MELBOURNE WEDDING BANDS:
SHOULD I USE A FRIEND OR A PROFESSIONAL MC?
Overview
This is a question we are asked all the time. Here is my suggestion based on my experience as a public speaking teacher and being MC at numerous corporate events and weddings. Public speaking is a skill. The role of the MC can make a huge difference to the emotion, feel and running of the night. Wedding music is only part of the night. Think of the importance of the host at the Grammys or Logies. If your friend or family member is experienced at public speaking and using a microphone this is the ideal situation. (especially if you are great mates with Ryan Seacrest or Bert Newton) Most people are not and as a result over 90% of weddings suffer from bad MC ing. Some of the problems that every band and venue see include:
Common challenges for family MC
. MC waving the microphone around or not speaking into it . (As a result they may be difficult or impossible to hear and their important words are lost. I recommend using a fixed-not hand held microphone)
. Being too far from the microphone. Batteries going flat in middle of a speech
. The MC standing in the dark. (You must be seen as well as heard)
. Apologising fot their role. "I'll just get the formalities out of the way" ( Rule 1A. Never apologise as it diminishes the importance of your task)
. Speaking too quickly. ( You must speak at HALF normal speed)
. Rushing and mumbling the introductions. ( We play 15 -30 seconds of music as each entry is done and fade it out. Wait for the previous couple to be seated)
. Disppearing during the night after a "few too many" or forgetting what to say
RECOMMENDED SOLUTION FOR THE MC ROLE
1 Use a family member who is experienced at public speaking
2 Let us do it
3 Send the MC into us at least 20 minutes before guests come into room to practice with the mike to avoid all above problems. This serves as a sound check and gives confidence. Let us do the trickier parts such as Cake Cutting, bouquet, garter, bridal waltz. This gives the best of both worlds with the family member doing the entry, speeches and general announcements
YOU CANT REPLAY YOUR WEDDING.
Consider this for a moment. Your wedding is the biggest day of your life. You will remember it forever and it cannot be replayed. The music and MC is the backbone of your night and lasting memory.
After organising and performing music at close to 200 weddings as a Melbourne and International Wedding band we have learned a thing or two things we share with our clients.
The most popular Melbourne wedding and corporate band package is AFFINITY wedding duo or trio. WHY? In the Melbourne wedding band scene they provide the music for your wedding reception, including dinner music, provide a full MC (or can assist your MC) and provide your choice of background music when the band is on a break ALL IN ONE. In addition, they constantly communicate directly on the night with the Reception Centre supervisor, to make sure you can RELAX, and ENJOY your night, rather than being stressed worrying about trivial details.
Mixed culture weddings
Affinity Wedding Band and some other Melbourne wedding and corporate bands give you the best of both worlds by playing DJ during the musical breaks and to provide your choice of recorded music. Affinity have performed at many Melbourne weddings where the bride and groom want a small amount specialised, traditional ethnic music - Macedonian, Croatian, Italian etc., especially to honour the relatives. Affinity can cater to these needs by playing traditional recorded music during breaks.
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Together Forever Wedding Planner
It is really quite amazing when you think about it . The bride and groom have to organise hundreds of things, any one of which can ( and often does!) go wrong and then be relaxed to enjoy the biggest day of their lives. We have recently been absolutely astonished at what we have seen at a few weddings. Relaxed brides and not one glitch! Valerie at togetherforeverweddings.com.au was the wedding planner. She has a free consultation and is very affordable.
Ceremony and Pre dinner drinksOne of the girls can also sing at your ceremony for $200-$300. Seek out Melbourne wedding or corporate wedding musicians by visiting online sources such as www.weddingbandsdirect.comau which can offer an extensive, convenient, one-stop-shop for all your Melbourne wedding music needs. When I was married we had Paragon string Quartet for both the ceremomny AND pre dinner drinks. This is also economical hiring them for 2 hours for around $850 and you really cant beat the feeling and emotion of live classical music. We work alongside them and can arrange booking them
Wedding Band or DJ?
What is the difference between see Robbie Williams live and putting on a CD?
You have just answered your own question!
Many clients have found a great solution. Have both in one with Affinity. Some brides choose DJs for various reasons and we have worked with some excellent ones, however here are some common misconceptions:
- ARE DJs CHEAPER?
We can do solo with LIVE music as well as recorded from $700. As far as Melbourne wedding entertainment goes, a top DJ may be the same or a less experienced one, may be only a few hundred dollars cheaper. The music and MC is one of the most important parts of your experience and lasting memories. For a tiny cost compared with flowers, make up, limo etc you can experience a world of difference.
- With DJs I can choose my own songs?
With Affinity Melbourne Wedding Band, YOU have the option to choose your live songs
and also the songs played DJ style in breaks or as a special feature.
- Melbourne wedding bands only play old songs?
Wrong. We make sure we keep our repertoire as current as possible, and any songs we do not play live, we can certainly play DJ style. Keep in mind that choosing the correct song at any particular time, and judging the mood of guests is the key to great function music and the most important skill of a professional entertainer. For example, requesting ACDC while people are eating their main course is probably not going to be appropriate!
Affinity Wedding Band is well known and respected in the Melbourne wedding band circuit and is recommended by some of Melbourne's top reception venues. Between the three of us, we have years of experience both nationally and internationally, having played at a variety of functions in many venues, both local, regional and overseas
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