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The easy way to hire a band for your event

It sounds so simple - "Let's hire a band for our party" - but how do you actually hire a live band to play at your wedding, birthday party or charity event if you've never done it before?

Relax! UK band hire is easier than ever before thanks to online live music and entertainment agencies. These specialist sites feature a selection of party bands for hire (sometimes called function bands or cover bands), and offer various ways to book the bands through the website.

However, some agencies are considerably better than others, not just in terms of the quality of the bands they offer but the overall security and reliability of your booking. So, if the online agency you're looking at doesn't cover all these '7 easy steps to booking a band for hire', find one that does!

7 easy steps to book a live band for your event online

1. Find a website with a wide selection of party or function bands for hire. Each band should have a page all to themselves, not just a link to their own websites. Check out the band's biographies, photos, demo tracks, videos, playlist (songs they play) and look at reviews by past customer to see what they say about the band. If a band's details don't include reviews, chances are, they are new to the business, and won't have the experience and professionalism you want.

2. The best online entertainment agency websites should offer a Wish List function so you can store your favourite bands' details. Make a shortlist of the top three bands you are interested, and check their availability for the date(s) of your event. At the top online live band booking websites, you can check the band's availability and get an estimate quote instantly online, which should include travel costs.

3. If you have any special requirements, or want to talk through the talents of the various bands for hire, pick up the phone and call; the best agencies will be more than happy to talk to you and discuss their acts. If the agency website has no landline telephone number, or just a mobile or email, chances are the agency are a small operation who will not offer the customer support and security you require. If you are in any doubt about the agency, pick the phone, but remember to call in office hours; not even the very best live music booking agencies work ALL night!

4. Once you've found the right band available on the right night at the right cost, book your band for hire asap! The best UK bands for hire get booked up many months in advance, especially for weekends in the summer wedding season. Again, a professional live entertainment booking agency website should let you book your band 24/7 online, and confirm your booking with an email or phone call the next day. The best agencies will appoint a personal booking manager, who will call you and chat through your event and getting the best from your band, just in case you've missed some details.

5. To confirm your booking, the agency should send you a proper, legally binding contract. This is absolutely vital; without a contract, your booking is not secured however much deposit you might pay. Read the contract from top to bottom, have a cup of tea, then read it again. Make sure it covers every detail of your booking, including any special requests or requirements, such as the use of noise limitation equipment or playing after midnight. If not, ring the agency and get it sorted. When you're happy, sign and return one copy, and make sure you get a signed copy in return for your own files.

6. Pay any deposit due, and make sure you know when the final payment is due to the agency. Paying a party band n the night is an absolute pain (where do you put a cheque in a little black dress?) and is not necessary, as the best agencies will pay their bands direct. Do check your contract for anything you need to provide for the band yourself, such as a meal, soft drinks, a lockable room for them to change in, and make sure this is organised with your venue well in advance.

7. Chill out - job done! Your live entertainment booking agency should provide you with an emergency telephone number for the day of your event, just in case something unexpected happens. Now you can just sit back and enjoy the show, and see your guests having a great time, as the band entertain and delight everyone in the room. Brace yourself too for the barrage of compliments that'll soon be coming your way as the clever person who organised this wonderful evening!

AUTHOR BIO

Alive Network is the UK's largest live music and entertainment service, with over 4000 experienced musicians, bands and groups on its books.

Specialising in function and party bands for hire, Alive Network also offers a diverse range of musical styles, from classical to mariachi bands, Bollywood to big band, opera singers to bagpipers. Event organisers can also browse a selection of the UK's best DJs and discos, plus an impressive range of entertainers from caricaturists to toast masters, and specialist suppliers for firework displays and PA hire.

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Event Planning Resources

Of course, it’s important to note that the band is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to organizing your event. If you need help with other aspects of your event, be sure to check out the following resources:

UCLA Special Events and Protocol - While specific to UCLA events, this page contains a lot of useful tools, templates, and check lists that you can use in various occasions.

Vistaprint - Need affordable invitations, announcements, and other marketing or publicity materials? Look no further!

BizBash - A great site filled with event planning news, ideas, and resources.

Eventbrite - A wonderful website for finding and creating events!

Event Planning Online: 14 Essential Social Media Tools - Top tools that you can use when planning your event online.

Image credit:  Luis Hernandez - D2k6.es on flickr