Stan’s Music Notes

WEDDING BAND / ORCHESTRA NIGHTMARES AND SOLUTIONS

I am president of STAN WIEST MUSIC and I lead the first Band/Orchestra from the office - THE STAN WIEST ORCHESTRA. .I am also a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants - I give seminars on wedding planning. These are some of the problems I have faced performing for receptions and how they were solved.

1) I was playing a wedding on a charter boat in New Jersey. The boat left the dock and was on the way to pick up the bride and groom. Our high end amplifier for our PA system takes AC current. The boat only had DC current. We had no sound system- no keyboards-no vocals-nothing. The amplifier shut down. The boat captain complained that I was brining extra equipment on the boat. Fortunately I always carry 2 back up amplifiers-of different power levels. The amplifier with the lowest power level was able to work with the DC current and the wedding was a success. By the time the boat picked up the bride and groom I had the connections changed-bride and groom never knew how close them came to disaster.

2) I was playing a reception for the actor TONY RANDAL on at a upper end nursery on Long Island’s north shore Gold Coast. The power supply was extremely limited-not enough power for our system. The circuit breakers kept cutting out. The typical band would have been stuck. I always bring a high end voltage regulator just in case. I connected the voltage regulator to the power supply and the band plugged into the voltage regulator. The reception was saved -again without the voltage regulator there would have been no band.

3) Wireless microphone systems. I was playing for a high society function in a penthouse in Manhattan near the Empire State Building. Suddenly one of the radio stations from the Empire State Building came on the air playing RAP music -on the same frequency as our wireless system. RAP music with profanity suddenly came through our sound system. Fortunately I have the type of wireless system that I can change the channels. If I had the typical one channel system -we would have had to shut down. How do you explain to a client that you cannot perform because of the radio station?

4) At another wedding I was playing (I lead the band on keyboard/synthesizer/vocals) one of the bus boys -carrying a tray of water pitchers- tripped and the water went right into my keyboard-shorting out the keyboard -10 minutes before the start of the wedding-no keyboard. I always carry a back up keyboard in the truck. The band started without me for the guests entrance while I set up the back up keyboard-just in time for the announcement of the bride and groom and first dance.

5) Another wedding I was playing-I arrived 2 hours early to set up and sound check -everything was perfect. I left to play the cocktail hour in another room on piano. The photographer needed to plug in his power supply - took out my electric plugs (which turned off my system and computers) and never told me. I returned just in time to introduce the bridal party and sing the first song-no keyboards-no sound system. Took 10 seconds to plug in the sound system and had to sing the first song with almost no backing other than guitar and drums. During the break to take dinner orders I was able to re set all the computers (15 minutes) and then continued the wedding. Massive panic at the beginning.

See THE STAN WIEST ORCHESTRA on YOUTUBE
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www.stanwiest.com/perfect-altar-ring.htm

www.stanwiest.com/wedding_music_budgeting2.htm

www.stanwiest.com/long_island_bride_and_groom_wedding_planning.htm

www.stanwiest.com/new_york_wedidng_orchestra_dj_band_trends.htm

www.stanwiest.com/wedding_cocktail_hour.htm

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www.stanwiest.com/li_wedding_dj2.htm

www.stanwiest.com/li_party_entertainment2.htm

www.stanwiest.com/li_ballroom_dance_music2.htm

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www.stanwiest.com/arabic_persian_israeli_middle_eastern_music_band.htm

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www.stanwiest.com/new_york_wedding_orchestra_dj_band_trends.htm

MEMORABLE AND HUMOROUS WEDDING ANECDOTES

For the wild and the wacky, the funny and the foolish, there’s no wedding perspective quite like that from the bandstand. I ease personally leading the band in each of these situations

STAN WIEST
A. STAN WIEST MUSIC
www.stanwiest.com
(631) 754-0594

“We were playing at a high-society wedding where the bride’s mother was very, very proper and so concerned that everything be perfect because, well, ‘it’s my daughter’s wedding.’ The reception was at the Old Field Club in Stony Brook, which is right on the shore, and there was somebody who was waterskiing around the area. During the first course—after we did the first dance, the toast, the blessing—the best man flagged down the boat. He had a little conference with them, and suddenly the skier was taking off his skis. The best man took off his pants, and before we knew it, he was just whooping it up, waterskiing in polka-dot boxer shorts and a tuxedo top in full view of this incredibly proper blue-blood crowd.

