiters? How accessible is the stage area? Are there any stairs to negotiate (bands sometimes have very large and heavy equipment that may be too bulky to carry up a flight of stairs)?
The acoustic sound of the drums is often the loudest instrument on stage. Some Bands have the option to use electric drum kits. This allows much greater control of the over all sound output.
Most access issues can be addressed by liaising with venue staff and band managers. We also work with venue staff to ensure that we understand and meet their guidelines.
STAGING……
How much space does the band need to set up? Do they require a raised stage? What are the bands power requirements?
When planning the room layout it’s always a good idea to leave space between the band and the tables, as no one wants to have a speaker positioned inches away from their ears!
As a guide, a ‘live’ 5 piece band with full drum kit, guitar, bass, keyboards, monitoring and average lighting rig, will require approximately 10x20ft of floor space as well at least 2x twin mains power sockets (preferably on separate circuits).
BAND EQUIPMENT……
Look into the bands PA equipment. As a rule, a 2000 Watt PA is adequate for parties of up to 250 guests and a 3200 Watt PA would be adequate for up to 350 guests. However, these figures can vary greatly dependant on quality and efficiency of the PA being used, as well as how the system has been set up. It is therefore advisable to ask the band how many guests the system can cater to rather than checking the actual power output.
For outdoor performances and larger events, Act Sharp bands also have access to larger, more powerful rigs. However, additional rigging could take longer to set up and sound check and will usually require more floor space. The bands fee’s may also change to reflect any equipment hire costs or, for much larger events, the expense of hiring extra roadies to set up the rig.
REPERTOIRE……
Every wedding is different. It is important to consider what sort of atmosphere you would like to create. Are you looking for a party band to play a lively mix of dance floor fillers, or would you prefer something more romantic?
As wedding guest lists tend to reflect a very mixed age group, it would be fair to say that a mixed repertoire would be more suitable.
Most bands will play a minimum for 2x60min sets. As a guide, this equates to about 32 songs. A band will consider your preferences when tailoring set lists but it might be an idea to research their repertoire before deciding if they are, in fact, the right band for your event. For example, if you would like a mixed repertoire but with more soul or Motown influences then does the bands repertoire actually carry enough suitable material?
SET UP REQUIREMENTS……
The size of the band, the amount of equipment they bring and the ease of access to the stage area are all factors that dictate the amount of time a band will need to set up, the size of stage area required and the over all power consumption they will have. Set up times usually range from 1 to 2 hours. Please also allow some additional time for the band to get changed into stage wear and generally prepare themselves for the performance.
It is also worth mentioning here that most bands will require secure changing facilities. Venues that are used to booking live entertainment tend to have provision for this but it is important that you do check this, just in case they may need to make any special arrangements.
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Please feel free to contact us directly to discuss your requirements in more detail. Simply email us at
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and someone will endeavour to respond to your inquiry within 24hrs. For a more immediate response, we can also be contacted by phone – 0121 328 3844 / 07973 386998 - between 9am and 8pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4pm Fridays & Saturdays.
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