How to get wedding gigs

Subject: RE: How to get wedding gigs
From: Marion
Date: 22 Feb 04 - 10:21 PM

Thanks - I'll pass this all on.

Marion

Subject: RE: How to get wedding gigs
From: freightdawg
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 06:21 PM

In our neck of the woods there is always a "Bridal Fair" hosted by the local gown and tuxedo shops, the caterers, bakers, etc, etc. It usually takes place in early spring (June being the month when most weddings are conducted.) Maybe they could sign up as participants and get their info out that way.

As just an aside, is this group masochistic? M.Ted's post has it exactly right. As a former member of the clergy (preacher, to us Bible belters), I can attest that the most unholy and uncivil wars are declared, fought, and continued at weddings. Very often it is the complete stranger and the one with the least emotional tie-in to the couple that catches the most heat. (It's similar to yelling at the referee at a sporting event).

On the other hand, when peace prevails, participating with a couple during their wedding event can be one of life's greatest moments. With virtually all of today's weddings and receptions being recorded either on tape or DVD, their work will truly live on into many, many generations.

They just need to wear clothing (literal and figurative) that can take a lot of flying trash.

Best of luck,

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: How to get wedding gigs
From: open mike
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 11:56 AM

in our area, the newspaper does a special issue preparing for June weddings...if you could get a spot in such an issue that would get
the word out...also
why not work up a set of divorce songs.....to play at the couple's
next event? i hear 50 % marriages end up this way....

Subject: RE: How to get wedding gigs
From: M.Ted
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 11:43 AM

Susan's advice covers the question so well that it ought to be a business plan--

particularly important the point that your friends really want to play for receptions, not the wedding per se(even though people will call them "The Wedding Band")--And her point about lead time is also really important--keep in mind that the most formal weddings(which are the ones where they pay good money for musicians) are being planned a year or a year and a half in advance--So if your friends decide to do this, they should plan to be in it for the long haul--

Another opportunity to be aware of--Wedding Planners often offer "Showcase" programs for their prospects--this is a day long event where all the suppliers involved show their wares, including musicians--hard to get into, but when you do, you'll get a lot of work--

Also, this is a highly competitive market, and they will be expected to be polished and professional--they must dress appropriately, they must have an adequate sound system for each facility--they must co-ordinate their music with the all the activities that will take place during the reception, they must make announcements and introductions when necessary, and they must play whatever song the bride and groom choose for their first dance, even if it isn't Celtish--and, especially, they must be prepared to play the whole raft of corny Irish and ethnic songs and dances
that people expect at weddings(Hava Nagila, the Tarentella, Danny Boy, Danny Boy, and Danny Boy)--

Also, the band should be prepared to be totally ignored if things are going well, and to be in the middle of things when anything goes wrong(even when they have nothing to do with the music)

If your friends say, "Oh, no, we want to just play this, this and this" remind them of the old axiom that he who pays the piper calls the tune--Also, that the reason that the money is so good is that you have to work real hard--

Subject: RE: How to get wedding gigs
From: Splott Man
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 11:01 AM

There are magazines dedicated to weddings on the newsagent's shelf, check out their advertising rates.
A band I know paid for a stand at a wedding fair in a large exhibition centre, with CDs, video display and a large graphic. It paid off, and they covered their costs in no time.

all the best

Subject: RE: How to get wedding gigs
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 10:57 AM

Don't sing songs like "I wish I was single again".

Mind you a friend of mine once asked me to sort out the hymns for her wedding. There was one hymn that she loved the tune of, but couldn't remember the name, so she hummed it and I said I knew what it was. Her mother nearly murdered me when she saw "Oh Lord and father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways" on the order of service.

Subject: RE: How to get wedding gigs
From: Crane Driver
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 10:31 AM

Make a handbill and send it round to the functions manager at all the venues that do receptions. These people get asked to recommend music, and are usually glad to keep contact details, so they don't have to go looking when someone says "Can you find someone to play celtic music?" or whatever.

Look in the phone book for agencies offering to provide music for weddings. They may charge a percentage, but 90% of something is better than 100% of nothing.

If it was your wedding, and you didn't have musical friends, how would you find the music you wanted? Wherever you'd go for the info, your friend should be there.

All the best,

Andrew

Subject: RE: How to get wedding gigs
From: Allan C.
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 10:29 AM

Let me take a stab in the dark at this, since I've only performed at such things when requested. I would think that a tastefully presented PR package, consisting of a cover letter that contains references and a CD sampler or tape could be mailed to, or in care of, the parents of the prospective bride. You can discover their name by way of the newspaper announcement and get their address from the phone book in most cases.

Subject: RE: How to get wedding gigs
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 10:29 AM

Lobby wedding planners with press kits, put display and classified ads out, offer free entertainment or leave a CD to play at bridal shops, get a gig (any gig) and mention doing weddings as you intro a special wedding-ready love song, do a special business card in a wedding theme, ask friends to pass the word (especially friends of an age to have marrying-age children).... most fun-- do a promo and get press as you do all-day free wedding music at City Hall (need a permit most likely).... Get the first wedding gig any way you can and start generating word of mouth.

Oh and as well as wedding planners, wedding videographers and photogs, see if any of them would do referrals or leave business cards.

Since Hardi pastors the most popular wedding church in town, I can tell you this-- at a church wedding the regular organist is pretty miffed when s/he is not asked to play, so the churches tend to steer couples in that direction. Now, receptions-- there's a market you could try, ask the local clergy if you could come give a free sample during a worship service and discreetly let it be known about the interest in receptions.

In short, it's nice to want to do this over a summer, but like the rest of the music biz it requires hard marketing work with plenty of lead time. If they are not already playing for parties in the area, so there is a word of mouth feature already in place, it sounds like uphill work to me.

~Susan

Subject: How to get wedding gigs
From: Marion
Date: 19 Feb 04 - 10:17 AM

Hello gang. I am asking on behalf of a friend who is in the process of forming a duo with a view to playing weddings this summer.

What are the best ways to find wedding gigs?

They will be a fiddle/acoustic guitar duo, playing mostly Celtish tunes, based in Toronto.

Thanks, Marion