CT from The Music City Sound has broken down the pros and cons of hiring a wedding band vs a DJ. Every wedding will have a different music vibe, so this should help anyone struggling with who to hire!
It’s like A classic battle of the bands… except one of them isn’t.
Trying to decide whether you should hire a DJ or a Band for your corporate party or event is a common dilemma. There are many factors to consider, and each approach has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Throughout the course of the hundreds of events that I have been a part of, I have seen so many different kinds of situations where one type of entertainer would be preferable to the other. So, let’s dig into the details and see which choice is the best for you and your upcoming event!
Hey DJ Play My Song…
DJ’s rock! No seriously…I’m sure you’d expect me to say “Stay Away!” but you won’t get that here. We’ve toured with some excellent DJs and love the energy a great one can bring to a crowd. An excellent DJ is someone who doesn’t come to a show and merely set up a playlist of a bunch of songs people like to hear but rather knows their gear, knows how to work an audience, has spent countless hours finding songs that go well together and can create energetic tracks of their own to support their show. In my mind, THOSE are the DJs you’ll want at your event. Unfortunately, DJs of this high caliber are in pretty short supply and extremely high demand. There are many people on the scene who are marketing themselves as DJs whose primary expertise is merely pressing play. It can be difficult to weed out the wannabes from the true talent here, but if you find a stellar DJ with the skills we mentioned above, you’re sure to have an amazing time.
PROS
- If you’re looking for the songs at your party to sound exactly like the radio, a DJ will be able to achieve that much easier than a band.
- By nature of their craft, a skilled DJ will be able to mix songs together in new and exciting ways for your audience.
- It’s possible that hiring a DJ may be cheaper than hiring a band, however an in-demand DJ will still cost you a pretty penny.
CONS
- Having less people on stage engaging with your guests will typically result in a lower energy event.
- It may be hard to tell the serious DJs you should hire from the posers you should stay away from.
I’m with the band
If you’re looking for interactive and energetic entertainment that brings your event to the next level, chances are pretty good that a band is in order. When you hire an experienced party band, you are calling upon several (we usually bring at least 10) experts of their craft who have spent the majority of their lives refining their instrument and learning how to keep an audience engaged. As you might expect, more people on stage interacting with your guests means a much more energetic and captivating night. When we have worked with corporate clients in the past, they have often requested custom arrangements of songs or medleys for their events. Heck, we’ve even re-written the words to classic songs to go along with a company awards show! A band is going to have a much easier time customizing songs and arrangements for your particular event because they are made up of a team of creative minds that can come together to create something entirely new – often right there on the spot. Unfortunately, all this expertise can often come at a higher cost than it would be to employ the services of a DJ for the same event. It’s common sense that hiring 10 experts will inevitably require a greater investment than hiring 1 expert. This investment, however, pays dividends in that your guests will have a one-of-a-kind, high-energy, and unforgettable time.
PROS
- More people on stage interacting with your guests means more engagement and higher energy.
- Bands have an easier time customizing songs and arrangements to exactly fit your event.
- Hiring a band means that you will have a team of creative minds serving the needs of your event.
CONS
- Hiring all these experts will inevitably require a higher investment than it would be to hire a single DJ.
- If you want the songs at your event to sound exactly like they did on the radio, chances are pretty good that a band is not the right fit for you. A band will bring their own particular flavor and nuances to each performance (it’s up to you to decide whether that is a Pro or a Con).
What now???
Now that you know which of our two contenders will be the right fit, it’s time to go hire them! Remember to make sure to vet your prospective entertainer – experienced professionals should have references and reviews galore. Regardless of whether you’re going to be mixing up the vinyl with a DJ or rockin’ with the band, we sincerely hope you have an amazing and unforgettable time at your corporate party!
Feature Photo: Genevieve Nisley Photography