Wedding First Dance Tips PART 2

The Wedding First Dance – what to choose?

There are lots of choices that need to be made on your wedding day – the dress, the venue, the guest list, the menu. And there one very specific and personal choice for the bride and groom, which is:-

“What shall we have as our first dance?”

The Funky Buddha Band have been part of many wedding first dances, and each one is different and each one is special.  The choices that we have come across are many and certainly varied.  Often the bride and groom will know exactly which song they want – it may be the song that was playing when you first met or something that conjures a special memory – maybe when you both decided to get married or from a memorable holiday when you both realised ‘this is the ONE’!   And sometimes, it takes a while to think of a tune that can perfectly sum up the mood of the moment, that is simple, effective, meaningful and, most importantly, memorable. In which case, we can  help you make that choice.  So, to try to give you the benefit of our experience, here are a few ideas and maybe a few unusual choices of first dance that we at The Funky Buddha Band have come across.

come on – don’t be shy . . .

There are some classic first dances that we have played many times that always work such as My Girl, Stand By Me, Let’s Stay Together, Sing, and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.  Also, there are more contemporary classics coming up, such as Greatest Day by Take That, Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, I’m Yours by Jason M’raz and Angels by Robbie Williams.  We also get more unusual choices! We have played Aquarius from the musical Hair (the bride and groom were both actors and met whilst in this show!), Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton, Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, Iris by Goo Goo Dolls, Heroes by David Bowie, Everlong by Foo Fighters, Use Somebody by Kings of Leon and – believe it or not – Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus (with lyrics specially adapted and sung by the groom!)  And we’ve had many others from Bruno Mars to John Denver, from Bryan Adams to Kasabian.

If we don’t already know the song you choose we are happy to learn it.  Whatever the choice, we always want to make sure it’s the most memorable dance ever – all part of the service!

Hopefully our wedding first dance tips have given you some food for thought and some ideas for great first dance songs.  Get some more song ideas from Wedding Dance Workshops or Perfect Wedding.  Find more tips on planning and surviving the first dance in Brides magazine, or give us a ring if you want to discuss any aspect of your wedding.

 

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FIRST DANCE DECISIONS !!

It’s your wedding day – a special day full of special moments. And one of the most special moments is the bride and groom’s first dance together – after all the formality, the ceremony, the speeches, the toasts, it’s the moment that the newlyweds get to look into each others eyes, hold each other close and say to each other ‘We DID it!  It’s a wonderful and precious moment.  The only thing is – everyone is watching…with their cameras and videos.  All your family and friends, staring at you, cheering, singing and clapping….  So it may seem the most scary, nerve-racking part of what can be both the most exciting AND stressful day of your life!  Have no fear!  The Funky Buddha Band have played hundreds, if not thousands of weddings and so we have played, seen, been part of hundreds of first dances.  And part of our job is to support you, reassure you, direct you, listen to you and advise you in your choice at this memorable moment.




Wedding first dance tips.... Go for the jugular !!

There have been two broad approaches to first dances that we have come across.  The first is the bride and groom go for dance lessons and work out a routine.  This can really amaze friends, family – and the bride and groom themselves! We learn to play the chosen song version, so that you get all the choreography right!  But generally the bride and groom like to get into a clinch in the middle of the floor and sway around for 3 minutes!  It can be quite daunting, after the events of the day to be under such scrutiny and being the centre of attention.  Having to dance in front of everyone, can be something that you want to get over with ASAP!  And quite often we are asked to get everyone on the dance floor to join in as quickly as possible (mostly by the grooms)!  Again,  fear not – The Funky Buddha Band will reassure you every step of the way. We will learn any song you want, even if it’s not on our playlist (we have done this many times).  Or, if you feel more comfortable, we can put the original version onto our iPod, press play and then carry on playing live straight afterwards – this also works perfectly.  Another re-assuring thought – it doesn’t have to be THE first dance of the evening. Often it works better for us to begin playing a few tunes, before the first dance – just to get people’s attention, relax a few nerves and get everyone used to the idea that there is a band playing! Then, when you are ready, we make an announcement to start the bride and groom’s first dance. We invite you up and off we go!

Which of course brings us to the most crucial part of the process – which song??

