{"id":2607,"date":"2015-04-08T15:48:21","date_gmt":"2015-04-08T20:48:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog?p=2607"},"modified":"2025-08-14T15:27:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T20:27:44","slug":"shopping-for-wedding-musicians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/shopping-for-wedding-musicians\/","title":{"rendered":"Shopping for Wedding Musicians"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated on August 14, 2025<\/p>

Let’s say you’re ready to buy a new car. It’s a big expenditure, so you do a bit of research before you actually shop. The same goes for shopping for your wedding musicians. Prepare a list of criteria you are looking for in your musicians– questions to ask when you first talk with them.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But even if a band meets all your qualifications, you’re still not ready to hire them. You’ll want to audition them\u2014take them for a test drive, so to speak. And you’ll know, after seeing and hearing them in action, when you’ve found the right band for your special day. Here are five ways to audition musicians!<\/p>\n

1. In-Person Audition Appointment<\/h2>\n

Many musicians, particularly soloists, can set up an appointment for you to listen to them at their private studio. Since they will be tailoring the audition to suit you, supply them with a few requests.<\/p>\n

2. In-Person Conference Call<\/h2>\n

Technology can be wonderful. If you can’t visit the musicians’ studio for an audition appointment, you can arrange to hear them perform live, over a speakerphone. Your fianc\u00e9 and others can listen to the audition on your speakerphone or on extensions. If you want to see the musicians as well, use video conferencing software, such as Skype or iChat, and experience the entire audition from your computer. Conference call auditions are particularly handy if you are planning a destination wedding and cannot see the musicians perform in person prior to your wedding day.<\/p>\n

3. Observe Musicians Live at a Wedding Reception<\/h2>\n

The best way to see a reception band in action is at another wedding. Of course, you’ll need to ask permission to do so and stand in the back of the room, pretending to be invisible. You’ll not only get to audition the musicians at a wedding performance, but you’ll also get to see how they behave. (By the way, you will not be able to audition ceremony musicians in this manner, as it is considered intrusive for uninvited guests to observe ceremony proceedings.)<\/p>\n

4. Attend Bridal Shows<\/h2>\n

If the musician you are interviewing is planning to exhibit at an upcoming bridal show, make it a point to attend. Savvy musicians who have bridal show experience will play in their booths, and they may honor your song requests when they know you’re attending. Besides, musicians may offer discounts if you decide to book them at a bridal show.<\/p>\n

5. Observe Musicians Live at Other Non-wedding Events<\/h2>\n

You’ll get an idea of what the musicians sound like live, but it’s not a wedding. Chances are they won’t be playing the kind of music that you’d prefer to hear at your wedding. They may also be dressed appropriately for a concert, but not for a wedding. They’ll be playing to a crowd and may not be able to honor your song requests or interact with you personally. However, observing musicians at non-wedding events will give you a good idea of their performance skills.<\/p>\n

These ideas work fine for professional musicians, but not if you are planning to save money and hire student musicians, musicians who are just getting started playing at weddings, or friends who only have a little bit of experience performing in their local church or coffeehouse. They may not even have demo tracks or videos to share with you. You still need to hear them play, but audition them differently.<\/p>\n

See if the musicians can get permission from their house of worship, local college, or music store to perform for you there. Regardless of the musicians’ experience, always try to hear them play before you make any decisions.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, end your interview with an audition plan and a date for a follow-up conversation. As soon as you finish the conversation, write down your impressions. Did the musicians listen to you? Did they sound professional? Could you easily communicate with them? Did you like them?<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49\u00a0You might also like:\u00a0<\/strong>Important Questions to Ask Your Wedding Musicians<\/a><\/p>\n

From The Bride’s Guide to Musicians (c) 2010 by Anne Roos, published by Hal Leonard Books. Reprinted with permission. www.halleonardbooks.com<\/em><\/p>\n

Ready to hire a talented musician for your special day? Book the best at GigSalad.<\/h3>\n

<\/i>Search<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last updated on August 14, 2025Let’s say you’re ready to buy a new car. It’s a big expenditure, so you do a bit of research before you actually shop. The same goes for shopping for your wedding musicians. 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