Demand and supply is the name of the game in the wedding music business.  For example, everyone knows that – compared to a live band — DeeJays are less expensive. Generally, there are two reasons why.  First, DeeJays don’t split their fee with anyone.  Second, there are a lot of Deejays in this world. And therefore there’s a lot of competition.
And competition means lower prices. 

Let’s assume you want to hire a live band for your wedding.  Here are a few assumptions to keep in mind.  The more popular a band becomes, the more likely it is to charge more.  Also, more people in a band will raise the cost to hire it.  Finally, if the band works with an agency, the band will add 5 to 20 percent onto your total cost. 

Wedding bands that have been around for a while know how to negotiate with you for services.  Bands that are just starting out in the business may not have a clue.  If you can find a band that’s just starting out and you trust the band to deliver, go for it.  Of course, make sure you hear or see them play before you make a commitment.

A lot of bands will have two rate structures – one for pubic performances and another for private affairs.  Some bands will adjust their price if they believe it will lead to future business.  For example, they may be willing to lower their price if you have lots of folks at your reception who would be interested in hiring them.   

Therefore, when the leader of a band negotiates rates with you, they want to know a few other things from you first before they quote you a price.  When’s the date of the performance?   They believe in charging a little more for weekends and holidays.  They also want to know how much travel is involved and whether there are any complexities in setting up.

Musicians may also ask you what you have paid for a live band in the past, but that may not be a relevant question so avoid answering it.

Musicians also decide on a rate based on how much they need the work, so visit their website and see if their calendar is typically filled.  If not, you may get a break on cost. 

You may also bring down the price by offering the possibility of publicity for the band.  Obviously, you’ll have to be creative with weddings and receptions but you never know.  

Another factor the band may consider in lowering its price is whether the location is some really cool place to play.  Is it on the beach?  Or is it in a very fancy hotel? 

Don’t be afraid to negotiate a price.  Simply start by saying you have a budget for the music.  Bands always have a range of rates – a low and a high end – and they’ll usually have some flexibility to give a little.

They may give quote a price and tell you it’s based on a similar gig they did in the past.  Don’t flinch, however.  If it’s too high, just say so.  They may ask you again what you normally pay, but don’t say anything.  Let them provide you with a quote you can live with.  You can always tell them you’ll think about it and wait for an e-mail message from them that suggests a lower rate.

In the end, they may come down to your proposed rate or even something close.  But they may want you to pay for expenses, such as mileage and meals.  It’s up to you. 

Remember, it’s all about supply and demand.  Most musicians are not making a full-time living out of playing.  There are plenty of bands that just enjoy playing at any rate.  And while it’s important to avoid breaking your bank when hiring a musician for your wedding or reception, it’s also importance to remember than great music can make a significant difference on one of the most important days of your life.

If you can afford that piano-playing doggy in the window and it makes you happy, then you know what to do.

Happy Tails!

According to a number of wedding professionals, 2010 is expected to bring a resurgence of brides and grooms who will start planning for the weddings they postponed during 2009 because of an ailing economy.  

Wedding planners, photographers, videographers, caterers, hotels, officiants, travel agencies and musicians are eagerly promoting their products and services for the expected flock of newlyweds ready to launch themselves into marital orbit. 

Thousands of web sites have sprung up during the last decade, with more coming every day, to help these couples prepare for their journey together.  The sites offer helpful suggestions and resources for couples who don’t know where to begin, or who need help with writing their wedding vows, or who are looking for information about marriage licenses.

“For the most part, brides and grooms first tackle the challenge of developing a budget for their event,” explained Karen Oliver of TheNookandCranny.com.  “After the initial shock of how much it will all cost, the next focus is on logistics — where to hold the wedding and reception, getting the caterer lined up, creating the guest list, and printing invitations.”

Oliver said couples then start searching for photographers and videographers to record the special day.  “Everything runs smoothly for a few months until someone reminds them about getting music for the wedding and reception,” she added.

According to Oliver, the search for music starts with deciding what kind of music couples want to hear at their wedding and reception.  Next, the two eager people agree on whether the music should be provided by an orchestra, live band, DJ, or a “one-man band.” 

“Once all these decisions have been made,” Oliver continued, “the search is on for a musician to provide music for one of the most important days of the couple’s lives.”  However, there is some concern about cost, according to Oliver.

“I don’t think most couples realize the broad range of rates for a variety of musicians,” Oliver said.  “The cost can be from a few hundred dollars to more than $10,000.” 