To be continued in Part 2 soon . . .

Tags:www.funkybuddhaband.co.uk

 

How Should An Evening Reception Be Structured?

We are often asked about the structure of the evening reception at a Wedding. Of course, there are no rules as such but for those who want some guidance, here are some ideas.
If you have your Wedding Breakfast in a separate room to your Evening Reception then the band would usually set up discreetly whilst you are eating. If your Wedding Breakfast and Evening Reception are in the same room, then you will of course need to organise either the band getting there early and setting up, or allowing time for the band to set up after the meal whilst the room is being turned around. If you don’t have the option of two separate rooms, then the turn around period can work really nicely after the meal, the bride and groom could move into another area, or outside if its sunny, this gives a good opportunity for people to chat, let their food go down and also welcome the evening guests whilst the room is being changed around.
The band usually needs approximately 45 minutes to an hour to set up and sound check, after which we will play some appropriate background music to warm the atmosphere a little before the live music.
We always advise to start the Evening Reception as late as possible so that everyone is ready for dancing and your live music isn’t wasted. People often under estimate how important this gap is in-between the meal and the dancing, often weddings run late because the Bride & Groom are still trying to say hello to so many people. If the evening guests arrive at 7pm, we would usually aim for an 8.30pm start at the very earliest, however if you can push it back to nearer 9pm, then we find guests are more willing to dance the night away! It does depend of course on what the itinerary is for the evening.
If you don't have a Master of Ceremonies, then the Funky Buddha Band can announce various points in the evening for you, the first dance, the cutting of the cake, buffet, fire last orders etc.
We like to play the bride and grooms first dance live if possible followed immediately by the first set, this is a good idea as guests have usually joined the bride and groom on the dance floor, and are ready to start partying!
The first live set is usually an hour, after which the band will play a DJ set until the final live hour of music. If you have some of your own music on an ipod for the non live sections, then we can play that through our PA, no problem. 
The cutting of the cake can happen at various points in the evening. The most popular is right before the first dance. This works really well because all your guests will gather round to see you cut the cake, and then be there ready to see the first dance. It is such a shame when guests miss the first dance if they don’t know it is happening. 
If you are worried about your first dance, and not comfortable with just 2 of you on the dance floor for a whole song, why not invite key members of the Wedding party to join you. It always works really well when a Bride & Groom welcomes people onto the dance floor during their first dance. This kicks off the evening entertainment with a bang.
It is important to bear in mind any other factors you have going on that evening,and perhaps arrange the bands playing time around them. So for example, if you have an evening buffet or Fireworks, we are very happy to work with you so that everything runs as smoothly as possible.
Have a think about how you want to end the evening. Tradition is that the Bride & Groom leave before the guests. If you do a big exit, it is a really nice way to end the Wedding and say goodbye to all your guests, however a lot of  Bride & Grooms prefer to stay right until the end. If you do decide on an exit song, think about whether you might want the band to play it live, or have one of your favourite artists songs, however walking through the traditional Wedding Arch does take a lot of time so bear this in mind, we would advise leaving at least 5 minutes for this!!   


Funky Buddha in full swing

You will also need to check with your venue what time live music must end. In some hotels all live music must finish by 11am, but most will allow a midnight finish. There might also be a sound limiter, this will cut all power to the stage if the noise level is too high for too long. Although we are very used to playing with sound limiters, and they do serve a very useful purpose, it is always a good idea to let us know in advance so that we can adjust our settings.
The Funky Buddha Band has performed at many venues and occasions over the years, and we have a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to Weddings and corporate events. You can be assured that our professional attitude and approach will help your special event run as smoothly as possible.

www.funkybuddhaband.co.uk

Here, There and Everywhere ... even in Abu Dhabi

Well it's been a very very busy time.... December was a great month for parties and events.  We loved playing at the corporate parties at Tobacco Docks in London - great being invited back by Best Parties ever for the 5th year!!  We also had such a great party gig in our home town - the wonderful Brighton.  The Dome has a fantastic studio bar which is a brilliant place to get together; thanks so much too to the kindness and wonderful help form the sound and light team.

