DJ vs Live Band: Choosing the Right One for Your Wedding

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DJ vs Live Band
Choosing the Right One for Your Wedding
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Reception Music
Making the right music selection for your wedding
is a very important decision. Music sets the mood
for the reception, and can either keep the
momentum going into the night, or kill it before
the guests even get up to dance.
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Making the Choice
DJ or Live Band?
When choosing the music for your wedding
reception, the first big decision that has to be
made is DJ or live band? Each one has their pros
and cons, and your answer to that question should
depend on your personal preferences and what
atmosphere you want your reception to have.
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Live Band The Pros
Energy A good live band can bring a level of
energy to a room that prerecorded music just
can't compete with. Sound Quality The sound a
live band can achieve is usually better than what
a DJ can do. Versatility A live band can read
a room and adjust tempo, volume, and energy
levels quickly and easily in response to how
everyone is acting. Theme If your wedding has
a specific theme, a band whose look and music
matches that theme can tie the whole event
together.
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Live Band The Cons
Cost Live bands can be prohibitively expensive
an experienced, high-quality band can cost
thousands of dollars. Music Selection Even the
most versatile wedding band won't be able to play
the wide variety of genres and styles that a good
DJ will have in his or her music collection. If
you have a special song you want to play, a live
band may not have it in their repertoire. Volume
The downside to the volume and energy that
comes with a live performance is that some
wedding venues aren't able to handle them. A
venue with poor acoustics can drown out
conversation and overpower a room. Breaks
Unlike a DJ, a band is going to have to take
regular breaks if they're going to play the whole
night.
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Disc Jockey The Pros
Song Selection A DJ will have thousands of
songs across many different genres in their
selection. This will not only add a level of
variety to the song selection that will please
all the guests and keep things exciting, it also
means that the DJ will be able to play the exact
version of any special song you and your new
spouse may have first bonded over. Cost A good
wedding DJ will likely be much less expensive
than a good wedding band. Transitions Unlike a
live band, a DJ can easily segue between songs
that set different moods, creating smooth
transitions between times for dancing and times
for toasts, cutting the cake, etc. No Breaks
Since a DJ can program a series of songs well
ahead of time, they won't need to stop the music
to take a break.
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Disc Jockey The Cons
Energy Even the best wedding DJ won't be able
to match the energy level of a good live
band. Bad MCing Some DJs may be great at
making song selections, but terrible at speaking
to a room. A DJ who doesn't know how to MC
properly can destroy the atmosphere of a
reception, or even mess up key parts of the
ceremony. Auto Piloting While a good DJ knows
how to keep things entertaining while still
following the wedding party's requests, others
are more interested in entertaining themselves
than anyone else. Some DJs will ignore "do not
play" requests, try to make themselves the center
of attention, or just go into "auto pilot" mode,
playing a rote list of standard songs without
paying attention to what the party wants or needs.
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How to Make Your Decision
Whether you decide to go with a live band or a
DJ, it's important to meet with whoever will be
providing the music at your reception. Make sure
that you mesh well with them, and that they seem
attentive to your needs. Many DJs and bands will
also have YouTube videos or other recordings
take a look at these if they are available to see
if their performing style matches what you are
looking for.
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Planning Your Reception
If you're having trouble deciding between the
two, talk with your wedding planner. They will
likely have worked with many of the DJs and bands
in the area, and may be able to give you
additional insight into which ones meet your
needs and wants for your wedding reception.
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About seven-degrees
seven-degrees is Orange County's most
distinctive event venue. We offer our clients a
forward-thinking idea lab as a blank canvas for
the creation of weddings, events and exhibits.
Learn more at www.seven-degrees.com.
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Summary
When choosing between a DJ and a live band for
your wedding reception, it's important to
consider the pros and cons of both. Orange
Countys premier wedding venue covers all the
questions you need to ask yourself. Have an idea
of how much you want to spend, what the theme of
your wedding is, and what venue you will be in,
and include all of those factors in your decision.