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Last minute request for wedding

DaveParker39

DaveParker39

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Feb 28, 2022
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#1
We have been prepping for a wedding gig.
We learned 4 songs at the request of the bride/groom.
Today (Monday), we received an additional request from the father of the bride.
The wedding is Saturday.
We typically rehearse thursdays. None of us have ever heard the song before.
Is it unfair to say "We would be happy to play that on the PA but we cannot learn that song in such a short time frame?"
 
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#3
100% acceptable. My band does primarily weddings, and 9 times out of 10 the first dance song is played from Spotify over the PA. Beneficial for the bride and groom as well as they can practice dancing to exactly what they’ll hear on the night.
The short notice for an extra song (when you’ve already learnt others) is reason enough to decline to learn it. Just pop it on in a break and crank it up…
We also use this approach for requests on the night that we can’t pull off convincingly (we’re a 3pce, all male, do we look like we can play Abba?) To be fair, we’ve done credible versions of Mamma Mia & Dancing Queen, but come on…
 
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#8
Doesn't matter what the song is. You don't agree to learn a sing you've never heard the week of the event.

Just because you accepted a gig that doesn't mean you have to say yes to everything.

Learning FOUR songs for one event is already going above and beyond. I would MAYBE have agreed to a couple....and that's if they were requested before signing the contract. After the contract is signed, it's all up to you. You can learn them if you want amd not if you don't.

Don't go down the rabbit hole of being a yes man with regard to private parties. If you do you'll get into lots of weird/bad situations.
 
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#9
Your suggestion sounds reasonable, though we have on certain occasions learned a new song request for a wedding in our hotel room the night before. It was the Bread song - I Want to Make it With You. Went over fine. If you want - you can all learn it at home prior to practice and rough it out there. Like others have said - it would depend on the dough. No one at the wedding is going to care if you mess it up. It's pure emotion at this point for them. If you learn the song you'll have a good reference from the wedding folks. If you don't learn it that will be mentioned if you use them for a reference.
 
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#10
He who pays the piper calls the tunes. The pro thing to do would be to pull it together and learn the song. I've cold read songs on the job. Not ideal, but most pros have been there.

On the other hand, if you know it's going to blow, you're better off being upfront about it and telling him he's going to like the recorded version better.
 
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#11
Not unfair at all. I think people want to hear the recordings anyway...even though they don't know it. I think people overestimate how close a live band can get to an original recording and its sound.

Or, you could make every best effort to pull it together, and this goodwill might get you another gig with relatives or friends of this client.

Best case: you learn the tune, it goes well, you get a good reference from the client, maybe you recieve a nice tip.
 
#14
two fingers said:
Doesn't matter what the song is. You don't agree to learn a sing you've never heard the week of the event.

Just because you accepted a gig that doesn't mean you have to say yes to everything.

Learning FOUR songs for one event is already going above and beyond. I would MAYBE have agreed to a couple....and that's if they were requested before signing the contract. After the contract is signed, it's all up to you. You can learn them if you want amd not if you don't.

Don't go down the rabbit hole of being a yes man with regard to private parties. If you do you'll get into lots of weird/bad situations.
Click to expand...
It definitely matters what song is being requested.
It might be simple to play (not learn) if it is within the band’s skills/style.
If it’s out of reach, playing a recorded version of the song is perfectly acceptable, given the short notice.
 
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#17
Zooberwerx said:
I wouldn’t know…we’ve never played a funeral. New Orleans would be a different story…

Riis
Click to expand...

giphy(1).gif
 
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#19
The folks I work with are usually able to learn songs really quickly, so as long as it’s not like something like “la villa strangiato” or “bohemian rhapsody”, we just make quick charts and do it up. The “playing the original recording over the PA” option is pretty ok too.
 
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#20
There's a quantum difference between learning something in the realm of "Louie Louie" versus an obscure prog rock operetta. If your band thinks they can't pull if off at the same quality level as the rest of your playlist, I would go with the recorded PA version. It is their wedding but it is also your band; it's not supposed to be an open stage amateur affair (at least not usually at most weddings :)
 

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