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However, a live band is often overlooked when it comes time for your processional. At Groove and Tonic, we know our group can make the most of this memorable moment, which is why we urge you to consider us for your wedding’s live entertainment choice in Vancouver, BC. By the end of this article, we hope you will seriously consider this amazing alternative to DJs and choose us to make your trip down the aisle amazing.

A wedding processional is considered an integral part of any wedding ceremony. It accompanies the entrance of the wedding party, which can include family members, attendants and, most importantly, the bride. There is no better way to make this experience unforgettable than serenading your steps with beautiful live music! Although song selections and preferences may differ between the happy couple, we are confident our extensive music repertoire can accommodate all tastes! If you cannot find that special song within our song list, requests are available to best fit your desires.

When you choose live music, there are a couple of bases you should cover before booking a band. Although your selection of musicians is not any less important, it is crucial to determine your wedding venue and budget prior to booking. Your budget will obviously determine what live entertainment you can afford, but your venue also plays a role in how many musicians you should have! If your ceremony is indoors, it is easier for the sound to travel because the acoustics are better. This could allow you to book a smaller group and may not require as extensive of a sound system. However, if your ceremony is outside, it may be harder for your guests to hear the amazing melodies! Whether you need a seven-piece band or opt for a smaller ensemble to pump out mellow tunes, we have got you covered, right down to the sound systems! If your venue does not offer proper sound equipment, it is important to choose a band that can provide this for you and your loved one!

Another crucial aspect to consider when booking your wedding band is their reputation. You want a band with a wedding experience to ensure they are the right choice for your nuptials. If you have a band in mind because they offer great performances at your local bar, remember a pub is an entirely different atmosphere than a wedding. Just because they are great in one venue, it does not guarantee they will be the perfect fit while you walk down the aisle. Ensure you select a well-respected live band that has the skill necessary to make your day great.

Now that we have convinced you to go with a live music selection, check out our website to see why we are one of the best live bands in Vancouver! Live music on your special day will create a lasting experience you can be sure no one will forget. Your hard work and dedication in choosing the best option will shine almost as bright as you on this special day!

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Always Working on Perfecting Their Craft

Serious musicians will always be evaluating and asking for feedback about their performance so that they can make the necessary improvements. The success of live events depends on the musician’s dedication to improvement.

Never Stop Learning

Musicians never stop learning. There are always new sounds and techniques emerging that they can incorporate to improve their performance.

Music is Their Passion

A distinguishable quality of a great musician is that they take their work and craft seriously. Talented musicians and singers find fulfillment in music and performing. It is something they genuinely enjoy and want others to as well. Their passion for music can be seen from the way they prepare for a show and their on-stage presence. If they are taking the extra effort to add creative or interactive components to their shows, you know that it is more than a job to them, and they are focused on delivering a performance everyone will be able to enjoy.

Confident and Adventurous

Another quality that serious musicians have is their confident attitudes that remain intact despite the challenges they face in the industry. It takes a lot of courage and dedication to be in a creative field, as they are always changing, and they have to quickly adapt while also remaining true to themselves. That is not an easy task that just anyone can do. You really have to be confident in yourself and your abilities to be able to successfully progress in your career. 

They Never Give Up

It takes an immense amount of persistence and patience to be successful in the music industry. Many people dream of being musicians but don’t have the thick skin required to be in the field. You have to be okay with negative feedback and people saying no to you. If you can’t handle rejection, it can be very challenging to keep going in the field. When you are confident in your craft and what you bring to the table, a few nos won’t stop you. 

If you are looking for live music for your next party, wedding, or corporate event in the Vancouver area, book Groove & Tonic. The band is made up of a talented group of musicians that always deliver an outstanding performance. Your guests will be talking about your event for many months and even years after!

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When you start the wedding plans, you won’t want to neglect to hire a professional wedding band to ensure a successful celebration. Check out the five ways that hiring a wedding band will enhance everyone’s experience.

Clear Sound, Incomparable Atmosphere

Even hiring a local DJ who’s spinning everyone’s favourite top hits on high-tech equipment could still result in bad sound or failure to excite the crowd. A live band creates an unforgettable experience and impresses guests with a variety of hits everyone will love from mellow songs to dance beats. The energy and excitement that a live band in Vancouver brings won’t end up being ambient music like DJ records can be. Your guests will feel the energy in the air and be ready to slow dance, shimmy or sway the night away along with Groove & Tonic. 