One web site has a free and helpful resource to help couples make the right decisions regarding music for their wedding. TheMUSICofLOVE.com has just produced a 48-page downloadable booklet, “The Practical Guide to Wedding Music.” 

The guide includes descriptions of types of musicians, helpful techniques for finding them, and negotiating costs.  Also included are suggestions for ceremonial and celebratory music, guidelines for being an effective Master of Ceremonies, a list of wedding resources on the Internet, a wedding glossary and many other helpful suggestions for planning a successful wedding.

The booklet is provided at no cost prior to being sold publicly sometime in 2010.

For some organizations – nonprofits, especially — the ailing economy has brought on-line advances to a screeching halt or at least to a snail’s pace. Personally, I don’t think an organization’s commitment to the future and staying competitive should ever stop.

Here are some ways an organization could keep developing its web technology and e-marketing tools while its budget is constrained:

1. First and foremost, make your organization’s presence and effectiveness on the web an organizational priority regardless of limited funds. Everyone, especially your senior team, should feel compelled to contribute to the success of the organization’s web and e-marketing initiatives. Avoid putting all the responsibility for this success one person’s shoulders. Unless you believe your organization’s future does not rely on the web, an integrated web strategy should be priority number-one because it drives so many aspects of a successful business: market development, building brand loyalty, customer transactions, product/service promotion, information distribution, etc.

2. Make certain you have someone leading the charge who truly understands the strategic aspects of advanced web technology and digital marketing. These are people who don’t only write code and hang content, but they are well-versed in the latest trends and applications of web technology. If nobody on your team has the skill — or the ability to acquire the skill – it may be time to hire someone else. You don’t probably don’t need a traditional webmaster, but you do require a web strategist – someone who knows how to shape your organization’s web site and e-marketing efforts into effective business tools.

3. Find the people within your organization who may not be directly responsible for your web technology, but who have an interest and skill level which may help to move things along. More and more people have their own personal and professional web sites and so they have learned, from first-hand experience, to “do their own thing” on the web. Find these employees, determine their specific area of expertise and put them to work. You may have to compensate them in some way, however, but not necessarily by increasing their salaries. Many times, just giving them recognition on the web is all they require. Some people do it because they want to learn more. I provided one of my staff members with a day off every once in a while so they would monitor our involvement in social networks during the evenings. They were doing it, anyway.

4 Shop around for cheap labor. For example, I recently compared prices of companies offering SEO services and was astonished at the broad range of price quotes I received. Apparently, there are some starving consultants out there who want our business – at any price. Obviously, cheap isn’t necessarily good, but with the right references and testimonials it may be good enough.

6. Join an association of like-minded professionals, such as the e-Marketing Association Network, and tap into one of their many discussion threads. There are lots of so-called authorities who have blogged, written articles and discussed their knowledge with the world. Some of them are trying to position themselves as authorities, but so what. If you take the time to become involved in these discussions, you may not only learn something, but you may also get free tech support, 24/7.

7. For resourceful marketers, there are lots of free web sites offering a variety of services which don’t cost a thing. For example, the vast majority of social networking sites and many of the associated applications are free. In addition, there are numerous on-line tools to measure, evaluate and recommend ways to improve your web site’s effectiveness. Some on-line technical associations and support groups also provide support to non-members.

A number of companies and nonprofit organizations do realize the importance of keeping their momentum moving forward within the virtual marketplace. And I feel sorry for those who have gone to the sidelines and are now waiting for the economic storm to pass. In this game, however, there’s no rain delay and the winners shouldn’t mind getting a little wet.

“My birthday gets lost in the tinsel,” I remember her saying.  “How can I compete with the magnitude of a national holiday?” she’d confess.  Besides, she also had the sneaking suspicion that the amount of gifts she would receive would also be roughly half of what everyone else received. 

Then there was the problem of people spending time with their families during the holidays and not very much interested in going to a birthday party to give presents when they could go home instead and open their own presents.

So, now you’re thinking how wonderful it would be to get married or celebrate your commitment to each other on a holiday.  My first word of advice is to go ahead and do it if you’ve really thought it through.  If you haven’t it, however, here’s what you ought to consider:  cost, time/effort and date conflicts. 

Incidentally, as a wedding musician, I’ve played at a few holiday ceremonies and celebrations.  It’s one of those gigs where I automatically charge more than I usually do. Many musicians even charge a little more for playing on the weekends.  Therefore, the very first thing to consider is cost. 

