If You are hosting an event you may wish to consider adding live entertainment. The DJ experience can be effective. Don’t get me wrong, but using Live music can add an unexpected touch that your guests will enjoy.

Live music may come in many forms. A harp is a romantic touch for a walk down the aisle. A string quartet adds sophistication to your ceremony and then continues into the cocktail hour. A soft guitar or piano could add light background music for your dinner. A Jazz band that plays instrumental for mingling then adds vocals for dancing brings some life to the party. If your theme is based on a specific country or food, bringing in singers, instruments, even dancers, could add to this experience. Knowing your crowd will help your selection. Will your group want a quiet atmosphere where they can enjoy conversation or will they wish to get up and dance the night away. There are live bands that play all types of music from all the decades and are great at reading the crowd to bring all the guests into the experience. You may bring in impersonators of famous musicians or a barbershop quartet. Guests enjoy the variety.

I have found that Live music or even just the combined experience as live for the ceremony and cocktail and a DJ for the reception creates a memory for your guests. There are many new bands wishing to make a name for themselves or college music students who would love the opportunity to make extra money and get their name out. You have professionals who have been around for a while and already have a great reputation, and a popular idea now is groups that join talents for the day to create music for your event.

I recommend listening to them beforehand, at another event, or with a posted live event recording, expressing specific songs or expectations. Allow them to have breaks, water and food during the event. Enlist an MC that will encourage the order of events and invite your guests to participate.

Seat your guests who are hard of hearing and not so inclined to dance and watching the entertainment away from the speakers. Start quiet and build as the evening goes by so the people that come to visit can do so and then will feel free to leave when they are tired so the more energetic crowd may enjoy it until the event closes.