“I had another bride who wanted her dog as the maid of honor, so she had a designer dress made for the dog to match her bridesmaids’ outfits. She spent $5,000 or $6,000 on this little dress. The only problem was that she wanted to have a wedding in the church. She told the priest about the dog, and he said, ‘Absolutely no way.’ So she had to move the ceremony to a private party space.

“At the Old Westbury Golf & Country Club, we did a very elegant Korean wedding, and they had a special wedding cake baked by one of their baker friends. It was absolutely gorgeous. But I guess the baker was worried the cake would fall and used something extra to hold it together. Whatever he used, it solidified the icing—it was like cement. The bride and groom are standing there with a regular knife. It doesn’t work. The maître d’ goes into the kitchen and gets a sharper knife. Even he can’t cut the cake. So then he brings out a serrated knife. That doesn’t work either. He goes back into the kitchen, and now he comes out with a coping saw—what you use to cut metal with—and, struggling very hard, gets a single slice out of the thing. After they dug into it for a while, all the bride and groom could get was a tiny bit in the middle to feed each other. The rest was totally inedible.

“Then there are the people who say, ‘Gee, my cousin sings great. Can she sing with your band?’ Once, at the North Hempstead Country Club, the bride requested that her cousin sing ‘All I Ask of You,’ the lead song from The Phantom of the Opera. It ends up at a very high note. As soon as we began playing it, we knew that when this girl got to that part, she wouldn’t be able to make it. She just didn’t have the voice. I can see it now, all in slow motion: The girl comes to the end of the song, totally oblivious to everything; one of the waiters has just finished clearing a table and is walking across the bandstand. He’s got a tray of dirty dishes—roast-beef scraps, wineglasses. At the moment she hits the high note from the song, he’s crossing the dance floor. The girl cracks it, and this huge screech comes through the sound system. The waiter trips, and everything he’s carrying goes crashing across the dance floor.”

CUTTING EDGE CREATIVE TRENDS
IN WEDDINGS AND WEDDING MUSIC

Many creative weddings are getting away from the traditional weddings that have guests constantly being asked to be seated for the next food course.

I am known for helping give brides the opportunity to be different - to take a side path away from the traditional and to create a unique ambiance. I enable a bride to make her dreams come true - the bride’s personality is the cue for my concept of Sophistication With Pizazz.

Wedding Ceremonies for the independent minded bride can be glorious.One of my brides wanted to return to the age of romance in the Medieval times.She was attired in a medieval dress. The groom was in a full tunic-and was barefoot. I provided musicians attired in medieval outfits performing medieval instruments for the outdoor ceremony.

Another bride and groom loved the old movies and decided to be dressed in the clothing from the movie “Gone With The Wind”. The invitation read for all the guests to be attired in the style of the movie as well. I provided music from that period in time for both the ceremony and the reception. Everyone is still talking about that wedding.

Instead of the traditional wedding march and wedding ceremony music - contemporary brides want to place their individual mark on the ceremony music as well. For one particular bride I am providing the music of Enya played by a string quartet for a Mass in a church. This took quite a bit of convincing of church officials who never heard of Enya.

Creative Brides are looking for a more even flow- getting away from the regimentation of a wedding reception to more of an atmosphere of a celebration with family and friends. Many of the traditional formalities are being eliminated.
One cutting edge aspect is for a cocktail hour with exotic music or having the traditional instruments take a completely different approach. I have introduced the music of India to cocktail hours. A Sitar and a Tabla performer (2 performers) seated on a raised area covered with rugs from India and the performers are dressed in East Indian attire. The music is fascinating, exotic, extremely relaxing and guaranteed to evoke conversation. This is totally different than one finds at a cocktail hour.

Traditional strolling violins can be used in a very creative direction. One of my brides decided to have the violins only play the Songs from the Walt Disney movies. She was a Disney fan and the guests absolutely loved it.

Flamenco guitar for the cocktail hour is a popular cutting edge aspect in great demand once a bride is introduced to the music. I provide tapes of unique music ideas for a bride to consider. I ask her to keep an open mind and experience something different.

