Archive for January 2016

There are a ton of resources out there for brides and grooms to find the best vendors for their wedding. Websites and publications like The Knot and Wedding Wire offer a great resource for inspiration and guiding you to local vendors and resources for your wedding. Eventually, though, you want to meet the people you are working with. Bridal Shows and Expos are a wonderful resource for your wedding whether you are at the beginning or tail end of planning. Shows range from small and intimate to large and crowded, and you can expect to see: Bridal Fashion, Florists, Decor, Planners, Venues, Catering, Jewelers, Photographers, Videographers, Entertainment, and more. It can be overwhelming. Here are some helpful tips to help you make the most of your time at a Bridal Show.

Do your Research

You’ve probably spent a lot of time on Google, Pinterest, and Instagram looking for inspiration. Take a look at who will be showcasing at the expo ahead of time. Where are you in the process? Make a list of what elements you want to be included in your wedding and prioritize the list (Venue, Florist, Wedding Band, etc). Keep it broad. Bring your list with you to the expo and plan your visit according to your priorities.

Bring Questions

One of the biggest benefits of meeting with the vendors in person is the you have the time to ask the questions you can’t online. There is a lot of ground to cover, but remember quality over quantity. Spending time at the booth with the vendors that are highest on your priority list. Get to know them and see what they are willing to offer you. While you are growing through the booths, many companies will showcase their package deals, top selling items, etc. Go deeper. You may just find exactly what you are looking for.

Take: Breaks, Notes, and Business cards.

By the end of the day, you will be full of ideas and information. Every hour or so step away and regroup. Take notes throughout the day and during your breaks, “sum up” the past 3-4 vendors and an action list. If you meet a florist that seems to offer everything you need, they have a great inventory, and you grabbed their business card but forgot to ask about pricing, make an action item to call the florist by “x-date” to follow up on pricing for the arrangements and services you discussed. When you leave, you will have a whole new contact list from the business cards you collected, and a checklist to keep you moving in the right direction.

Keep an Open Mind

And stay on track. Inspiration is everywhere! There may be some elements you have not considered yet that could completely reshape how you want your special day to go. Take pictures and notes of things you like and inspiration, then refer back to the priority list. Later, you can refer back to your photos and notes when you have time to process how it fits into your overall plan. Maybe you found some super cute table settings, but you aren’t quite ready to book that yet— save it for revisiting later.

Have Fun!

Shopping can be either fun or stressful. Everyone is there to help you create the experience of a lifetime. By showing up prepared, you will take the stress out and can focus on having fun, meeting new people, and walking away inspired.

Thanks for reading. This weekend, you can catch us at the Busch Stadium Bridal Event! We will be set up at a booth and two of our bands will be performing on site. From 12:30-4 PM You can catch Dance Floor Quiet at the Redbird Club and Push the Limit at the Cardinals club. If you have any questions feel free to shoot us an email. Otherwise, check back next for next week's #WeddingWednesday :)

Diversity is key to working in this business. We are a Nationally Certified Women's Owned Business (WBENC)and through the years, we have found that having a diverse roster and diverse #tpfamily has inspired us to challenge our own ideas and lead to more innovative solutions.

It’s not just about representing talent that has different looks, ages, and genders, it’s about seeing something beautiful that stands out. Besides staying up-to-date with current trends, one of the key components to creating lasting relationships with our clients and partners is to keep our roster diverse and our #tpfamily inspired. We have found that there are three key success drivers from having a commitment to diversity.

Variety

We get a lot of questions from prospective talent about what we are looking for in a talent to add them to our roster. To sum it up in one word: diversity. We define diversity as having a mix of traditional, contemporary and unique talent. As a Talent and Entertainment agency, our clients rely on us to be able to fill unique roles for their motion, stills, voice, and live entertainment needs. We work continuously to ensure that our roster is representing diverse looks, skill sets, and talents. Increasingly when it comes to casting for motion and stills, we are asked for talent that is “ethnically ambiguous”, or talent who fits specific lifestyles like “owning a Mini-Cooper” or life-phases “getting ready to purpose to their girlfriend in the next six months”. Our projects have changed from straightforward film and print to mixed-media for online advertising, or instead of 10-piece bands for corporate parties, they are opting for more a intimate entertainment experience for their guests. It’s essential to our work to make sure we have options for our clients and continuous work for our talent, and keeping variety in our roster allows us to do that.

