Bridezilla???

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

I've had the pleasure of working this year with some really nice guys over in the Bryan/College Station area. The band is South 6 Band, and besides being a good band, they have the wedding band gig down to an art. If you've done these gigs, you know how it can be dealing with the bride, bride's mother, wedding planners (possibly the worst of all), caterers, hotel staff.. etc. etc. etc.. It's never ending, but these guys are pros and always pull it off.

One of the things that always seems to happen on wedding gigs is that the bride or someone comes up with some 'special' songs for the reception. Normally, father-daughter dance etc. and most bands will learn a song or two to accommodate.

Well, this week my buddy Mark, the band leader gets the following email from the bride-to-be. Now in reality she seems to be a very nice girl, but the sheer 'clueless-ness' of this request tops anything I've ever seen in many years of playing in bands. Enjoy..... For the record, this was part of an email that went to the entire band just a few days before the gig, and the band responses are equally entertaining, but not all suitable for a family forum.

BTW, this band is booked and billed as Classic Country, so bear that in mind when you read some of the songs on the "Must Plays" list.

David Doggett · Posted 1 Oct 2008 2:57 pm

So, what the heck did they do?

AJ Azure · From: Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.

when I DJ that list is a total easy night. I wont take requests layer than one week prior to the gig. As a band I would not even take that request list unless it came at least 2 months prior to the gig. maybe, maybe 1 month if the pay is awesome. Contracts should cover stuff like this and then you can just say no when the client pulls a bone headed stunt like this,. especially, when they ask for something that the band is clearly NOT.

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

Mark, the bandleader, called the girl and sorta explained the problem, and she was fine with lots of recorded music covering the request list and agreed to 'trust the band' to keep the crowd happy, which they do very well. It's part of being successful in that market.

AJ, I hear you.. This band really is pro, always has a contract and a deposit, but this 'request' came out of the blue at the last minute. Like I said, I think the bride is really a nice person, and when they talked to her there weren't any 'demands'. She's just totally in the dark about what a band can and can't do.

I'm sure it will be fine, but ya gotta admit that is one whopper of a request list Smile

BTW, her 'Do Not Play' List and mine share some tunes...so she can't be ALL bad. I especially like the fact that she added The Chicken Dance and Macarena to the don't play list, even though they weren't on the setlist to begin with. An ounce of prevention.. LOL.
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AJ Azure · From: Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.

You should see some of my request lists. I get 6 days worth of music requests (itunes tells me) for 3 hours of dancing. it's not mainstream pop stuff either.nutty!

John Steele (deceased) · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

Usher ?!?

That's hilarious.
Just the thought of getting involved with a wedding as a bandleader gives me hives.
I'd rather go to a hanging than a wedding.

-John

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

Well you do have to admit it's really not a proper wedding dance without "Blister in the Sun"... Rolling Eyes

!!

AJ Azure · From: Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.

I love weddings as I am a romantic and I get the cool laid back eclectic music fans. i have never played the chicken dance or the macarena in 15 years of DJing and running bands. My nostalgia band is about to start offering theme weddings ala the roaring 20s and prohibition era 30s so it's not your run of the mill wedding work.

Glenn Suchan · From: Austin, Texas

Bill, I feel your (and the band's) pain. It can be a diplomatic challenge to keep a wedding party (read that, "The Bride") happy. However, it can be done, and be fun, too.

Back in the mid 70's, I cut my steel pickin' "teeth" in a party band. We did private parties as well as weddings. The cool thing about it, the band was a total package: full-blown stage lighting (NOT just a coupl'a stands with PAR 40's and gells), and a front-of-house sound man. Many times there were stares of disbelief during the pre-event load-in. It was more like a stage show than a party band.

The band would orchestrate the entire event; coordinate with the photographer; MC the special dance events, cake cutting, boquette and garter tosses; and take suggestions from the bridal party and guests; etc. We always carried a huge "fake book" and crash-learned/studied oddball suggestions at breaks. Funny thing about the whole thing is, the band leader never said a song wouldn't be done. And that worked, because so many songs suggestions were accepted and at least attempted, that there never were any complaints.

Along with the fake book, we always carried blank contract forms. A few of which were written at each party... we never had to advertise. A totally cool experience, at least for me. Cool

Oh yeah, this was in Chicago and we played quite a few jobs for clients connected with "alternative" job choices ... if ya' know what I mean. So when da' boss sez, "play my baby's song", you just do it. Razz

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

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