Hiring a live band for the first time can be daunting!  In the following article I will go through what I consider to be the main things to bear in mind when booking live music.

Bands for hire Here at Last Minute Musicians we have a huge range of live bands to hire for all sorts of occasions including:
 
       Wedding, Parties, Family functions, Corporate events

Tribute bands Tribute bands are always popular at events –everyone enjoys dancing to covers.  Make sure you think about the range of guests that will be at your event.  You might not want to book a Bon Jovi tribute band at an event with your grandma present!

Function bands Function bands are simply live bands that perform at functions.  The function could be an awards ceremony, party, dinner, conference – pretty much any event that requires live music... As there is quite a wide range of styles and standards, shop around a bit and you will find the right function band for you.

Wedding bands Good live wedding bands are versatile in terms of style and usually try to cater for the wide range of tastes your guests are likely to have. Wedding band Please see our wedding music page for more information about wedding band hire.

Live music regulations If live music is performed at in a public setting you may need to think about the regulations that govern live music in the UK. Music licensing is a hot topic at the moment and is likely to be changed soon under the new government according to this article. It’s best to check with your venue to make sure live music is permitted.

Equipment Most live bands for hire are self-contained so will provide their own instruments and sound equipment. Some have lighting systems, but most will charge extra for this or recommend a third party supplier for you to use. If you are booking live music abroad it is more common for the larger equipment (like drums, keyboards, PA system etc.) to be supplied by a local hire company.

Transport & parking Live bands tend to have their own transport by car, van or tour bus. They normally require parking close to the venue and will need to get as close as possible to load in their equipment.

Riders Lots of bands will have a rider that they can send to you before you book to check their exact requirements. They will probably ask for soft drinks and a meal (depending on the event times). Musicians often have a long journey to and from events so a good meal is always appreciated – remember a hungry musician is not a happy musician so won’t give their best performance!

Further reading If you are looking for wedding bands or corporate event entertainment, you might find the following articles useful:

•    How to choose music for your wedding reception
•    Choosing the right music for your corporate event

About the author Adam Hughes is a pianist and joint founder of www.LastMinuteMusicians.com