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Do you need the entire band for the entire evening? Consider solo piano or a small cocktail duo/trio for the first few hours of your event. This makes particular sense at a wedding, where you often just need background music for the ceremony and early part of the reception.
Gabe Lucas Piano Productions offers the unique option of having the pianist play both piano and bass using a keyboard. The "bass sound" is played in the left hand, and the "piano sound" comes from the right hand. For a background jazz combo or small variety band, this option works extremely well. Although there is a small charge to bring a keyboard, this is still an excellent way to save money. For events where dancing is a high priority, or where you want contemporary/rock music, we do not recommend this option. The reason is that a dedicated bass player is essential for any dance band.
Similar to the keyboard option described above, having musicians who can play more than one musical instrument helps reduce your costs and improve the sound of the band. For example, we work with saxophonists who also play flute, clarinet, trumpet, and even piano. Several guitar players sing jazz standards and classic rock tunes. One vocalist plays percussion, and another does DJ work (see below). And these are only a few examples.
Think carefully about how big your event is. Many people hire four-, five-, and six-piece bands when they really only need a small background combo. Live music is a wonderful addition to any party, but music that is too loud and a band that is too big are costly lessons to any party giver. One simple piece of advice: If you don't expect any dancing whatsoever, then we would suggest no more than a three piece band, unless you are specifically in search of a large band sound.
