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"I want to tell you how extraordinarily pleased Joan and I were with your performance, at Jenny’s wedding … all were superb"
JOHN C. BLEW
"Your orchestra's performance was truly outstanding. We couldn't be more pleased"
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA
"Thank you so much for the wonderful job your orchestra did at our bridal event. Your music, as always, was beautiful"
TIFFANY & CO.
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FANTASY WEDDINGS: FINDING MUSIC FOR YOUR WEDDING
With over twenty years of performing experience, the Stu Hirsh Orchestra has provided the music for more than one thousand wedding ceremonies and wedding receptions. Their performances have also included those for Princess Diana, former presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton and for nationally recognized corporations and cultural institutions.
The Kentucky Derby Museum Gala commented that, "You showed all of us how much you care about your music and your client." And that type of attention is what Stu Hirsh brings to every wedding.
So, to assist you in your search for wedding ceremony music, wedding bands and wedding dance orchestras, we have compiled the following brief guide on how to find wedding music.
A) WEDDING MUSIC: FINDING MUSIC FOR YOUR WEDDING
1) The Internet
Where do you go to find your music? Well, your using a great resource right now - the internet. There are huge wedding sites, like www.modernbride.com, www.theknot.com., www.chicagoweddingpages.com, and www.weddingchannel.com to name a few. These sights contain listings of local wedding vendors. Every type of wedding service is found on this kind of site. Search for these wedding "mega" sites by using search terms such as:
- wedding sites
- bridal sites
- wedding planning
And always include your city name in your search.
Be creative when searching on line. Use different combinations of wedding terms and phrases when you are searching.
If you are searching specifically for music, use many different search terms and phrases as well. Use search words and phrases such as:
- wedding music
- wedding ceremony music
- wedding bands
- wedding orchestras
- wedding musicians
- wedding reception music
- wedding dance music
Again, include your city name in the search and be creative here too. Use different combinations of these words, terms and phrases, in order to achieve the best search results (don’t forget to use both the singular and plural of a word - "band" and "bands").
2) Magazines and Newspapers
OK, so there’s the high-tech way, let’s talk low-tech. Bridal magazines always have dozens of ads from bands, orchestras and wedding ceremony musicians. There is no way to weed out the great musicians from the mediocre ones, but magazines are another excellent resource. Newspapers will also have, on occasion, a wedding guide or planner, as a pull-out section.
3) Personal Referrals
And then there is word of mouth. Ask your friends, relatives and coworkers about the musicians that they have used for their own weddings. Of course, when you attend a wedding or party, pay close attention to the music and the musicians. Ask for business cards - you never know when you might need wedding music!
4) Wedding Consultants and Planners
If you are using a wedding consultant/planner, ask them for their recommendations. Your consultant should know your personality, likes, dislikes and, of course, your budget. A wedding consultant will offer you a list of the bands and orchestras that they know are professional, reliable and who will provide great music. Consultants may have their favorite bands and orchestras, so you don’t need to limit yourself to the consultant’s recommendations. You can still search on your own, but your consultant will not (hopefully) suggest bad music - the consultant’s reputation is at stake and they want you to be happy.
B) CONTACTING THE MUSICIANS
1) Web Sites
Many wedding music providers have web sites and email. Web sites will have a Contact Page of some kind. Fill out the contact page as specifically as possible. The date of your wedding, the kinds of music that you are interested in, the location and the approximate number of guests that will be attending are all important for us to know. Why? Well, many times we’ll receive a request for information without a date. We want to be able to assist you with your wedding music, so the most important detail is availability. Then, we want to know the kinds of music that interest you. Are you interested in receiving information about music for your ceremony, the cocktail reception, background music for dinner, or dance music? When we know the location of your wedding ceremony and reception, we have can then begin to visualize your wedding. By knowing the approximate number of guests who will be in attendance, we are then able to suggest the most appropriate size band for your reception. The more information you share with us, the better prepared we will be to discuss your wedding plans.
2) Telephone
If you are leaving a message, include the date that you are inquiring about. A phone message does not need to be as detailed as a web site Contact Page, but the date is always important for us to know. We will talk about the questions you should ask the band, in just a moment.
3) The Band Leaders Response Time
Here is something that the Stu Hirsh Orchestra feels is very important.
How quickly does the band leader or ceremony music provider reply to your email or phone call?
If you don’t get a response in a reasonable amount of time, BE WARE! If a particular musician or band is extremely slow or lax in getting back to you initially, how well do you think that he or she will respond to your calls and questions, once you have hired them???
At the Stu Hirsh Orchestra, we will respond to every inquiry within 48 hours. You can contact us by phone (847-914-0444), email (info@stuhirshorhcestra.com), or on our web site (www.stuhirshorchestra.com).
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