Innovation

We have always valued hiring team members with passion, unique skill sets, and commitment to getting the work done right, which often means challenging each other’s ideas and pushing past the confines of our individual perspectives. If you’ve had the chance to visit our office, we are set up in a re-envisioned 1920’s ballroom, under the light and airy cupola.It’s a space designed for collaboration. We have open doors, minus the occasional DND, to help each other come up with solutions. When we have meetings, the floor is open to encourage everyone’s contribution and participation. In a study conducted by Forbes, 48% of participants agreed that a diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial to encouraging different perspectives that drive innovation. We have found this to be true in our daily work as well as being on set or at an event with our clients: collaboration is key.

Tax Incentives

Last but certainly not least, working with a business committed to diversity means tax incentives. We are a Nationally Certified Women’s Owned Business (WBENC). For a lot of larger organizations it is mandated that they fulfill a supplier diversity quota each year, meaning working with businesses that women or minority owned. Many times, you will find that these businesses are also smaller in scale, meaning that choosing to work with them not only gives your company tax breaks, but also helps to support small business and the development of a local economy.

Thank you to all of our partners and clients for giving us the opportunity to do what we love. For more information on WBENC’s and what working with us can do for you and your business, check out their website . If you have any questions, as always feel free to drop us a line.

Recently, we got an e-mail about one of our wedding bands that knocked our socks off:

"Hiring Dance Floor Riot is easily the best choice we made when it came to our wedding! They kept the party going all night with their party jams and all around amazing performance. It's been six months and people still bring up how amazing the band was and how much fun they had! Forget the flowers and fancy cake and hire a band your guests will never forget! Your guests won't remember the fancy chairs you rented or the harpist that played as you walked down the aisle, just how much fun they had dancing the night away to Dance Floor Riot." - Happy Couple, The Knot

The review came as no surprise to us though; Dance Floor Riot definitely stands out as they take your favorite hits lightly dusted with a rock n' roll twist. Dance Floor Riot (DFR) started in 2009, and since has done over twenty weddings. A little over a year ago, they started an acoustic version of themselves called Dance Floor Quiet (DFQ), which is the same thing, just a little quieter.

DFR with another happy couple!

This week we got to chat with Mike, vox, about playing weddings, and here's what he had to say:

When did you start doing Weddings?

We started doing weddings in 2011 when a friend of ours asked us to play hers. The rest is history.

Have any good stories from a specific wedding you’ve played over the years?

Our wedding clients love us because we interact with both them and their guests. We’re big kids at heart, so when the reception has a photo booth, we’re in it. A giant hamster wheel, we’re in it. A ferris wheel and slides (like at City Museum), we’re on them. If the bride and groom want us to dance with them, consider it done. We want to have fun just as much as the next guy, and if we can help other people get engaged and loosen up for a night… we’re all about it. In fact, if any of our past clients check their photos, there’s a good chance we’ve photo-bombed a few of them intentionally. We strive to photo-bomb… in fact, we’ve recently managed to even photo-bomb some of the former St. Louis Rams. OK, sorry, now we’re getting off track.

What do you wish people knew about booking a wedding band?

How much time and preparation actually goes into it on our end. We personalize each wedding as much as we can. We typically put in several hours running their requested song list before the wedding. We’re also at the reception venue several hours before it even starts in order to set up all the gear and sound equipment, get dressed and sound check all before guests start arriving.

What’s your favorite part about playing weddings?

Being able to interact with a fun-loving crowd, and be considered the “reason” for everyone remembering the night.

What is different about playing weddings as opposed to other events?

Weddings are a little more predictable as far as outcome. We know there will be a crowd. We know that we’ll be able to get the crowd dancing. We know the night will be an unforgettable memory for the bride & groom, as well as their guests. Other events are a bit more unpredictable. We never know if we’ll have 50 in attendance, or 5000. We never know if it will be a “dancing” crowd, or a crowd that sits back and nods their head in approval.

What is your biggest goal at a wedding show?

To be the bride & groom’s best decision. Sure, they’ll remember saying “I Do”. Of course they’ll be able to look back at photos and video. But if we can make a bride & groom walk away from their special night thinking “My GOD that band was awesome”… mission accomplished.

What makes you stand out from other wedding bands?