Guaranteed Crowd Pleaser

Guests are accustomed to the prerecorded music that wedding DJs provide, so why not surprise them with live entertainment at your wedding in Vancouver BC? Guests will not expect this and will be thrilled to have a change of pace from other weddings they’ve been to. Groove & Tonic is exceptional at gauging just how much to interact with the audience, what type of music to play and how to go about it. If the crowd starts off mellow, we’ll work with the crowd playing suitable songs until they’re ready to get lively with funky beats on the dance floor!

Incredible Take On Classic Hits

Groove & Tonic has an extensive repertoire of songs that make us a hit at every event! The crowd-pleasing classic hits everyone loves will take on a fresh, new sound as we perform. New hits that are popular with the kids and teens will win over the hearts of adults and Grandma all night long and slow, romantic songs will have everyone in the mood for love! We’ll work with you to determine the best fits and practice your song requests to ensure your guests are enjoying every moment and every beat. Whatever your taste is, we guarantee we’ll include the best hits from a variety of genres to get everyone grooving!

Groove & Tonic is the hottest party band in Vancouver, enhancing everyone’s experience, every time! We’ll impress your guests and relieve you of any stress, so you can dance the ceremony away. Whether you desire a full ensemble or a smaller band, we’ve got you covered by playing all the hits! Contact us via email or call to book an event, party or wedding in BC today!

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The first thing you must do is to set a budget so that you can start your search process accordingly. There are a lot of live bands out there, some more expensive than others, and deciding on a price will narrow down the endless list of options and make the process a lot easier. Remember that each band will offer different services and their prices will reflect that, so take a look at what is being offered and use your budget as a guide. You may come across a band you love that you’ll be willing to pay extra for. 

Once you’ve found a few bands that meet your budget and taste in music, send them an email with your wedding date and location and wait for them to confirm both the price as well as availability. Compare the quotes and when you feel like you’ve found the band that’s right for you, make the booking so that it’s finalized. Make sure you receive an invoice that has all of the correct information on it; in most cases, a deposit will be required to finalize the deal. Always read the fine print carefully so that you’re aware of the band’s requirements and they are aware of yours. This way, everyone is on the same page and the bride and groom can enjoy their special day without any unpleasant surprises. 

Once the deposit has been paid and the contract has officially been signed, you can have peace of mind knowing the arrangements have been made. Closer to the wedding date, you should reach out to the band to finalize some of the details. Go over the date and time, as well as the type of songs you would like to hear them play and make sure they know what songs are to be played during special moments, like the first dance. You may also be required to pay the remainder or another portion of the balance, depending on the contract.

Don’t hesitate to contact the band with last minute questions or concerns because a professional band will always do their best to accommodate the client. After all, this is your special day and they understand that you want perfection in every aspect. 

Groove & Tonic is an incredible live band located in Vancouver, BC, who provide amazing live entertainment for weddings and other events. If you want a party band that can get all of your guests off their seats and onto the dance floor, give them a call today!

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Groove & Tonic wants to save you the time it takes to research and find the right band. We’ve comprised a guide on what to look for when hiring your live party band below:

Considers the Different Age Groups 

A business can be comprised of groups of people as young as 22 to groups in their mid 60s. These different age groups will most likely not enjoy the same genres of music, or decade of music. A live party that finds a way to cater to each varying age group to have them on their feet, dancing to the beat is crucial. A band should have information on how they combat that obstacle of differing age groups and music tastes. For example, Groove & Tonic delivers renditions of both old school and contemporary R&B, Disco, Pop and Rock songs during the events they cover. This can allow for the alternative introvert as well as the hip hop extrovert to have a great time together.

Performs Appropriate Renditions

Even if your corporate event is more informal than most, it’s important for the live band to be aware of the fine line between inappropriate and fun. Not all guests will tolerate explicit language or suggestive songs, and successful performers will be able to accommodate that. Groove & Tonic has a wide array of classic, age friendly & appropriate songs that your guests love; however, any songs your business may not want included in our performance won’t be sung! Everyone deserves to enjoy the hits without feeling any hint of discomfort, and we’ll guarantee that will be the case!

