Nothing gets me excited more than doing a wedding where there is a good old fashion band on stage. There is something about the connection a band makes with the crowd. The live music, the movement the numbness you feel in your ears. WAIT!
Numbness? Well yes. If you're getting married and you are planning a band at your reception, it might be a good idea to ask them where they might be playing in the next couple of months, so you can drop in and see how they set up. When the room holds no more than 160 people and the band has speakers that prevent you from seeing the wall, there might be an issue. Let me give you an example. When I first started in the video world I worked with a guy who wanted to buy a really big shoulder mounted video camera, because it "looked professional". Who cares that it was not digital, and was 10 years old, he just looked good walking around with it. The band I am thinking of, thinks the same way. If we have a lot of speakers to the roof, and set off car alarms when we play, we must look professional. Or if our lighting truss has to be rolled in and it takes 6 guys to raise then we look "professional". No you don't, you look like you bought cheep crap off ebay.
We work with some of the best DJ's in the Central Valley. These guys have spent years honing their talents to a point where they can tell you exactly what is needed to deliver great sound to a room. They do not live by the theory Big is better and BIGGER IS EVEN BETTER! Don't get me wrong, these guys can fire up the sound to the point where my fillings need to be replaced and my ears bleed, but they know what sounds good in front of the speakers.
So you get the band and you are ready to roll. How about an emcee. You know, the guy who says, "ALL THE SINGLE GIRLS TO THE FLOOR" for the bouquet toss or "Dancing for the first time as husband and wife...". Does your band handle this? Do they have an emcee? Have they run a wedding or do they sit and plan our your reception so everything flows and you are enjoying your evening instead of figuring out who will talk first at the toasts.
Why does this matter? Unless you have an unlimited balance in your checkbook, things can get quite costly when you have vendors on the clock working by the hour and nothing is happening and you go into "overtime".
So is there a solution? Yes. Hire a band that handles the whole enchilada from start to finish, or hire a DJ that will not only play music when the band is resting but will handle all the scheduling and the emcee work. A side note...music should always, ALWAYS be playing during your reception. Nothing kills the mood than a band or DJ who stops a song and.....wait.....wait for it.....wait.....then starts another song. Or a band who sets up when your reception is underway, because they don't go on for another 3 hours. So as you and your new husband are cutting the cake...MIC CHECK MIC CHECK 1,2,3.....They should be set up when the doors open. If they charge more for that, then pay it or look for another band.
And my last thought on the subject. Whether it is a band or a DJ, ask them if they can supply a wireless mic to the people giving toasts during the reception. What is with this 6 foot mic cable crap where your guests have to peer out from behind a speaker when toasting.
A good band can be a wonderful addition to your reception a good DJ will polish off the night and make it all come together. A bad band and a bad DJ will literally kill your evening and make you walk away wondering why in the hell did you spend so much money to get such and amateur job.
MIC CHECK MIC CHECK...Feed back, LOUD screech....wishing you the best in your new lives together...MIC CHECK 1,2...feedback.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Greek Weddings
Over the years, thanks to Father Jon, I've done a lot of Greek weddings. I remember my first one at the Greek Orthodox Church on Tokay in Modesto. I had no clue what I was in for. However I must have looked like a four year old walking into Toy's R Us for the first time. I remembered first seeing all the icons and paintings on the wall and ceiling. My breath was taken. I just stood there staring and taking in all the beauty.
Off the alter came a priest. A big priest. Now I was never raised in a religious home but my father being a Lt. Col in the Air Force always impressed upon my two brothers and me that you show respect for the title and rank. The priest walked up to me extended his hand, his very large hand and introduced himself and welcomed me to the church. I've found over the years that people in positions of responsibility generally will have a conversation with you to be civil but then grow tired of any questions, not Father Jon. He took me on tour of the church as if I were the first one to have ever seen the artistry. I commented that I very much enjoyed the chants playing in the background and he explained their meaning in a way that even a lay person like me could understand.
When our tour was ended, he gave me his rules on where my crew could and could not be and then left. I felt at home. I wanted to be Greek. This was great. A beautiful church, great music and a really cool priest...and it smelled sooooo good in there! At the end of the wedding as I was packing up and preparing to leave, Father Jon approached me outside and handed me a CD of the chants I had commented on. I still listen to that CD all these years later. I mentioned to Father Jon, I think I want to be Greek, after all my father raised me to enjoy Ouzo. He told me I already had one foot in the door.
To this day, I still get excited when a client hires me to shoot their wedding at the Greek Church. The Greek community is tight, they all know each other, look out for each other and give 110% of themselves to support the church and the members. When I'm standing up on the alter (yes this is one of the very few churches that allow a videographer up close) and I scan the audience with my camera, I see a dozen people I know, several of my former brides and grooms and of course the Priest that has a commanding presence by just standing in front of you and saying nothing. I've come to respect the title, the rank and the man that runs that church.
My last wedding at the church was for Niki and Jason McCoy. A wonderful couple who made the day very easy and relaxed. I can't recall how many times these two asked me if I had something to eat, did I need some water, as if they were there working for me. It was very obvious that they put a lot of work into planning this wedding. Niki even gave a quick Greek dance lesson right after the rehearsal, so that her bridal party would fit right in. So take a look at the recap below. I think when you're done you will see what I feel each time I videotape a Greek wedding. Looking forward to the next!
Click here to see Niki & Jasons video
Off the alter came a priest. A big priest. Now I was never raised in a religious home but my father being a Lt. Col in the Air Force always impressed upon my two brothers and me that you show respect for the title and rank. The priest walked up to me extended his hand, his very large hand and introduced himself and welcomed me to the church. I've found over the years that people in positions of responsibility generally will have a conversation with you to be civil but then grow tired of any questions, not Father Jon. He took me on tour of the church as if I were the first one to have ever seen the artistry. I commented that I very much enjoyed the chants playing in the background and he explained their meaning in a way that even a lay person like me could understand.
When our tour was ended, he gave me his rules on where my crew could and could not be and then left. I felt at home. I wanted to be Greek. This was great. A beautiful church, great music and a really cool priest...and it smelled sooooo good in there! At the end of the wedding as I was packing up and preparing to leave, Father Jon approached me outside and handed me a CD of the chants I had commented on. I still listen to that CD all these years later. I mentioned to Father Jon, I think I want to be Greek, after all my father raised me to enjoy Ouzo. He told me I already had one foot in the door.
To this day, I still get excited when a client hires me to shoot their wedding at the Greek Church. The Greek community is tight, they all know each other, look out for each other and give 110% of themselves to support the church and the members. When I'm standing up on the alter (yes this is one of the very few churches that allow a videographer up close) and I scan the audience with my camera, I see a dozen people I know, several of my former brides and grooms and of course the Priest that has a commanding presence by just standing in front of you and saying nothing. I've come to respect the title, the rank and the man that runs that church.
My last wedding at the church was for Niki and Jason McCoy. A wonderful couple who made the day very easy and relaxed. I can't recall how many times these two asked me if I had something to eat, did I need some water, as if they were there working for me. It was very obvious that they put a lot of work into planning this wedding. Niki even gave a quick Greek dance lesson right after the rehearsal, so that her bridal party would fit right in. So take a look at the recap below. I think when you're done you will see what I feel each time I videotape a Greek wedding. Looking forward to the next!
Click here to see Niki & Jasons video
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