When planning your corporate event, wedding, bar mitzvah or country club social, one of the questions that is always asked is what to do about the music.  This question can be difficult to answer because it depends on so many things. For example, the size of the place you are having the event, the time of year, inside or outside and what kind of music you want played are all factors. There are several other things to consider that must also be thought through before it is decided whether you should choose a band instead of a DJ.

One reason many do not want a band is because they are concerned that the band will take too many breaks which will leave the event silent for a period of time. This seems to be known as the silliest of the objections to using a live band. While some bands will take fifteen minutes from each hour they are there to play, most will arrange their breaks around the way the evening goes. If it is a wedding, then that means that while the meal is being served and the guests are chatting they will break, put on a dinner music CD and make sure they are available to play the dance music after dinner. The next break will be when the cake is cut and the bouquet is thrown, which is a time that no one wants there to be music anyway. The rest of the evening will have the band playing long sets. 

Another excuse for not having a live band is the size of the reception hall. That would only be a problem if you are looking to hire a band with eight to ten musicians, and most people do not look for something that big.  So, if your space is limited, find a small group to play if that is what your preference really is.

Some will argue that a DJ is more reliable because you only have to worry about one person arriving on time instead of a few. If this is the thinking then you are forgetting that a DJ is just as likely to have an afternoon engagement before whatever evening event you are planning. If their afternoon obligation runs overtime they could be late. Band members are just as likely to be on time as the DJ.

How about versatility? That is another reason many prefer a band. A band can not only play the type of music you have requested for the event you hired them for, but will have enough skill to play other types of music if there are requests. A DJ will bring one type of music only and although both will go over a playlist the DJ is more limited in what they will play. The DJ will only have so many CDs they can choose from. A good band should be able to play hundreds of songs.

A DJ comes to play music with a simple system. They position the speakers either facing each side of the room or directly in front of them. Neither way is right to focus the sound so that the music can be heard throughout the room. Musicians in a band are more likely to know better ways to make certain their sound is heard by one and all.

Appearance is another factor that makes the band more popular. Depending on the type of event you must compare the two. What makes the best representation for your event a DJ sitting behind their CD player or a well-dressed pianist?  Which tells your guests that the evening will be a classy one?