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On your most
special day, your wedding ceremony music, at it’s
very best, will enhance your cherished moments and
help to create beautiful memories. Your
families and wedding guests will compliment you on
the music if it was beautifully and exquisitely performed.
Memories of your wedding day will be greatly enhanced
because of an exceptional quality performance by
your solo violinist, string quartet or harpist. If
your
wedding is being video graphed, your wedding ceremony
music needs to be of the highest quality. Why Should You Hire Professionals for Your Wedding
Ceremony Music
Articles in some recent wedding magazines have extolled
the virtues of booking student performers for wedding
ceremony music as cost-efficient. I would like to
caution anyone planning a wedding against heeding
this advise, for the following reasons:
- Inexperienced students or semi-professional performers
generally do not offer a contract for their services.
- They are unlikely to have references to verify
their reliability or punctuality.
- They are not
familiar with cues and when to stop playing.
- They are not experienced wedding ceremony musicians
- your wedding may be a learning ground
for them.
What to Ask a Wedding Ceremony Music Professional
For each ensemble you are interviewing, you should
ask the following of their music director, music
office or representative:
- Request a CD or tape of their music.
- Ask for
printed references from former brides or accredited
entertainment industry professional
agencies. You may also ask to see programs
of or critical reviews from live concerts or
a professional
resume. These items will help to verify their
professionalism and experience at past weddings,
events or performances.
- Inquire as to whether
they may be performing somewhere where you can
hear and meet them in
person.
- If it
is a high quality ensemble which has captured
your interest and their fee is a bit of a stretch
for your budget, ask them of they are offering
any current discounts or promotions. If they are
not,
you may consider reserving 1 or 2 musicians less
than you had planned to have originally. If they
are experienced and you like their sound this
will
be well worthwhile!
- Try to get a feeling or “vibe” from
their representative as to how they will treat
you and
all of your questions and concerns. Your impression
of someone’s willingness to work with you
is a very important factor. If you prefer to
meet with
all of your wedding vendors, be sure to ask if
this is possible before the wedding.
- Inquire
about their policy on contracts, deposits and
overtime fees. Find out how “locked-into” their
services you will be upon a mutually signed agreement.
What happens if a musician has to be replaced
at the last minute due to illness? If the ensemble
you are interested in hesitates when you inquire
about
these particular concerns, I advise you to move
on. However, if you are obtaining ceremony musicians
through a band or a reputable music office, whom
you already trust, then knowing exactly who will
be performing your wedding ceremony music need
not
be an issue.
By Natalie Kriegler, Music Director,
The Capriccio Ensemble
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