Looking for live bands for hire?
Looking for a good live band to hire for your function or party can be quite a difficult task. Budgets tend to prohibit being able to book chart-toppers of the Coldplay or Arctic Monkeys variety. In any case, bands of this sort are less likely to accept fees for private performances when they are filling out stadiums and selling albums by the truckload.
So, is it possible to recreate a certain vibe for your event - be it rock, pop, jazz, soul, disco or swing - but without the rock star price tag? The short answer is “yes”. There are literally hundreds of talented bands for hire throughout the UK, the vast majority of them are unknown and generally unsigned acts. Many of these acts are groups of highly skilled musicians who have developed their own material but are able to cover the classics of their prefered genre. Knowing which one to choose for your event is the tricky decision. Approaching unknown bands directly is risky if you have not seen them perform live before. They will always tell you they are perfect for your party or function even if they are not (their desire to work is greater than their concern for your satisfaction). It’s also quite tricky to preview bands prior to the date of your event. Often the bands in question have busy private booking schedules, are performing at opposite ends of the country or have no live dates fixed in the short term future.
One option is to trawl the internet looking for band websites in the hope of being able to view video clips of them perform. This can be time consuming and, unfortunately, unreliable. Often groups change their line-ups or present material that is inaccurate reflection of their true ability. It’s also quite difficult to make decisions based solely on grainy youtube clips. The other option is to employ a reputable entertainment agency to do the work for you. This has many benefits, a primary one being the inclusion of a legally binding contract between you, your agency and the band. Many event and party planners who book bands directly are left high and dry when the act calls at the last minute to say that they can’t make it. With a legal contract in place your financial investment is protected and, in the event of a last minute cancellation, a replacement is virtually guaranteed.
How much does it cost to hire a band? Fees for 2 or 3 piece bands tend to start at about £500 to £600. A good quality 4 piece band is normally around the £1000 mark. It’s recommended that if you want a great quality, highly skilled and sought after 4 piece band then allow for a slightly higher budget of say £1500 to £2000. In any case, most entertainment agents tend to represent or have close working relationships with a very wide range of bands and will be able to advise you accordingly on suitable acts and budgets. You can view some of our recommended bands here.
Finally, if you are committed to booking a band for your event be aware that there can sometimes be additional costs involved. Most bands have their own sound systems, however, depending on your venue size you may need to consider the hire of additional technical equipment such as speakers and lighting installations. Again, all good entertainment agents will be able to advise you on how to organise these essentials.