Almost everything for a celebration or a wedding will cost you a little more during the holidays.  Not every cost goes up, but most costs do increase especially those plane tickets for all your out-of-town relatives. 

You can try bringing some of the expenses down by booking vendors far in advance.  For example, I’m more likely to offer a reasonable rate a few months out than if you contact me a month before an event. 

Conversely, if you have the guts to do it, try waiting until the very last minute when vendors have nothing booked and you are a “bird in their hand.”  You may end up with vendors at the bottom of the barrel, but you may get lucky.  It’s a risk that sometimes pays off. 

If you’ve jumped over the “cost” hurdle, then it’s on to the next: time and effort. 

Obviously, planning your special day during another already special day could make planning very complicated as two special days are combined into one –unless you’ve chosen Ground Hog Day. 

Obviously, depending upon which holiday you select, trying to navigate a major holiday season can be challenging.  But if you can devote the time and effort to making your wedding day less stressful, go for it.  This would be a great time to start thinking about a coordinator, however.

Okay, we’ve crossed the bridges of cost and effort.  Now it’s on to what my friend was always worried about:  guest or date conflicts.  Will anyone come to my ceremony or celebration if I hold it on a holiday?  

You know your friends and family better than I.  Of course, if you want to find a way to creatively invite a lot of people knowing full well that they won’t all attend, then you should pick a holiday.  It’s a great way to invite a lot of people, but hold down the number of people who actually come to your wedding.

Cost, effort and conflict.  Those are the three simple issues and you’ve dealt with them all. 

Okay, now it’s time to pick a holiday and there are so many from which to select.  And remember, you’ll probably have to deal in some degree with each of those three issues depending upon the holiday you select. 

Here are some suggestions for pairing a holiday with your special day.

New Year’s Eve and/or New Year’s Day – It’s a time of renewal and commitment.   It celebrates the past and gives hope to the future.  I played music for a couple who had their dance party and reception before getting married.  They were actually married at the stroke of midnight so they took their vows in one year and started living up to them in the next. You just have to hope your less energetic friends and relatives can stay up late.

St. Valentine’s Day – It’s such a perfect holiday for a wedding that it brings tears to my eyes.  What better day than a day celebrating romance and love? 

Leap Day (February 29) – Obviously, you’ll be celebrating fewer anniversaries but think about how rare your anniversary date will be.  Selecting this date says a lot about your willingness to think outside the box, but not necessarily outside the relationship.  

First Day of Any Season – While these four days of the year are not national holidays, they are demarcations and symbolic of the cycles of life.  Each season, of course, will inspire a slightly different theme for your special day:  Love Blooms Eternal in the Spring, Winter Wonderland Wedding, Fall Festival and Summer of Love, etc.   

Income Tax Day – Yes, it’s not that romantic but it’s deductible.  And don’t laugh because I married my first wife on this date and it was always easy to remember.      

Mother’s Day or Father’s Day – Admittedly, it’s a special gift to the people in your lives who made it all possible.  Just make certain it doesn’t backfire and your parents start thinking that you’re trying to steal all the glory on their special days.    

Independence Day – Seems somewhat odd to celebrate independence when you’re uniting together as one, but fireworks at your ceremony or party might be really cool.  Just make sure they’re only up in the sky!

Halloween – As strange as it may seem, I played for a couple who got married on Halloween.  And I can say it was one of the weirdest yet enjoyable
experiences of my musical career.  Trick or treat?

Thanksgiving – I can honestly say I’ve never seen or heard of a wedding or ceremony on or near this holiday.  Somebody out there should do it for historical purposes.  Maybe you could have your event on the replica of the Mayflower or hold your reception at a turkey farm.  Let me know what happens, won’t you?

Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanza – Forgive me if I’ve missed one of the other major holidays in December, but all of these holidays should be selected at your own risk.  Remember that cost, effort and conflict are still three important issues to consider.  Consider them very carefully during the mother (or father) of all holiday seasons.

There are countless other special days like birthdays, the anniversary of the day you both met, or at ten o’clock on the tenth day of the tenth month during the year 2010.  There are dates of solar and lunar eclipses, or the longest and shortest days of the year.  And there are dates which you draw at random to show your faith in fate.

In the end, it’s your special day and every year for the rest of your lives you will celebrate on the day you selected.  Remember, it’s a little like getting a tattoo.  It seemed like such a good idea at the time, but now…?

Happy National Wedding Day!             

Visit  www.MUSICofLOVE.com for more helpful suggestions, checklists and general advice on planning weddings.