1. Ask for a setlist

Many bands talk the talk of being a party band, this is your chance to check and see if they can walk the walk. Ask for a sample set list from every band you are seriously considering. When you get a sample of a set list listen to the songs on YouTube and ask yourself if your guests would dance to these songs or not? You would be surprised how broad someone’s interpretation is of party or dance music. There is an art form to keeping the dance floor packed. Once you play a non-dance song, the dance floor clears and the band has to start back at square one to get your guests back on the dance floor. Also, look at what percentage of songs on the set list were originally covered by men and women to see if there is a good blend?

2. Listen to the Vocals

First, how do the vocals sound? With live music, the vocals is the part that stand out the most and the audience connects with. Are the vocals pleasant to listen to or does the vocalist have trouble singing the song or staying key? These are elements that will frustrate an audience over time. Second, how many vocalists does the band have? There is a limit to how much one vocalist can sing in a night. Having different vocalists keeps the voices fresh and the performance quality higher. Also, it is nice to have different vocalists because you can have different styles and increases the variety of the songs the band can cover well. Does the band have a good blend of vocal harmonies? Vocal harmonies can add a lot to the sound of a song. Listen to YouTube videos, demo reels, audio clips, and any other recordings you can find. A live band will usually put their best clips into a demo reel, but by looking for as many full-length versions of songs available—and in a wide variety of genres and venues—you can get a better idea of how the band will actually sound on stage.

3. Look at the Makeup of the Band

How a band is structured can tell you a lot about the vibe of the band.  Here are some questions that we recommend asking. What is the makeup of the band? How many people does the band have? How many men are in the band? How many women are in the band? What are the instruments played by the band? These questions will give you a good indication of the variety of the songs and styles that will be offered by the band. Does the makeup of your band reflect you’re the makeup of your guests? Having all of one gender in a band means there is a higher probability of not reflecting the party song needs of the other gender. For example, women singers will cover men’s songs, but men don’t typically cover women songs.

4. Look for the Right Energy

What tone are you wanting to set for the event? Your live dance band has a HUGE impact on the feel of your event. Not only are they providing the music, but they’re also providing the entertainment and the energy. How they act and interact on stage will greatly impact how people remember your event. Watch videos of the band on stage and read (lots of) reviews. This should give you a good idea about the type of energy you can expect from the band.

 5. Know your Prices

The price of a local live dance band can range from $1,000 to $10,000—and you’ll get what you pay for. A lower-priced band will almost always result in a lower-quality sound, performance, and event. Get quotes from at least 3 of the bands at the top of your list to get a feel for the pricing in the talent range you’re looking at.

6. Talk to the Band

Although some dance bands may use agencies to represent them, oftentimes you can still talk directly to the band manager or band leader. This is helpful because it can give you a better feel for how the band is run, their personalities, how they’ll interact with your event staff and with your audience, and what they need to run a great show. It is also important to talk with the band to understand the logistics such as understanding the schedule for when the band is arriving and when they are sound checking the band prior to the event.

7. Confirm Important Details

The band is an extension of you and your party planning team. Most live bands are willing to work with your schedule and special requests. It is important to coordinate details including wardrobe style preferences, including (or excluding) particular songs, emceeing an event prior to the band playing, announcements, toasts or auctions. As your event draws closer, make sure to confirm these details with the band and get your agreement in writing.

8. Make sure the Band has a Great Sound System

Not all sound systems are created equal. You are spending good money to get a band for your event make sure to ask the band about their sound system. It is more than do they have the equipment, it is how do they use the equipment that they have to calibrate it and make sure that the sound is balanced and at the right level for your party? For example, how does the band ensure good quality sound when they are playing? How do they solve a sound problem when one occurs during a performance. Something always comes up. Do they use a sound engineer for your party? Bands that have a handle on how they calibrate their sound will deliver consistent performances. You might not be an expert on sound but you know what good sounds like. You want a nice blend of all the instruments, where the sound is high fidelity, with a good blend of bass and you can hear each member in the band.

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