Another bride was a lover of string instruments and wanted that to somehow be a part of her wedding. I created a fifteen piece string orchestra that performed for two hours at the cocktail hour -playing everything from classical music of Mozart to Scott Joplin, Broadway Show Tunes to Cole Porter and George Gershwin melodies. As the guests entered the cocktail hour they were astounded with the presentation and the variety of the musical selections. This has never been done before - the bride wanted something very different that would be personal and meaningful to her. I was able to make her dreams come true.

Cutting Edge weddings are looking to get away from the separation of cocktail hour aspect which stops to become the reception aspect. The trend is for a non-disruptive transition between the two. I am presenting overlapping sections of music to smooth over the difference. A Steel Drum band plays from 12 Noon to 1:30 PM outside. The Wedding Band starts playing inside at 1 PM. There is no announcement of ending of cocktail hour or beginning of reception. The guests can flow from one to the other. By the time the steel drums finish the dancing has been well under way and the transition complete. From 1 PM to 1:30 both musical groups are performing in separate location to complete the overlap.

Brides and Grooms are looking to display their personalities by presenting the first dance in a choreographed setting. They have taken dance lessons to

enable them to dance the entire song in the spotlight alone - with swirls, dips and exotic dance step patterns.

For another couple the first dance was the theme from Robin Hood- “Everything I Do- I Do It For You” the Brian Adams song- I created the arrangement to be played in the style and sounds of Renaissance Instruments. They wanted to be introduced to Renaissance Trumpet Fanfares and continue the first dance in the same tradition.

During dinner is another time the bride and groom can create a special touch. For one couple who loved the opera I brought in operatic singers to perform selections from their favorite operas during dinner. For another couple I brought in two ballroom dancers to perform elegant dance routines while the guests dined.

The European Wedding Approach as well as the Mansion Wedding Approach has made great inroads and has freed couples from the traditional wedding requirements and demands.

The Mansion wedding has each part of the celebration in a different part of the mansion with the food and music changing at each location.

The European Wedding allows the guests to eat and converse undisturbed and the dancing begins after dinner is over.

Just as the trend is to make the cocktail hour flow into the reception- the same is now happening at the end of the wedding. The overlap into another ambiance. At one upcoming wedding I have the dance band playing to 1:30 AM in the main reception room. In another room I have a Blue Grass Band starting at

1 AM -another overlap from 1 AM to 1:30 AM- going from a more structured to a less structured party after the party.

STAN WIEST

Member Association of Bridal Consultants

www.stanwiest.com

www.stanwiest.com/perfect-altar-ring.htm

www.stanwiest.com/party_entertainment_ny_li_nj_ct2.htm

www.youtube.com/StanWiestMusic

Make Your Wedding A Change Of Pace

Music can set the mood for romance, conversation or dancing, wonderful components of a wedding reception. Music is the very first thing that greets your guests and the last thing they’ll hear when they leave the reception.
Your music literally makes or breaks the function depending on the selection of musical entertainment ranging from Bouzouki to Bluegrass to a full Orchestra. If you can do something different with your music to catch the attention of the guests, you will win them over.
A recent client wanted a cocktail hour that was serene but which will have “wowed” the guests.I brought in traditional Indian musicians to play a sitar and tabla on a platform decorated with Indian rugs.It was such a spectacular cocktail hour that people are still talking about it.The music did not disturb the conversation but was itself a conversation piece.
When planning a musical arrangement that is out of the ordinary, think about the tastes of your guests as well. If the bride does it for herself without taking into consideration her guests- it will not work.
One bride I worked with loved “Gone With The Wind” and arranged to have music inspired by the film played during the cocktail hour and at the start of the reception.Guests were thrilled.If the music in the style of “Gone With The Wind” was played for the entire reception there would have been a negative responsive.A taste of the style at the beginning sets the mood.
If you are both avid fans of Rhythm and Blues, a blues singer might be right up your alley.If you have German roots why not hire an Octoberfest Band in full liederhosen attire.If the two of you met on an island vacation or are planning a tropical honeymoon, a Caribbean Steel Drum Band in Calypso attire is a great way to start off your wedding at the cocktail hour.Greek Bouzouki performing the songs of the specific sections of Greece the families are from or Irish music from County Claire (or any other county in Ireland).
This can be mixed with American Dance Music. Your personality is the cue and the music should be customized to your wishes.
If this is too specific for your taste then decide on the style or mood you want for your reception and plan from there.Do you want to create an elegant, romantic affair or a more casual gathering. The music makes all the difference in the direction your reception will take.You can spend a tremendous amount of money, but if the music does not fit the ambiance, it is not going to work.More is not necessarily better. Having the right thing makes all the difference. You do not have to spend more to have something different that reflects your personality.
My next article will cover a few of the common types types of receptions and some uncommon musical suggestions to bring those settings to life.
STAN WIEST
Member Association Of  Bridal Consultants
President of A.STAN WIEST MUSIC
www.stanwiest.com