Our music, and our willingness to be perceived as silly. Aside from the very rare request from a bride & groom, we only play dance music. Mostly current Top 40, but a few older Top 40 hits as well. Most people know what they’re getting with us in regards to music, so they rarely want anything else. But we never rule a song out b/c it’s by Lady Gaga or Katy Perry… we go for it. Every time. And we’re not afraid to be silly and entertaining on stage. Some would say it makes us more vulnerable to criticism, but we’re ok with that. At the end of the day, we had fun, and so did the bride & groom, which is what truly matters.

What are the top 5 most requested songs?

The Top 5 that we actually play? Or the Top 5 generally requested? Because there’s definitely a difference. I couldn’t tell you how many “Freebird” chants, or “Pour Some Sugar On Me” requests we’ve had over the years. Currently, I would say the Top 5 songs, that we actually play, that get requested are “Shutup And Dance”, “Turn Down 4 What”, “Uptown Funk”, “Fancy” and “Gangsta’s Paradise”.

Thanks for reading. If you have any questions about DFR, or wedding entertainment in general, feel free to shoot us an email. Otherwise check back next for next week's #WeddingWednesday :)

We've been working with Vote for Pedro for about five years now and we receive rave reviews (check them out) from all our clients. The band has been together for ten years and for 8 of those years, they have been filling the dance floor at weddings.

Vote for Pedro playing a wedding at the Old Rock House

We chatted with Jeff Faulkner, guitar and vox, about what it's like to help make couples' special day one of the most memorable experiences. With over 50 weddings under their belt, here's what he had to say....

What do you wish people knew about booking a wedding band?

That we play a lot of the modern dance stuff like LMFAO, Beyonce, Can’t feel my face, The Wobble, Rhianna, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Uptown Funk. Most young brides hire DJs because they think acoustic bands don't do that stuff. A band will smoke a DJ any day of the week. I've been to plenty of weddings with both: bands go over a lot better. Especially if its the right band. When we play, we have a lot of fun.

What’s your favorite part about playing weddings?

Ninety percent of the time, there's a crowd there ready to have fun. It makes it fun for the band— we feed off of that energy! It's nice to know what you’re doing is making people have fun. Most of the time, everyone is in the right mood— ready to let loose and have fun. The free food is nice too....

What is your biggest goal at a wedding show?

Keeping the dance floor packed at the Old Rock House.

Hands down— keeping the dance floor going from the first to the last song. We want the bride and groom to be happy. Whatever they need, we try to be as accommodating as possible. Every wedding we’ve done, the bride and groom have been really happy and we've received really great reviews after the fact.

Does your band Three Pedros also do weddings?

Three Pedros is catching up to Vote for Pedro for wedding bookings. We started it about three and a half years ago. We've done some weddings with both bands: Three Pedros for dinner and the then VFP for reception. It creates a great all around mood for the event.

So what kind of songs do you play at weddings?

A lot of the 90’s hip hop stuff kills at weddings: Bust a Move, The Humpty Dance, etc.
It’s fun, it's upbeat, and we play it well. It's all about the musicianship and presenting a professional product. We keep our whole song list on our website. We can show up and do what we do, or you can go to our song list and hand pick the entire song list for the night. Handpick the whole set list—

What is the most requested song?

We get a lot of requests for the Ed Sharon song Thinking out Loud for the first dance. It’s a great song— very romantic and all that stuff.

What is different about playing weddings as opposed to other events?

Playing clubs is a different atmosphere; you never know what kind of crowd you will get. With weddings it’s a built-in crowd. You know what to expect with a wedding. Private and corporate events are the same: the overall atmosphere and attitude is just upbeat.

What makes you stand out as a wedding band?

We are different in that we aren’t as much as a variety band. We play modern dance, 70s funk disco, 90s hiphop. Our setlist is a little more concentrated. Not going from Lady Gaga to Johnny Cash— no oldies or country— upbeat fun dance music. We are always open to learning a few songs for the wedding. Hear some stuff all bands

Vote for Pedro and Three Pedros also play shows at clubs, casinos, private and corporate events. If you're looking for a band to play at your wedding, it's always a good idea to check them out at a public venue to experience them live, as Jon suggested. Check out their upcoming shows and as always feel free to contact us with questions!

We’ve recently added a Wedding Specialist to our team, Jon Spindler, who has years of experience performing as a musician as well as booking weddings. He has helped couples and planners through the booking and contracting process seamlessly throughout the years, ensuring that there is clear communication on what is happening when, and how that fits into the wedding day. With wedding planning season in full effect, we asked him what are the most important things for brides and grooms-to-be to keep in mind when looking for a wedding band.