Blends Well With Other Activities

Booking a live party band does not necessarily mean your employees and guests are expected to dance all evening. The band’s purpose is to accommodate guests eating hors d’oeuvres, having cocktails at the bar, networking amongst each other and dancing as well! Groove & Tonic knows exactly how to fuse their performance with other activities at a corporate event for a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere.

Has Performed Similar Events 

No matter how much research is done on a band, the best point of reference is a video of their live performance! If you’re considering a large party band for your corporate event, they should have videos of past event performances readily available for you to watch on their website. Groove & Tonic has multiple videos of our engaging performances and our guests grooving to the tunes on our site! 

If you’re looking for the hottest live party band in Vancouver, BC, book Groove & Tonic. We can even travel to you! Send us an email today.

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Ask Around

Ask your family and friends about what kind of music they want to hear. You could even include a card with the RSVPs that asks each guest to write the song that will get them on the dancefloor. 

Shuffle your Music Library

You technically have your dream wedding playlist in your Apple Music or Spotify library. Put it on shuffle and see what songs come on that you would want to hear. You can start adding them to their own playlist as they come up.

Start with the Genre

Genres are always a good jumping off point. If you don’t like country music, for example, you have already vetoed thousands of songs. If you love just one or two genres, then you may have found your niche. You might have to make some compromises if you have different taste in music than your soon-to-be spouse, but that is what marriage is all about.

Keep it Short and Sweet

When it comes to wedding songs, timing matters. Skip songs that are longer than four minutes unless it is especially significant to you both. Working with a band instead of a DJ means you can ask them to play a shortened version. Because while you should savour the moment, you don’t want to leave your guests twiddling their thumbs and checking their watches.

Slow Down

If you find that all of your favourite songs are faster than you would like for your first dance, or you find you have too many fast songs on your list in general, you can always ask your band to slow things down. They might be able to find a cover or make a slower version just for your big day.

Read the Lyrics

Before you pick your first dance song, be sure to give the lyrics a once-over. Even though the melody might be perfect, the words may not be as sweet and sentimental as you thought. You don’t want to accidentally choose a heartbreak song – talk about bad omens.

Special Songs

Now is the time to walk down memory lane. Think back to significant milestones in your relationship and see if you remember the music playing in the background. Such as a special song playing during your first date or proposal. Or, if you made each other a mixtape for Valentine’s Day.

Movie Soundtracks

If you and your SO are film buffs, turning to the silver screen for inspiration wouldn’t be a good idea. So many movies have stellar soundtracks to incorporate into background music at your wedding. If you two are children at heart, Disney boasts some sentimental tunes worth looking into.

Consult with your Band for Suggestions

If you are still stumped, ask your band for guidance. They will be able to provide you with a list of tried and true jams, perfect for your first foray on the dance floor as newlyweds. As seasoned pros, we have played our fair share of receptions and have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t. Call Groove & Tonic today to see how we can liven up your big day!

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Here are a few questions you should ask your venue before hiring a live wedding band or musician:

Does the license of your site allow for live music?

With noise pollution, neighbours nearby and stricter laws in effect, many venues simply are not approved to host live music. This will often only apply to amplified live music so, if you have already committed to your dream wedding venue, there may still be some live music options. You could have an unplugged acoustic act, string quartets or even a quirky jazz band.

Do you use a sound limiter?

Sound limiters are all the rage these days. Some pesky musicians are known for pushing the volume as much as they can. Because of that, sound limiters have become the must-have tool in a venue’s arsenal.

Do you have a built-in PA system?

Many venues have sound systems built in so if this is the case, you will need to run the PA spec past your band to make sure everything is okay. Similarly, your venue might ask for the band’s tech spec to confirm suitability.

How much space is free for the band to use?

On more than a few occasions clients have booked a large band only to find that their venue can only accommodate a trio. Make sure you find out the space allowance ahead of time so that you can find a band that fits in it.

Is there access to an adequate power supply?

With many couples wanting musicians to perform outside, it is essential to figure out the logistics of that. Most bands will need a power supply, whether that be from an outside socket, extension or a generator.

Is there enough unloading space and parking available for the band?

This applies more towards city venues where unloading and parking are often more restricted. Your band will require a legal space to park their vehicles when loading in, so check with your site to ensure they have access to a loading bay.

Is there a green room available?

Many bands need a comfortable place to get ready. While the back of their van seems like an obvious place, they may require a green room in the venue as well. Most venues should have this, but it is worth knowing for sure early on.

