Booking Weddings and Getting What You're Worth

By Bob Popyk

International Musician, August 2000

I was reading a USA Today article on the price of weddings. It was an interesting, well-researched article on what young couples (or their parents) spend their money on to make the big day a memorable success. It said that even a small wedding could run a bill to about $20,000, and larger weddings could go through the roof. As an example the article took one couple's budget and listed their anticipated expenses for a September wedding. The grand total was $108,225. I looked it over carefully and was astonished to see that one of the most minimal expenses was for music ... and that was for a DJ. $500 for a CD spinner, when the candy favors alone were $2,000! That's just crazy. What's wrong with this picture?

First of all, weddings are a great source of work for musicians. And that's not just for wedding bands playing cover songs like, "Celebration," "YMCA," "Shout!" and the "Chicken Dance." That's also for pianists, harpists, string quartets, bag- pipers, strolling accordion players, and the like. But these gigs just don't fall into your lap. You have to make yourself known. You have to get to know the wedding planners in your area, you need to schmooze with the caterers, florists, limo companies, and photographers. You need to know what your role really is, how to work in conjunction with the caterer, and you have to help coordinate the entire affair. Otherwise, the gig goes to a 20-year-old kid in a tux, minus the jacket, who introduces the bride and groom, spins some tunes, and gets paid more than he can make at McDonald's. It's not right.

More and more people are using wedding planners today. That's one person who does all the work, is in on all the wedding decisions, and knows how to spend money. Search them out. Find them. Let them know who you are, and that you are better than any kid with a turntable and a couple of speakers. Let them know you have formal wear, you have lights, fog, confetti guns, and bubble machines, or will get them. You have (or can get) an expanded PA system if necessary. You can provide nonstop music, can do the introductions, can work with the caterer, the videographer, and the bridal party. If you don't, can't, or don't want to - you simply can't compete.

You are a professional, live entertainer. You are the best. Of course the cost is going to be over 500 bucks. But they're paying a thousand dollars just for flowers! They can pay a lot more than that for a great band that knows how to work the room for a wedding. You are worth the money. Because if you're not, it's back to the kid with the CDs who does four weddings a week and takes money out of your pocket.

Remember, DJs come with all the toys, nonstop music, and the whole wedding thing down pat. So if you can do the same with live music - provide music during the breaks, do the intros, coordinate the affair, schmooze the crowd, and work with the wedding party - they will pay. If you are really good, they will pay more. If you are GREAT, they will pay a lot more. It's like mining for gold. You have to go where it is, first, and you need the right tools. It doesn't happen by accident.