When planning your wedding reception, party or event one of the first decisions you will have to make is whether to hire a band or a DJ for your function. Each one has its advantages and it may even be that you choose both! Each offers a different ambiance and will offer your party a different feel. We will look at each and give you all the answers to help you make the right choice.

DJs can offer lots that a live band cannot but you may lose some of the uniqueness and atmosphere that a live band offers. The main difference is that a DJ can offer a variety of music; they can play different tempos and different genres and can cater for a wide variety of musical tastes which may be important if you a have a broad cross section of people attending. At a wedding for instance you may have 3 or 4 different generations of families attending and they may not all appreciate the same styles of music. For instance your grandmother may not appreciate a rock band in the same way as your 20 year old cousin. Live bands may be limited in their repertoire; they may only have one type of music they play such as country or rock. You may be lucky though as some experienced bands ensure they have a good selection and so get more party bookings than the average band. They may even, with some notice, learn new songs just for your function.

DJs are in most cases a lot cheaper than a band, after all you are only paying one person and not a few band members, they will normally have less equipment to carry and they will not need to rehearse their sets over and over to ensure they get them right. A good experienced DJ will complete a play list in conjunction with you to ensure you get all the tunes you would wish throughout the night. Although DJs are cheaper, as with everything you get what you pay for and to get a good one you will certainly be paying a decent sum of money to make sure your night goes with a bang.

Another advantage of a DJ is that they will take up less room than a band so if your space is limited or you want more room on the dance floor then this may be a better option for you. A band with 4 or 5 members with all the equipment they carry; instruments, amps, microphones etc. will need a certain amount of space which you will have to accommodate in your room plan.

So after all that why would you hire a band? Well think about it: when you last went to a concert what was the atmosphere like? Did the music send a tingle down your spine? Did you get lost in the occasion and did you remember it and will you for years to come? Against that think the last time you went to a club, do you remember the DJ or the music? Probably not!

You see live music offers something a DJ hire can’t, it creates an atmosphere, it creates a unique experience that you and your guests will remember and talk about for years to come.

If you get an experienced function band they can create different moods; they can play background music while you and your guests eat and drink and can increase the noise and tempo a notch when you are ready to let your hair down and dance. You can choose the genre of music you would like or get a cover band that can play lots of well loved and well known tunes. Just determine the kind of atmosphere you want to create and choose the band accordingly.

Think about their performance as a show, think of the image of the band, do you want them to dress up? Can they entertain in more ways than by their music? They may be able to act as masters of ceremonies for example.

Whichever you choose, with a little thought and planning I’m sure you can get exactly the atmosphere you want for your party, whether that be with a live band or a DJ. Why not really push the boat out and have both; your evening will really go with a bang. To choose exactly the right live band or DJ for your party why not go to www.functioncentral.co.uk