Is there a live music curfew?

Always ask about your venue’s curfew as some venues do require live music to end a little earlier than the standard midnight time to adhere to a license agreement.

These questions are by no means the only ones you should ask your wedding venue, but it is a start. There may be other things that come up during the planning process, but this should get you off to the right start with both your venue and your band. For musicians that have experience playing in several types of wedding venues, contact Groove & Tonic. We are a Vancouver band that specializes in performing live music at weddings. You can feel assured that your guests will be entertained with us since we can perform a wide variety of genres. Call us today to see how we can work in your venue.

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Does your live band have a sound system?

While many live bands travel with a full PA system, it’s important to be sure by looking over their contract. If it’s not mentioned anywhere, then ask them outright, as it could be an extra cost that you didn’t anticipate. If you have 150 to over 200 guests, mention it to the live band, as they might need to purchase something more intense for your venue.

Do they provide adequate lighting?

Smaller bands might not come with the lighting effects that larger live bands do. This is another thing that should be discussed if a lighting aspect isn’t mentioned in the contract.

What does the payment quote include?

It’s common for live wedding bands to give you a quote for three sets at 60 minutes each, with a playlist streaming throughout the evening. As each band is different, especially when comparing genres and band sizes, you’ll need to ask them how long they’ll be playing and what’s included for the price.

Check the requirements for outdoor performances

If you’re booking instrumentalists, a string quartet or other wedding band that needs a sheltered stage to protect them from the elements, you need to make sure you can accommodate them. This means talking to your venue about different options in case the weather turns sour before or during the performance.

Will there be enough setup time?

It can take 60-90 minutes for a live band to set up shop before the festivities begin. They’ll usually need to unload all there equipment into the reception area as it’s being prepared for the rest of the evening. Depending on the time your meal is set to start, you’ll want to discuss it with the band so they can pick the best time to get themselves situated.

Have you discussed any special requests?

Give you live band a heads up well in advance if you have specific song requests for the first dance. They’ll need time to learn it before the big day, so tell them a few weeks in advance. Be aware though, as some bands might charge you an additional fee.

Is food included in their contract?

Commonly glanced over when going through a contract, whether or not the live band will be able to eat and drink at the wedding is something they should know ahead of time. Most bands will request a meal or two throughout their gig, especially if they’ll be at the wedding for the majority of the day.

Booking a live wedding band can be stressful, but Groove and Tonic will make sure you’re stress-free on your big day! Our Vancouver wedding band is ready to bring the house down with live energy performances and a wide range of musical genres. Book us for your wedding, corporate event, Christmas party, outdoor event or fundraiser by giving us a call or visiting our website.

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Live music is bound to provide you with a positive experience. It has the capability of bringing out emotions within you that you didn’t even know existed. This stems from hearing the music live and seeing the musician in person, an experience you simply cannot get from home, your phone or the radio. There is nothing like seeing your favorite artist in person and hearing them sing and perform live which creates a connection between the audience and music that can only come from witnessing a concert. Based on the concert, the chances are you will be experiencing the moment with hundreds if not thousands of others who share your appreciation of music and are there to experience the wonderful environment that only live music is able to create.

It is common for artists to share personal stories related to the songs they are performing and provide audience members with information about themselves you may not have otherwise known. This is also one of the many reasons why concerts are so amazing; you get to see a side of your favourite artist you would only be able to see from a live show. When they perform in front of you, the songs are raw and personal because you can directly see the emotions in their performance and hear their feelings through the lyrics or music. Believe it or not, you will find yourself loving a song more than you already did!

There’s also something to be said about the venue you are attending. Some concerts are more intimate with less of an audience while others are held in arenas capable of accommodating thousands. Whatever the case may be, being there with so many others who love the same music as you do is priceless. Seeing the happiness on their faces and being surrounded by so much positive energy is something you will never forget. Music evokes different feelings for each listener but we can all agree that our favourite songs make us feel something, make us feel good. Experiencing live music takes those feelings to a whole other level and will make you feel alive which is why it is so important to go to a concert and be part of something truly unique.

Concerts create moments you will never forget. If you want to experience the thrill of live music first hand, contact Groove & Tonic for your next event. They will provide you with a party band that will give you the music you crave. If you are in the Vancouver area, let them show you just how special a live band with live music can be and help you create memories that will last a lifetime!

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