Live Music or DJ? Which is Right for Your Wedding or Event

 

You’ve got a big day coming up! Whether it’s your wedding, a party or a coming-of-age celebration such as a bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, or quinceañera, one of the big decisions you have to make is who will provide the music for your event.

Should you hire a live band or a DJ for your event? The answer depends on your budget and needs. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but here are some considerations to help you with this decision.

If you’re planning a wedding, you’ll need to consider both wedding ceremony music and music for your reception. Often you’ll need different musicians, depending on the theme and style for your event.

You might prefer a solo pianist for your entrance, a vocalist for a musical interlude in the ceremony, and a string quartet or classical guitarist while your guests enjoy cocktails and await the bridal party’s arrival. After dinner, you may want a swing band or a modern DJ to get the celebration going. Considering your musical needs at every stage of the event is essential.

Pros of Hiring a Band for Your Wedding Reception

• Amp up your theme. Depending on the theme for your big day, a band can really make the event feel special. A swing band for your 20’s themed wedding or a country band for your barn wedding will both look and sound the part.

• Customization. Unlike with recorded tracks, if a crowd is getting into a particular song, a band can repeat a chorus to keep it going seamlessly. They can also customize lyrics to a familiar song for the event, or play exciting solos that energize the guests.

• Memorable. A live band experience is hard to forget, and you want your big day to be unforgettable. The presence of the live band signals something special.
  Packed Dance Floor at a Wedding

Cons of Hiring a Band for Your Wedding Reception

• Expense. Bands are universally more expensive than professional DJs, even DJs that bring lighting and special effects. There are more people and logistics for a band, so they must charge more.
• One type of music. Most bands specialize in a single kind of music such as rock, blues, swing, country, etc. If you want a diverse playlist, a single band may not be able to meet your choices. Bands also do not have an unlimited repertoire. While they can learn a new song for your event, they will charge extra to do so.
• Space. If your wedding venue is on the smaller side, you might not have space for a band. A 5-6 piece band needs an area that is at least 16’ wide by 12’ deep. Larger ensembles need even more room. Bands prefer to have a stage, but they’ll at least need a flat floor space away from high traffic areas and with easy access to plenty of outlets.
• Downtime. Most bands take time between songs to confirm next song up in case there’s a change to the setlist, switch their music and sometimes instruments, and in general, take a short breather. This downtime can cause the dancefloor to pause. Even a short break creates an opportune time for guests to exit the dancefloor or even your event.

Pros of Hiring a DJ for Your Wedding Reception

• Less expensive than a live band. DJs are more cost-effective than a live band, so pay attention to your wedding budget when deciding.
• Takes up less space. A DJ won’t need as much space in your wedding venue to set up their equipment. Make sure you have enough event space to hold a band and still have plenty of room for everyone to dance.
• Fewer breaks. Musicians need to take breaks for food and water to keep their energy going, and bio-breaks as human beings. During these down times, the momentum tends to slow or halt, and many guests may take this as an opportunity to leave. A DJ doesn’t need frequent breaks, and if they do take one, they can set up a song sequence to continue playing while they take care of their needs. Plus, they can transition from song to song with no dead air, which keeps the energy on the dance floor high.
• Variety of music. If you want to play many different kinds of music at your reception, a DJ may be your better option. Bands usually specialize in one, or at most, two types of music. If you’re planning some classical dancing, such as a waltz, followed by some oldies that everyone knows, as well as some modern rock and dance tunes, a live band isn’t going to be able to play all those styles.
• Strong personality and emcee skills. Most professional DJs have great stage presence and are good with the microphone. You can count on them to get the crowd going and to be professional and proper with announcements.
• Musical consistency. Since DJs play recorded tracks, you’ll know what to expect in each song. There’s not much worse than a bad cover of a favorite song, and all you can hear is how it should be.

Cons of Hiring a Wedding DJ for Your Reception

• Atmosphere. It is hard to ignore a live band. Although DJs do get people on the dance floor, if dancing through the night is essential to you, make sure you select a DJ that is attuned to your vision and can engage the crowd while curating a play list that your particular guest enjoy.
• Personality. Make sure your DJ has an engaging stage presence that fits the vibe of your event.

Whether You Choose a Wedding DJ or a Live Band

• Plan with them ahead of time. You’ll want your live band or wedding DJ to have appropriate playlists, be aware of any particular song wishes or special dances, and have both a policy and a procedure for handling audience requests.
• Include a “must play” and a “do not play” list. Your band or DJ should be willing to abide by them. If the “Cha-Cha Slide” makes you queasy, you don’t want to hear it on your big day.
• Sign a contract. Be sure to spell out all of your terms, agree on a price and expectations, and pay attention to things like their sickness or cancellation policies.
• Get recommendations and vet your choice. At Adagio Djay Entertainment, we have a list of happy customers and testimonials from folks who had a great event with one of our master DJs behind the music. We’re glad to talk you through the musical decision-making process for your event. Even better, we work closely with most local musicians and bands to provide our clients with the best of both worlds. We’ve been helping couples with their event music for 27 years, and we look forward to helping you too.