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Whether as solos, or in duos, or trios, or combos, or ensembles, or bands, or orchestras your parties just gotta have musicians! So here's a few tips on hiring these melodic maestros.
1) Take a look at the selection of bands, musicians, and singers available here at 101Musicians.com.
2) Many musicians are booked as much as a year in advance for certain dates. Contact them far in advance of the actual date you have planned to check on availability.
3) If you find your preferred artists are booked, contact the American Federation of Musicians Local in your area, or go to the national website at www.afm.org. Click on the "Find A Local Union" text on the front page and when the next page appears select the state or zip code you live in. Continue refining the search until you see the list of local AFM chapters for your city. Selecting one of them will get you the contact information page with the number to call. The page may also have their local website if they have one. At their website you may be able to submit a form to have them contact you back about your event. For our culture's sake and the future of parties and events support your local musicians!
4) If you want to hear a soloist or group before signing a contract the AFM Locals often have audio or videotape libraries of their performances. However, you should really audition all candidates in person. Find out where and when the musician or group is performing and see them work live.
5) The minimum booking requirement is at least 3 to 4 hours. However, four 15- to 20-minute breaks in a four- to six-hour event is the general rule of thumb. That adds up to at least an hour of no music. Check to see if you can play CD's during the breaks.
6) The official contract offered by AFM is a binding document on both sides to protect the musician and you. Once you both sign your musician is obligated to honor the contract and show up on time. You may add a cancellation clause if one is not included but both sides must agree on what constitutes "sufficient advance notice". This way neither you as the employer or the musician is stuck if you have to cancel your party or event. Make sure you sign a contract specifying the date, time, hours of performance, fees (including overtime charges), number and duration of breaks, and a receipt for your deposit. In most cases the balance of your fees will be due at the end of the engagement.
7) Yes, to be fair, there are quite a few quality non-union musicians.
8) Get recommendations. Start by asking people you know for suggestions, including the manager at your reception hall
9) Match your event hall to the group. An 18-piece orchestra will overwhelm an intimate gathering and a string quartet will be drowned out by hundreds of guests. Check the hall to make sure there's room for the necessary sound and lighting equipment. In fact, if your musician or group is not familiar with the room they should get an opportunity to see the facility themselves. They should speak with the management to go over staging, power supplies and equipment issues.
10) Talk face to face with your musical talent. Find out if they can fit the affair. How many songs are in their playlist? How comfortable are they about requests? Go over your special requests well before the date of your wedding, party, or event. Discuss the care and feeding of your musicians if the contract does not specify.
11) Leave nothing to chance. Reconfirm the date, time and location with your musicians a few days before the reception. Send them a map. Have a PARTY!