Weddings, Bridal Planner, Wedding Planning, Wedding Shows, and Bridal Magazines

On the subject of presentation, I would be terribly remiss if I did not mention staging, as in a platform from which the band can perform. This is so overlooked in the wedding market. Wedding clients all say they don't want a cheesy band, yet they will inevitably expect the band to run all of their wiring across the floor of the hotel or country club ballroom, creating an obstacle course/health hazard for the performers and an awful presentation of what might otherwise be a great band. And then they sometimes wonder why the musicians just stood there like statues while performing, rather than moving around and creating the atmosphere of excitement necessary for a great party. A great party starts on stage! But many wedding clients insist on a big dance floor and stick the musicians in a tight space surrounded by wiring that resembles a plate of spaghetti. The fact is, due to legal liability, the wiring for the sound and lighting needs to be neatly tucked away under staging and taped down in any exposed areas that are not covered by staging. If the band does not have enough space to do the job you hired them for without tripping over wiring, the big dance floor may be a moot point. And beyond the safety and legal aspect of staging, is the presentation - how a band is perceived when performing from a stage. A band on the floor, no matter how skilled, will appear as less professional. Even the "cheesy" bar bands usually perform from a stage. A band on a stage, even if lesser-skilled, appears more professional and will be taken much more seriously by your guests. But why not have both the stage and a high caliber band and stack the deck in your favor on the biggest day of your life? A final perk the stage provides is to serve as a type of focal point that commands attention when necessary. When the master of ceremonies or your best man or your father of the bride are making announcements from floor level it is often difficult for your guests to focus on who is speaking and what is being said. Announcements simply tend to be ignored, unless you have the sound turned up to "blasting level."