Live Wedding with Downtime Band

Your wedding is a special day to celebrate the joy of two families coming together; each ceremony and reception should be a reflection of that. The entertainment’s job is to translate that unique and beautiful moment into the rest of the evening. There is no better wedding entertainment then a live band. A live band can set the tone for the entire evening from cocktails to dinner and to a packed dance floor leaving guests wanting more. A live band can be visually stimulating for any guests who may not be able to dance. This allows for all of your guests to still enjoy the evening.

Research

Hiring a band is no cookie cutter process. It takes time to research bands and find one that best fits you

Referrals

Ask friends or family members and vendors you have already hired for referrals. If you attended a wedding and fell in love with that band, find out who they are. Make sure you look for the bands contact information.

Media

Make sure there media is up to date meaning if the video looks 5 plus years old, chances are some members have changed. Bands are like any other business where musicians change bands, move, switch up songlists, etc.

Song List

Does the bands song list fit for what you are looking for? For instance, if the bride likes Top 40 and the groom loves Country, a classic rock band would not be the best fit. You would want a variety band that covers everything from Top 40 to Country.

Reviews

Reviews are important. If a band has really great reviews then you know that they have performed at weddings before. You can find online reviews at the Knot and Weddingwire, along with on the bands’ websites. The reviews on the Knot and Weddingwire are submitted directly from clients using those websites. If a band doesn’t have any reviews, just ask for a few references. It is always nice to talk with past clients who have hired the band to get a sense of how easy the band was to work with or if there were any issues.

Booking Process

The most popular wedding bands tend to book up anywhere from 6 -12 months in advance and more towards the 12 month frame during wedding season. If the band is represented by an agency, make sure you are contacting the agency listed on the bands website. Don’t be afraid to ask who else the agency represents. They can also help you find bands that are similar to your initial band you were interested in at your price point.

Budget

Have a budget in mind that you would like to stick to. Most wedding bands average between $1500.00 and $4000.00. That is a wide range but it can all depend on the size of band, how many hours and the location. There are definitely bands available for every price point.

Customer Service

How quick are they to return your phone call or email? The quicker the return-call or email, typically the better service you will have throughout the entire booking process. It goes beyond the initial contact: how quick do they respond to general questions? Do they answer everything clearly? You only get one wedding, so you want to make sure that everyone is clear with all communication.

Listening to a band live

If you can listen to the band live, great but most private events bands do not play clubs. Sometimes you can get permission to come see the band live at a wedding reception but you should also be prepared to go off of the video and reviews. This is where it is good to ask for references. If they have done a ton of weddings in the past, then chances are you do not have to worry about seeing them.

The DJ Myth

Most DJ’s claim that they have an unlimited playlist and that they can play more songs then a band. That is not necessarily true. Both bands and DJs have the same amount of time for dancing at your reception, which in most cases, means playing between 40-50 songs. In some cases bands can get through more material because they can shorten the song if need be to play more songs, or they have medleys which allow for more material. Just like they can shorten a song, they can also lengthen the song if the dance floor is packed and the crowd is really into it. That is the advantage to live entertainment; they can play to the crowd! Another thing to keep in mind is that most bands will go from song to song without stopping just as a DJ would. They can also offer a continuous option which means the band will not break.

If you have any questions, or would like to inquire about wedding bands, email brides2b@talent-plus.com.

Good luck planning!

Pages

Do your Research

Bring Questions

Take: Breaks, Notes, and Business cards.

Keep an Open Mind

Have Fun!

Variety

Innovation

Tax Incentives

When did you start doing Weddings?

Have any good stories from a specific wedding you’ve played over the years?

What do you wish people knew about booking a wedding band?

What’s your favorite part about playing weddings?

What is different about playing weddings as opposed to other events?

What is your biggest goal at a wedding show?

What makes you stand out from other wedding bands?

What are the top 5 most requested songs?

What do you wish people knew about booking a wedding band?

What’s your favorite part about playing weddings?

What is your biggest goal at a wedding show?

Does your band Three Pedros also do weddings?

So what kind of songs do you play at weddings?

What is the most requested song?

What is different about playing weddings as opposed to other events?

What makes you stand out as a wedding band?

See.

Hear.

Behind the Magic

Believe.

Research

Referrals

Media

Song List

Reviews

Booking Process

Budget

Customer Service

Listening to a band live

The DJ Myth

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