The secrets to finding brilliant event entertainment in Exeter
Whether you’re organising a wedding, birthday party or corporate event, a key element to making your function a success is undoubtedly the entertainment. However, booking the right act can be daunting! You want entertainment that will match your theme, be appropriate for your audience and, above all, make for a brilliant event that no one will forget.
As such, here are some top tips for finding great event entertainment in the beautiful city of Exeter…
Don’t leave it too late
Most professional bands will be booked up far in advance. Established and experienced acts are often very popular, and so their availability will be limited, especially for weekends.
Due to its geography, bands local to Exeter will also often be playing in Bristol, Bath, Plymouth and perhaps as far away as Cardiff and even London.
If you have your heart set on a particular band for your event, then don’t leave it too long before enquiring. The sooner you can book them in, the better.
This is not to say that you can’t find bands at the last minute. Indeed, a directory service like Last Minute Musicians can help you find professional bands in Exeter, whatever the timeframe.
Come up with a budget
It may sound like an obvious step, but it is important to clarify your budget for entertainment, especially if you are not the one personally footing the bill - perhaps a parent is contributing to your wedding, or you’re booking for a company’s event, for instance.
Professional entertainers, no matter what the genre or act, are going to cost you. This is not to say they are expensive – that is a judgment for you to make – but it is worth remembering you are hiring a working professional, just like any other tradesmen. While the temptation might be to look to the cheapest possible act, professional musicians will be able to justify their fee in many different ways, from spare equipment and problem solving, to experience and repertoire.
Consider your theme
While this may not naturally be something you think about, it is very possible to reflect the theme of your event in your choice of live music.
There are some traditional ways to do this, such as by booking a jazz band or classical musician for formal occasions. There are also some new trends emerging! Vintage bands, performing new material in a traditional style, have become more and more popular and with more happy couples opting for a “WedFest” (that is, a festival style wedding) there has also been a huge resurgence in folk bands and other festival style acts.
Do your research
Possibly the most important step in sourcing your entertainment is to do your research. No matter what kind of act you are considering, it’s important to look at multiple bands. Take a careful look at every prospective act’s promotional material, and remember that you are always fine to ask questions, without committing to a booking.
Each act will have a different offer in terms of set up, repertoire and price. Collect as many quotes as you can, and get a feel for the price range of the types of acts you’re considering.
It’s important to remember that most event venues will require your band to have had their equipment PAT tested for electrical safety, and will need to see proof of this in advance. They will also need to see the band’s certificate of Public Liability Insurance.
Get out and about
Exeter is a great city for live music, and was even chosen to host Radio 1’s Big Weekend in 2016.
There are many places to catch live bands, from pubs and clubs to dedicated music venues. With just a little bit of Internet research, you can find some excellent “what’s on” guides, and lists of venues that have live music on.
Whether you’ve found a band in advance that you want to check out before committing to a booking, or are still shopping around for a great group to hire, look through the listings of all the bands that are playing in your area and check them out.
If nothing else, it’s a great excuse to find out more about your local music scene and enjoy some fun nights out!
