Music for your exclusive party, significant event, or wedding ceremony
Arranging a wedding ceremony or private party and undecided what to do about the music? Here are a few suggestions to get you pointed in the right path.
First, is there a theme to your party? You know – upmarket, classic, bohemian, formal, preppy, Hawaiian shirts, for example. ? Contingent on what your theme is (if you have one), what kind of music you plan for can go a long way to setting just the right tone for your special event. You should not as an example, need to play the newest rap songs from Snoop Dogg at your upmarket, black-tie event. I guess you would if Snoop Dogg was there, but we’re betting Snoop is probably not on your guest list.
What is your financial position? Planning a party on a humble budget is tricky and though I suspect onstage music is always much better than a DJ let’s come clean, one person with a turntable or computer is much cheaper (usually) than a band. To me, a live group truly makes a party but that could be a budget consideration for sure.
What time of day is your event? Classical music might work great at an earlier event while jazz might be a great choice for an evening party.
What are your preferred musical tastes? Truly, this one should dictate what type of music you need played at your party. You are paying for it, right? Sure, you need to consider dear old Aunt Lillian who hates anything after 1960 but come on, this is your party, not hers, so go with music that you like. If you are responsible for coordinating the party, then ask the bride-to-be and groom or take an analysis of folk who might be attending your event what they'd like to hear. Be prepared for answers like “Iron Maiden”.
Where is the party being held? Some venues have pretty strict rules about music like how loud it can be, what sorts of music are authorized, if there’s space for a band, and so on. You check with your venue before booking any music to make certain you are aligned with their rules.
What’s the size of your event? Music for really large parties needs sound reinforcement and usually bands or DJ’s are equipped to handle this but you may want to think twice about hiring a 10-piece rock orchestra to play a 20 person party in a small, intimate location.
Music vs. DJ. As a musician who plays an instrument, I usually side on the live band eventuality but again, budget, venue, kind of event and private musical tastes may point you toward a DJ. Most DJ’s can play a wide variety of styles and though some cover bands do the same, most live bands stay within 2 specific genres like jazz, rock or classical. Go for the live band, I say. It is usually possible to listen to the radio in your vehicle.
Picking music for your private party, wedding or special event doesn't need to be difficult. Think about where you are having the party, how many people are attending, what type of mood you would like to set, and your budget. This could actually help to outline what you can do with the music.
Elias Haslanger plays jazz, teaches saxophone lessons, and hires Austin wedding bands for your big day.

