1. Why Should I Book A Band And Not A DJ?
By Paul Wolfe http://www.carteblancheinfo.com
You’re organizing an event –a wedding, a corporate function, or
a charity ball – and when the formalities are complete you want
your guests to let their hair down, have a great time and dance
the night away.
So there are two ways you can provide music for your guests to
party to – you can either book a live band or a DJ. Now on the
face of it, this decision would appear to be a no brainer. DJs
have so many advantages over bands that it’s blah blah blah.
So What Are The Advantages DJs Have Over Bands?
Here’s a quick list off the top of my head:
1) A good DJ is cheaper than a bad band.
2) DJ’s take up less space than a band.
3) DJ’s usually set up quicker.
4) DJ’s have a ‘repertoire’ of thousands of songs.
And yet at the end of the night which would you prefer to
happen: the guests be shouting and stamping their feet for more,
or politely say goodnight to each other and drift away. You
won’t get that from a DJ.
Because they don’t have the ‘Wow’ factor.
So What Is This ‘Wow’ Factor?
This ‘wow’ factor is composed of several different elements.
Firstly there’s the energy. From a musician’s point of view
there are things you can do when you play songs that make them
more dynamic, more exciting, more damn right irristable to a
guest and literally pulls that guest to the dance floor. About the

2. only thing a DJ can do with his songs is to change them if
something’s not working.
Secondly a good live band’s performance is symbiotic with an
audience. The way the deal works is this: the band give their
energy to jump start the evening and then when they attract the
audience onto the dance floor the band then feeds off the
audience’s energy. And this keeps the audience dancing – and it
becomes a self sustaining cycle. And whether they’re
consciously aware of it or not – the members of the audience
FEEL this relationship, and in a strange way become part of the
performance.
Thirdly this symbiotic relationship with the audience leads to a
performance that is unique to that audience and that event.
Songs can be taken down to their bare bones and the audience
encouraged to interact by singing. Or forming a circle and
having dance offs. Or the groom can leap onstage and sing a
chorus with the band. Or the vocalists will interact with
members of the audience.
And This ‘Wow’ Factor Makes The Difference Between An
Average Event and A Great Event
I’ve played at over a 1000 weddings and I can tell you from
experience that the band’s performance is what will make the
guests remember the wedding as just a wedding, or a great
wedding.
But don’t take my word from it, here’s some quotes lifted from
thank you letters and emails I’ve received over the years:
“The food was poor. It rained all day. And yet we had a
fantastic wedding – all thanks to the band.”

3. “My only complaint is that everyone was so preoccupied with
dancing that no-one came out to wave my husband and I off on
our honeymoon.”
“Since we’ve returned from our honeymoon ever single ‘Thank
You’ note we have received – bar none – has raved about the
band’s performance.”
Surely As Long As A DJ Plays Music That Gets People
Dancing There’s Not Much Difference
Listen there’s nothing wrong with a DJ. But here’s an acid test
for you: take a straw poll by asking your friends and colleagues.
Here’s the question: how many events have you been to where
the music was provided by a DJ, and how many events where
the music was provided by a live band.
And then the kicker question: how many events can you and
your friends remember where the event ended with the audience
stamping their feet and yelling for more? And of this new
subset of events I’m willing to bet that not one – not even a
single, solitary one – was the music provided by a DJ.
You only get that effect from a live band.
Unless you’re a professional event organiser you don’t organise
events more than once or twice in your lifetime. If that’s the
case wouldn’t you want to give yourself the greatest chance of
that event being unforgettable for all your friends, families,
colleagues and guests?
If you answered yes to the last question then make sure you
book a good live band to provide the music at your event.
If on the other hand you more concerned with keeping to a small
budget and want a nice, safe evening then there are hundreds of
DJs waiting for your call.

4. For more information on Live Bands For Weddings, Corporate
Functions and Other Events please visit our website at
http://www.carteblancheinfo.com