Friday 9 March 2012

How To Hire A Band In London

If you live in London you will be aware of the huge number of live bands for hire throughout the city. There are so many different types of musicians looking to earn a crust through hiring out their skills. However, if you are looking at live bands in London to play at an event you are organising – be it a small festival, corporate event or wedding – you need to know how to find the true professionals. If the event is important to you then you need to know the band you are hiring can do the job. Here are some tips to help you along:

Type Of Music: Before you begin your search, you need to decide what kind of band you want. This really depends on the type of event you are holding – a more sober corporate event might require a more laid-back type of band, whereas if you are holding your wedding you will probably want to choose the kind of music you would want to listen to. Luckily, London is such a diverse place you should be able to find bands playing musical genres to suit every kind of taste or occasion.



Research: Once you know what type of live music you want, the next step is to research the market to check the availability of live bands in London. A good way to start is to get recommendations from other people who have hired bands. You should also go to local events and gigs to see if any of the bands there take your fancy. Also, look online as there are many bands with their own websites advertising their services, some of which will have online videos of their performances so you can see for yourself the kind of music they play.

Meet The Band: Once you think you have decided on a band, or made a shortlist of possibilities, you should meet them to face-to-face to talk about set lists – this is hard to do properly over the phone or by email. You should agree on pricing beforehand and this is also the time to find out whether they will be bringing all their own equipment, lighting etc. or whether you will need to provide any of this yourself.

Contingency Plans: You should also agree on contingency plans should a member of the band take ill on the day, for example. Also, agree on what will happen if the event runs over time. Will they keep playing, and how much extra will you pay them for this?

Venue: Lastly, check any restrictions regarding live music at the London venue you have chosen. Also, is the venue suited to the kind of live band you have chosen and is it conveniently located for them to get to easily?

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