Archive for the ‘Function Bands’ Category

Function bands provide a worthy conclusion to a corporate evening

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Corporate functions tend to follow a familiar pattern: a dinner; a few speeches; some patter from a comedian or guest speaker; and then an obligatory disco. Although the disco tends to be an anti climactic cue for everybody but hard core party goers to say their goodbyes, some function organisers have started to turn this part of the evening into a more appropriate and inclusive finale by hiring a function band.

Professional function bands provide not only an alternative musical source to that of a disco. They contribute performers who are sufficiently skilled to maintain the momentum already established, throughout both the awards ceremony and the humorous performance of the speaker. In essence, they are a third and extra slice of evening entertainment.

Even those attendees who profess to be unmusical will often find themselves captivated by the sight of the artistry and polished musical craftsmanship of live bands. Those guests who have even the slightest appreciation of music, however, will tend to respond in a positive way by dancing or singing along. At any rate, very few people will be in a hurry to leave when a quality live band takes to the stage, and all will mark the evening as one to remember long after the event.

Function bands are less expensive than generally thought, and given the length of time they are on stage actually represent incredible value for money.

At London Soul, our classic 12 piece band has ample experience of performing at a number of corporate functions, and we are happy to tailor our output to your requirements.

Why live bands are best

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

For those planning an important function or party, there is no question that the spectacle of a live band will be more exciting than a DJ.

However, some function organisers worry that whilst a DJ will always be able to play something for everyone, the repertoire of a live band may prove too limited to keep the vast majority of guests entertained. This concern is not only unfounded, but misconstrues the ways in which guests respond to musical entertainment.

Professional party bands on todays circuit have a vast range of material with which to entertain guests. Those with a rich multi-instrumental structure and strong multi-vocal talents, will be particularly adept at crossing over into different musical styles. The best soul bands, for example, can perform popular ballads and driving dance music with equal flair and panache.

Also, guests at a function will always tend to be genuinely appreciative of a live band, provided the music is popular, recognisable and played to a sufficiently high standard. Indeed, live bands that focus on say, an eighties theme, are more likely to create a happy atmosphere and maintain a consistent dance-floor presence, than a DJ who flits haphazardly between musical styles.

Another point is that any band with a strong track record in performing at functions, and can provide testimonials, is virtually guaranteed to go down a storm, whatever the occasion.

By hiring our experienced and popular 12-piece band, London Soul, you can relax and enjoy the party, knowing that your evenings musical entertainment is in capable hands.

Choosing a live band for a function

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

When planning a corporate or social function, which includes music and dancing, it is generally agreed that hiring a professional live band will often transform a good party into a truly great one. There are many function bands available for hire these days, but how does one go about deciding which to use?

Most function organisers agree that the main criterion for choosing a band should be based on music genre. It is generally considered that unless the attendees are known to share a passion for a particular artist, band, or music type, the safest genre to choose will be well-known, chart-based pop.

Furthermore, to encourage dancing, most organisers agree that the pop music chosen should be both catchy and highly rhythmic. These qualities are most often found in the soul music classics, which have graced the music scene over the past few decades. Hiring a professional soul band will therefore be high on most organisers agenda.

To meet the expectations of todays musically sophisticated public, the best professional bands should be capable of generating a full, rich sound, using talented singers and real instruments. Again, the most successful soul bands are renowned for combining versatile and powerful vocalists, driving rhythm sections, and confident brass ensembles; so will easily be able to meet these demanding expectations.

Our versatile and popular 12-piece soul band, London Soul, has a wealth of experience in playing for a wide range of functions across the county. We look forward to making your function a night to remember.

The growing trend for live music at functions

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

When planning a function, many organisers are increasingly coming to realise the unique attraction of live music, over the traditional DJ or playback of stock tracks. Whether this has been encouraged by the welcome sight of a live band playing regularly on TV dance shows, the greater emphasis on performance by famous pop bands, or simply a deep-seated yearning for live music after years of soulless karaoke backing tracks, there is no doubt that live music is definitely back in fashion.

In a digital age, in which we are accustomed to hearing quality, flawless musical output via a range of electronic media, audiences for live music, function guests will usually demand high calibre, sophisticated performances from artists. Function bands that can meet these exacting demands will not only have a great deal of experience in performing together, but will also be able to generate a full, rich sound through the use of multi-instrumentation, harmonised vocals, and technically superlative amplification.

Sourcing function bands might seem easy at first, but the difficulty is in finding those that are guaranteed to meet the exacting criteria of function guests. Not only is general performance quality a crucial requirement, there is also the need to ensure that the live band can cater for the particular musical tastes and expectations of the function attendees; a school prom, for example, will probably need a more intensely up-to-date repertoire than a 50th birthday party.

The good news is that our professional 12-piece band, London Soul, can meet all your function requirements.

Planning Your Corporate Event

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

If you are in the process of choosing entertainment or live bands for your corporate event there are some key points to consider:

Will you want to have party bands as the main feature for the evening or simply background music for the event?

Will you need to have separate types of music for the beginning of the evening and then later on in the evening, for example a cocktail pianist as background for reception drinks and live bands for dancing?

Is the main goal of the evening to entertain your guests or do you want to encourage business discussion and networking?

How old are your guests?

Will the event take place in one room or will you need live bands that can move from one location to another?

When choosing function bands you need to ensure that they are well qualified and experienced to do the job. You probably want to impress your guests with an atmosphere of class and sophistication so make sure the live bands come dressed appropriately, particularly if you are having a reception, dinner and speeches.

If the event is a company party you will be keen to get everyone dancing. In this case you want a big band to do the job and create a party atmosphere. Party bands have experience in delivering music you can dance to and are expert in getting the crowd off their seats and onto the dance floor. Good live bands will have a wide ranging repertoire which will appeal to all age ranges.

At London Soul we have an exciting range of music to choose from and can guarantee to deliver a night to remember.