Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How Much Do You Charge?

  A: The cost of the band will vary depending upon how many musicians make up the band, the number of hours of the affair, the distance to the venue, and the time of year.

  
  Our members play together on a regular basis with a core of musicians that comprise the basic group. This usually consists of a lead male vocalist, lead female vocalist, keyboard, bass, drums, and guitar. We commonly have a saxophone player and/or additional horn section musicians. There is some flexibility about the number of players, but the core group of musicians can’t be altered so as not to degrade our ability to perform at our best.
  
  Wedding receptions are usually 4 hours long, but many affairs also require a solo musician or small ensemble at the ceremony and/or the cocktail hour. These additions will add to the cost, and varies based on the type of musician and number of pieces. We can do solo to small ensembles.
  
  In some cases the main party or reception will go overtime beyond the standard 4 hours. Overtime cost will be negotiated in advance as the band will need to be paid to stay longer. Overtime must usually be paid in cash, so adequate planning is a must.
  
  Since we generally arrive for set-up 2-3 hours before the start time, distance to the venue is a major factor. If the venue is very far away from our New You City base, it will become a much longer day for the band because of the commute, and will add to the cost.
  
  Certain times of year are busier than others and a wedding in September will usually be more costly than one in February because of simple supply and demand.
  
  So the short answer is…. It depends on the details.

• Q: What kind of music do you play?

  A: We play all styles of music. Most weddings feature a wide variety of guests who are young and old. SoundImage has a large repertoire with a variety of styles, from current dance music to swing and everything in between. Ceremonies often feature classical music, while cocktail hours can feature jazz. The important thing is to trust that we will know how to read your crowd and respond with more of what they like to dance to.

• Q: Can I request songs?
  A: Yes. We are always learning special requests. The most common special requests are songs to introduce the bridal party, the first dance of the wedding couple, Father and Bride dance, Mother and Groom dance, and special ethnic dances like “The Horah” and “The Tarantella.” “Happy Birthday,” dances with grandparents, and special anniversary songs are also common.

   

  No band can realistically learn long lists of songs for every affair, but always learn at least the minimum discussed above. SoundImage is busy and has played together for a long time so there is a good chance that they already know many of your requests. We encourage you to make a list and send it to us in advance so that we can plan to play the songs you want to hear, if we know them. We can also provide you with a song list to choose from and also make suggestions.
  
  A band will also appreciate a DO NOT PLAY list. If there are songs or styles of music that you do not want to hear at your party it’s best to make it known beforehand.
  
  A common mistake that couples make is a request like, “I don’t want to hear anything but current club music at my wedding.” This is usually a recipe for alienating a large portion of your guests, and will limit the good vibes you’re trying to create. A better bet is to give the band a general idea of the style of music you like (and dislike) so we can emphasize your likes at the appropriate times. The mark of a good wedding band is one that knows how to read the crowd and play the music that’s making them dance.
• Q: Will you provide continuous music?

  A: We won’t play continuous music as a full band, but we do shifts of one or two players/singers at a time between sets to keep music happening continuously.
  
  The band does have to work with the Maitre’d and staff in coordinating the various courses to be served and picked up. You may want to have high energy dance music playing non-stop from start to finish, but that will hamper the service flow and inhibit your guests from enjoying their meal. The policy of most venues is that courses cannot be consumed and cleared if everyone is dancing non-stop, so they will insist that the band adjust their sets accordingly.
  
  Listening music is played as courses are being served and eaten. Restricting dance music sets allows for a schedule to be met so that things like toasts, cake cutting, garter ceremony, special dances, etc…can also happen without hampering the flow of the meal.

• Q: Do I have to feed the band?

  A: There is no requirement to feed the band, but most couples do. If you cannot afford the extra expense of a multi-course dinner, most venues offer a less expensive meal that you can provide. If you can’t swing the extra cost of the meals at all, advising the band in advance will allow them to make it a point to slip into the cocktail hour for a bite to eat before the reception begins.
  
  Many feel that the cost of the band is considerable enough that providing a meal on top of it is excessive. That’s understandable, especially in a tough economy. However you should consider that the band and sound company will arrive at the venue 2-3 hours before your party starts. They need to set up and make sure that everything is working, in tune and sounding as great as possible before guests enter the room. Commuting time to the venue is also a factor, as well as afterward when it generally takes a minimum of an hour to break everything down. That’s an awfully long time to go without anything to eat, so if you want your performers to be at their best from start to finish it’s a good idea to make some sort of provision for food. (Most bands greatly appreciate any provisions, be it a full course meal or a sandwich.)

• Q: If we book the band, what can we expect on the day of our event?
  The band will……

   

   • Arrive at the venue early to set up and sound check our state-of-the-art equipment and sound system.

  
   • Have all special request music learned, rehearsed and ready to perform.
  
   • Work in full cooperation with event planners and the Maitré d’ to ensure everything flows smoothly throughout the event.

   • Be dressed neatly in performance attire, and conduct ourselves professionally at all times.