Hunting for Live Musicians 
by John Nicole

Oh, they’re out there all right just waiting to be captured.  And they’re not
too difficult to find when  you take the time to look for them, but here’s the
catch:  Start looking for the music first and not for the musician.

Music moves everyone in deep and mysterious ways.  It is the harmony
of love and life, together.  It’s hard to imagine our world, or the special
times of our lives, without it. 

There’s a melody and a rhythm to everything we do in our lives.  Maybe
it’s a symphony when we embrace someone we care about.  I wonder if
everyone hears the jazz of moving through a crowded street. Perhaps it’s
a gentle lullaby as we drift off to sleep. 

If music is the soundtrack of our lives, why do so many people wait until
the last moment to select a musician and the music that will punctuate
their memories with the melodies of their emotions?

Whether your affair is grand or intimate, the right live music will be an
important ingredient to making it successful.  So, here are five suggestions
for making it happen. 

Don’t start with a budget for music.  Instead, envision the kind of
wedding, ceremony and celebration you want to experience -- not what
your guests or family want, but what you want.  Forget about the cost for
now.  Believe me, if your vision is strong enough and you’re creative
enough, you will find a band or orchestra or guitar player or pianist within
your budget.  The supply of musicians far outweighs the demand for
them.  But if you wait until the last minute, you won’t have time to shop
around.

One size may not fit all.  The musician you hire for the ceremony may
be different than the musician for the reception.  You could save a little
money by negotiating with a band that can “break apart” to provide a
pianist or acoustic guitar player for the ceremony and then joins back
together for the reception and party.  Another plus is when the front-person
of the band can also be the Master of Ceremonies.  If you get really lucky,
you may even find a musician willing to write original music just for you.
Be careful, however, that you’re not asking one musical group to do too
much. 

Seek an agreement.  Make certain the live musician(s) you select can
provide you with a written agreement – even an e-mail message –
confirming their price, services and length of performance.  It’s also best
if the musicians belong to a professional organization which sets forth
principles to guide musicians’ behavior during their performance.  For
example, the Wedding Musician Association publishes Principles of
Performance which states musicians should not set up or break down
their equipment while guests are still in attendance.  Other principles
include guidelines about wedding protocol, safety and ethical billing
procedures.

Stick to your guns.  Even though musicians may have a lot of great
ideas for music, you are the one in charge of your own vision.  Certainly,
they can influence you with their experience and you should listen to their
ideas.  But this is your time, your life and your vision.  Try to figure out
-- in advance – all of the specific songs you want and then ask for samples
so you can hear the music before the big day.   Believe it or not, many
musicians are happy to plan with you and somewill even attend the
rehearsal – and you should let them.  In fact, don’t forget that many
couples have live music for their wedding rehearsal reception.

Ask for help, early.  Just as it take some people a very long time to find
the right partner to share their life, it could take a little time to select the
right musician and the most appropriate music.  Don’t be afraid to ask for
help.  Share your vision of music with a friend and turn them loose. 
However, don’t let them make decisions without you. In the end, you’ll be
glad you didn’t wait untilthe last minute.

Happy hunting!    

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