www.youtube.com/StanWiestMusic

THE RETURN TO TRADITIONAL WEDDINGS IN NEW YORK, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY, NEW JERSEY,WESTCHESTER AND CONNECTICUT

STAN WIEST

Member Association  Of  Bridal Consultants

www.stanwiest.com

www.youtube.com/StanWiestMusic

The latest trend of BAND DJ ORCHESTRA combinations has taken a new direction. Brides are creating weddings with a more traditional approach. This can be seen in the music brides are choosing for their ceremony, cocktail   hour and reception.

The wedding ceremony has reverted to traditional favorites such as “Canon in D” by Pachelbel for the bridal party and the “Bridal March” by Wagner for the bride’s entrance. Recessionals have “The Wedding March”  by Mendelssohn as the favorite.

There is a huge recurrence of Jazz for the cocktail hour selection. Most brides are requesting piano or piano and saxophone or piano and bass music featuring the standards and favorites of their parents and guests. The music of Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rogers and Hart etc. evoke immediate wonderful memories when heard by the older guests. Many will hear their own wedding songs performed. What a great way to start a wedding - instantly winning your guests even before the reception starts.

Steel Drums have become the second favorite and Strolling Mariachi performers are in third place for cocktail hours.

The big change is  the selection of the first dance music. Brides are choosing songs that have been classic standards throught the years - again songs that their parents and friends grew up with. Songs like ”The Way You Look Tonight”, and “It Had to Be You”  in the style of Sinatra  - are in the majority.

The Bride and Father song “Daddy’s Little Girl” is the overshelming emotional favorite. Groom and Mother songs now popular are “The Times Of Your Life” and “Through The Years”.

The reception music for bands, orchestras and DJ combinations have taken a more elegant and traditional approach. Swing, Society  Swing and Big Band music have become in demand with a mixture of comtemporary music later in the reception.

With a  BAND/DJ/ORCHESTRA combination there is non stop music for the guests throughout the entire reception. The benefit of the BAND/DJ/ORCHESTRA combination is that it does not take up any additional room. They all use speakers, amplifiers, equalizers, mixing boards etc. By combining systems a wedding can have the elegance and excitement of a live band as well as hear songs performed by the original artists - in essence the best of all musical possibilities.

There are additional benefits. Catering establishments love the idea - it does not take up twice the space. Clients love the idea - there is no additional cost. This is a great budget helper.

The most successful weddings  have the most diversity and flexibility with the music. If a bride has a packed dance floor, if everyone says “that was my kind of music” regardless of the age group, if there are no complaints of volume problems and the bride and groom only have to worry about enjoying themselves (the elimination of all stress) - What More Can You Ask For?

UNCOMMON WEDDING RECEPTION MUSIC IDEAS 

LARGE FORMAL WEDDING RECEPTION

Most traditional wedding receptions require a large venue and the music should match this magnitude. Certain instruments such as acoustic guitar, harp or solo violin get lost in a huge banquet hall. Make sure the instrumentation for a ceremony or cocktail hour matches your venue.

You want something that will totally knock out your guests. A full string orchestra can be available - up to 15 pieces. It may sound extravagant but it can definitely be affordable and it makes an incredible impression and presentation for a cocktail hour. The biggest and longest lasting impression is the first thing your guests see or hear at your wedding.

One of my clients had 300 guests traveling to their wedding from all over the world. They wanted entertainment that would transcend the cultural differences and provide something everyone would enjoy. After a 10 course dinner and an hour of dance music I provided a square dance/line dance caller to take over. For two hours everyone got involved. It did not matter if they had two left feet. Anyone can do square dance and line dance with the help of a caller.

