So, you’ve decided to book a band for your upcoming event. You’ve contacted the band’s agent, or perhaps spoken to a member of the band directly, and have gone straight in with the all-important question: how much will you cost? Perhaps you were pleasantly surprised by the answer you received, but chances are, you’re shocked by the price you’re being quoted. Many bands worth their salt will look to cost you anywhere between £1000-£2000 for their services on any given evening. So, we decided to try and provide some answers as to why your band of choice looks to be charging you over the odds.

Putting Things into Perspective

It might seem patronising at first but consider for a moment what you’re really asking the band to do for you. Let’s say this band consists of four musicians who live fifty miles away from your party venue and, on average, play 35-50 shows a year. The fee you pay will include costs such as fuel, vehicle maintenance, equipment maintenance, insurance, promotional material, food/drink, agency fees… the list literally goes on and on.

After these essentials have been deducted, the band will need to be paid for the time they spent with you. Roughly, including travelling times, the band will spend 8-10 hours on fulfilling their obligations to your event. Now, consider the fact that every member of the band will need to actually make some money in the end to pay their mortgages; most function musicians will earn less than £15,000 a year and will have to supplement their music work with other employment. Suddenly, the £2000 you’re being quoted doesn’t seem so ridiculous after all.

You Get What You Pay For

Again, at the risk of patronising, function bands really take pride in what they do, and their price is almost always a reflection of the quality they can bring to an event. The very nature of the function band business means that musicians working in that circuit are not motivated by money: there are other more profitable opportunities out there, believe us.

In virtually all cases, a seemingly hefty price tag will simply mean that a band is at the very top of their game and are able to pay their members a fee that reflects their quality and professionalism. Much like an elite sportsman or a sought-after solicitor, their price tag is a reflection of their ability to be able to deliver what you want. In musical terms, something expensive usually means it’ll sound good. Damn good.

Consider the Alternatives

There’s little doubt that an excellent DJ can pack a dance floor at almost any kind of party or function. At a margin of the price, they can be a very viable alternative to live musicians or performers. However, do not underestimate the sprinkle of ‘gold dust’ a band can bring to your event. It’s a quality that is very hard to measure or quantify.

Seasoned musicians with experience in entertaining guests of all ages are hard to beat and bring with them an infectious energy that is sure to delight all. Even if the music on offer is not to everybody’s exact taste, this is no different to what a DJ would provide.