Let’s say you’re ready to buy a new car. It’s a big expenditure, so you do a bit of research before you actually shop. The same goes for shopping for your wedding musicians. Prepare a list of criteria you are looking for in your musicians– questions to ask when you first talk with them.
But even if a band meets all your qualifications, you’re still not ready to hire them. You’ll want to audition them—take them for a test drive, so to speak. And you’ll know, after seeing and hearing them in action, when you’ve found the right band for your special day. Here are five ways to audition musicians!
1. In-Person Audition Appointment
Many musicians, particularly soloists, can set up an appointment for you to listen to them at their private studio. Since they will be tailoring the audition to suit you, supply them with a few requests.
2. In-Person Conference Call
Technology can be wonderful. If you can’t visit the musicians’ studio for an audition appointment, you can arrange to hear them perform live, over a speakerphone. Your fiancé and others can listen to the audition on your speakerphone or on extensions. If you want to see the musicians as well, use video conferencing software, such as Skype or iChat, and experience the entire audition from your computer. Conference call auditions are particularly handy if you are planning a destination wedding and cannot see the musicians perform in person prior to your wedding day.
3. Observe Musicians Live at a Wedding Reception
The best way to see a reception band in action is at another wedding. Of course, you’ll need to ask permission to do so and stand in the back of the room, pretending to be invisible. You’ll not only get to audition the musicians at a wedding performance, but you’ll also get to see how they behave. (By the way, you will not be able to audition ceremony musicians in this manner, as it is considered intrusive for uninvited guests to observe ceremony proceedings.)
4. Attend Bridal Shows
If the musician you are interviewing is planning to exhibit at an upcoming bridal show, make it a point to attend. Savvy musicians who have bridal show experience will play in their booths, and they may honor your song requests when they know you’re attending. Besides, musicians may offer discounts if you decide to book them at a bridal show.
5. Observe Musicians Live at Other Non-wedding Events
You’ll get an idea of what the musicians sound like live, but it’s not a wedding. Chances are they won’t be playing the kind of music that you’d prefer to hear at your wedding. They may also be dressed appropriately for a concert, but not for a wedding. They’ll be playing to a crowd and may not be able to honor your song requests or interact with you personally. However, observing musicians at non-wedding events will give you a good idea of their performance skills.
These ideas work fine for professional musicians, but not if you are planning to save money and hire student musicians, musicians who are just getting started playing at weddings, or friends who only have a little bit of experience performing in their local church or coffeehouse. They may not even have demo tracks or videos to share with you. You still need to hear them play, but audition them differently.
See if the musicians can get permission from their house of worship, local college, or music store to perform for you there. Regardless of the musicians’ experience, always try to hear them play before you make any decisions.
In the meantime, end your interview with an audition plan and a date for a follow-up conversation. As soon as you finish the conversation, write down your impressions. Did the musicians listen to you? Did they sound professional? Could you easily communicate with them? Did you like them?
From The Bride’s Guide to Musicians (c) 2010 by Anne Roos, published by Hal Leonard Books. Reprinted with permission. www.halleonardbooks.com
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Considered at the top of her field as a Celtic harpist, Anne is a many-faceted performer who excels as a concert soloist and with her ensemble. She is in great demand for corporate and private events and continues to be a favorite for weddings and receptions. Anne is the author of “The Musician’s Guide to Brides: How to Make Money Playing Weddings”, and “The Bride’s Guide to Musicians: Live Wedding Music Made Easy and Affordable”, published by Hal Leonard Books. See Anne’s Gig Salad PromoKit.