If you have a large indoor-outdoor reception space, why not create different mingling areas, each with a specific mood? A tented lounge with sofas, personalized martinis and a solo singer, a piano bar area , a string quartet playing chamber music in a grassy nook or a Latin band heating up the dance floor.

ELEGANT ENTERTAINMENT

One trend catching on is having Ballroom Dancers perform during dinner. This does not disturb the dinner conversation. It provides that something special that you guests will always remember. Two 15 minute performances with costume changes will enhance any dinner serving time.

CASUAL COUNTRY

An outdoor, laid back atmosphere can go from a Dixieland Banjo Band with or without sing alongs around a campfire to the wishes one of my clients had of a Jazz Band performing for a wedding in a barn on a farm in a country setting.

Consider the natural, calming sounds of a harp and flute duo for an afternoon picnic reception or “unplugged sessions” where a band performs acoustic versions of classic rock or folk music. This adds a nostalgic sensibility to the modern day receptions.

INTIMATE SOIREE

One or two strolling violins to take requests. It is a nice touch you can add and it does not disturb the ambience of a cocktail hour or reception. A three to eight piece Mariachi Band can perform during the cocktail hour or during dinner.

FUNKY LOUNGE

For a relaxed piano bar effect-whether there’s a built in piano or a keyboard has to be brought in-consider building a sitting area around the keyboard - the performer can take requests from the guests as well as interact with them.

A bossa nova or samba trio (traditional or new wave) is a cool option, not only for those with Brazilian roots, but for any couple who enjoys sultry rhythms.

An authentic jazz band may not sound unusual but if you find a truly great one, you and your guests will
“feel it”. There is an authenticity that can only happen when musicians play the type of music that is their passion and specialty.

TROPICAL PARTY

There is nothing better than steel drums. Make sure these are the authentic performers from Trinidad and Jamaica dressed in Caribbean attire.

For fun and a theatrical welcome to guests consider a fanfare or trumpeters or lute players in medieval outfits.

For that extremely unique effect bring in a Sitar and Tabla performers (music from India). Seat them on a raised area covered with Indian rugs. The effect ie mesmerizing.

STAN WIEST

Member Association  Of Bridal Consultants

www.stanwiest.com

www.youtube.com/StanWiestMusic

 
BAND  DJ ORCHESTRA COMBINATIONS

 With the growing diversity required by brides and grooms a new trend is developing in wedding reception music. The emergence of the BAND DJ ORCHESTRA COMBINATION on Long Island and in the New York area. 

Many brides and grooms and their families seek the elegance and excitement of a live band. The wide appeal of the current club music also bring in the desire to hear the original artists. Rather than settling for one aspect (Band or DJ) brides and grooms are now looking at the BAND DJ Orchestra Combination.

Prior problems with having a Band and a separate DJ is that twice as much space is required. Also two completely different sound systems. The new BAND DJ ORCHESTRA combination has the DJ set up within the band – at NO EXTRA COST to the client.

A bride and groom can have the very latest music on the radio for their wedding (music that was just released that week) and still have the elegance and excitement of a live band performing for their wedding. This is also becoming a tremendous factor in mediating the differences in opinions between brides and grooms as well as between the future couples and their in-laws.

This now allows a bride and groom to stay within their music budget by contracting a 6 or 7 piece band with the DJ set up included. The bride and groom can make up a list of every song to be played with the DJ set up.

 Parents who want a band are now more willing to help out with the costs of the music. This now enables everyone attending the wedding to say “My kind of music was performed” regardless of the age group.  No age group is excluded and it guaranteed a packed dance floor.

Catering establishments love the idea since it is not taking up any extra space designated to the performing area. Wedding planners and consultants love the idea because it gives them a tremendous flexibility in their proposals to clients.  Everyone comes out a winner with this newtrend. 

One extremely importation additional benefit is that there is non stop music for the entire reception. No breaks. Guests can always be dancing when ever they want.
This is a superb idea for buffet receptions, tent weddings as well as traditional sit down wedding receptions.

Clients love the idea because it eliminates the complaint of “the music is taking a break”

STAN WIEST

Member Association Bridal Consultants

www.stanwiest.com

www.youtube.com/StanWiestMusic