Booking the right music for your private party is essential for any good event. With En Karma, you can easily find the power-packed beats you are looking for to kickstart a night of fun.
Here are some steps you should go through before settling on a band or live musician:
1. Decide a Budget
Make a list of the “ideal price” you would prefer to pay and the “top end price”—the highest amount you are able to spend—to determine your price range. Make sure you thoroughly review the whole pricing because bands frequently add travel costs to their advertised or quoted fees. Other “hidden” costs could be early setup, parking, the congestion charge, or meals and beverages.
2. Ask Questions
Although it can be tempting to pick the first good band you come across, it never hurts to weigh your selections and do a little research. Bands will be more than pleased to talk with you about any ideas you want to run by them or any reservations you may have.
3. Check Availability
If you are interested in a particular band, you might want to think about asking them to “pencil you in” their calendar so you don’t miss out because availability can vary every day. Some bands let you pay a deposit to reserve their availability; often, the deposit is equal to 20% of the total cost.
4. Make an Event Schedule
Write down a brief timetable of how you anticipate your event will proceed, such as, 7 p.m. Drinks Reception; 8 p.m. Dinner; 11 p.m. Carriages. Decide how many sets you want and how they will fit into your schedule. Bands often perform 45 to 60-minute “sets.” Do not forget to give the band breaks and mealtimes (if necessary).
5. Liaise with your Event Organiser
Make sure you have good communication with the person in charge of the event or the venue contact. Inform them in advance that you intend to hire a live band. Verify that the location has the necessary permits to host live music. Before you book, find out if the venue has a “sound limiter” in place because some of them do. This device turns off the power if music is performed at a volume that is too high.
6. Decide on Repertoire & Requests
Consider the age range of your guests and the music genre that would work best for your occasion. Cover bands or tribute bands are excellent choices if you want to get everyone dancing. A jazz band or an acoustic duo would be a good option, though, if you prefer the music to be more of a “background” sound. If you have any specific requests, try to let your band know as early as you can so they have time to learn and practice it.
7. Complete Paperwork
It’s crucial to put a good contract in place so that you and the band of your choice are on the same page. If the band doesn’t already have a contract, you can always look for free templates. Verify the dates, hours, sets, payment conditions, and venue address.
8. Appoint a Contact
For your event to function smoothly, the band has to have a point of contact on the big day. Designate a reliable person to serve as your point of contact with the band; be sure to exchange cell phone numbers in advance in case something goes wrong at the last minute.
9. Parking & Loading
Work with your venue to coordinate loading and parking. Check the loading access and communicate with the band so they are aware of the specific entrance to use and times they can reach the venue to set up. Bands frequently use a small van for equipment.
10. Arrange Payment
Make sure you are aware of what you must pay and when because different bands have different payment terms. Paying them on the spot could sound like a good idea, but depending on the type of event you have planned, this may not be the best option. You won’t run into any issues if the payment terms, schedule, and method are all specified in explicit detail in the contract.
Why En Karma?
En Karma is a group of friends who came together with one goal in mind: create music that people would love dancing to as much as they loved performing it. We have a passion to bring Bhangra music to audiences in North America by curating a combination of classic Punjabi beats and soft Western tunes that can get your crowd dancing in no time!
Looking for a band to liven up your private parties? Contact us today!
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