Here are a few photos of some of the gigs we've done recently - there are loads more to come, but why not come and see us for yourself? we do showcase gigs regularly in Brighton at The Brunswick in Hove - our next one is on March 6th, how about coming down for a night of great music and dancing, plus it would be nice to say 'hello' - drop us an email if you'd like to be added to the guest list.

A great Christmas party in Brighton Dome 2014

Huw and Andre getting funky

Beautiful Christmas Wedding

Hayley at the Tobacco Docks - fantastic corporate parties!

 Then we headed off to Abu Dhabi for the New Year - a great trip and experience.  Thank you David Warren for all your hospitality and for all the incredible staff at 'The Club' - we had a brilliant gig and by the looks of the dance floor so did everyone there!

A less local gig - Abu Dhabi for 'The Club' New Years Eve party - FANTASTIC!

Not often you get to soundcheck on the beech in the sun in December...

Packed dance floor all night in Abu Dhabi - they loved us and we loved them!

Abu Dhabi sunset

And to keep you up to date... we played at The Laines barn near Wantage on Saturday night - wonderful wedding and what great dancing!!

The Laines Barn - beautiful dancing and thanks for making us so welcome.

Why Book A Soul Party Band Or Soul Singer For Your Event?

If you're looking for live music that will radiate good vibes and the feel-good factor at your party, then soul bands and soul singers are the ideal choice for you! Expect to hear smooth, uplifting soul, motown and r&b classics, as well as the new modern soul chart hits when you book any of Alive Network's soul bands and soul singers - they're best in the UK!

Give your party the feel good factor with a live soul band, the ideal party band to give your guests a great evening of smooth moves and fabulous songs. From the music of Motown to the soul of the Southern USA, soul bands play timeless hits and modern classics that always share the luurve!

What is soul music?

Soul music blends the vocal of gospel, the infection beat of RnB, and adds the excitement of jazz into what the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame calls "a form of funky, secular testifying"! At Funky Buddha Band we can testify to soul music's unique effect to get everyone up and dancing, regardless of age or talent. As one of Funky Buddha Band's most talented soul singers Lady Motown says:

"Motown music truly has that 'feel good' factor and gets all ages dancing - from 5 to 75!"

Sizing up to soul

Soul bands come in all sizes, from Lady Motown's acclaimed solo performances, to a versatile and 5 piece line-up who "Play That Funky Music" with style and energy. Many smaller soul bands can expand their line-up for larger venues and parties, usually adding extra vocalists, a brass section or a sax player. Regardless of their line-up, soul bands will prove irresistible, as Chris from soul and funk band Informer explains:

"An awesome live band performing great Soul and Funk music is a formula guaranteed to make your guests hit the dance floor. Old classics or modern hits, this is funky music that everyone will want to dance to!"

And it's not just parties; soul bands are ideal entertainment for all kinds of events, as Amy from popular band, Soul Education suggests.

"Soul bands really do seem to be the ultimate answer for top quality evening entertainment; they are the 'go-to' option for most high profile/top end events for clients around the world. Soul bands are the best crowd-pleasing solution when catering for audiences of mixed tastes and generations."

Soul music and beyond

Soul party bands for hire don't just play soul music; they also play the greatest hits from all sorts of other musical styles, including chart classics. For example, Birmingham-based soul band After 8s performs an awesome mix of modern and classic funk, soul, Motown, disco, Rock ‘n Roll, RnB and even house anthems! Amy from Soul Education agrees that this mix of music is key:

"Although most bands have their roots in soul and disco, nearly all of them will branch out and cover a huge amount of top 40 hits, as well as other legendary classics from different genres. It's all about pleasing as much of your audience as possible. Our standard Saturday night set includes anything from Chic to Michael Jackson to Katy Perry to The Killers, so it's a real mix!"

Soul bands: from Wembley to your wedding!

Many of the party and soul bands at Alive Network are actually made up from top session musicians, who work alongside some of the greatest names in the music industry both in the studio and live on tour. Soul bands are therefore a superb choice for weddings where you want the very best music played live for your guests. What's more, the band can play you an absolute barnstorming classic for your first dance together; wedding soul band, After 8s suggestion list includes:

Al Green – Let’s Stay Together
Ben E King - Stand By Me
Bill Withers - Lovely Day
Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are
Dusty Springfield - Son Of A Preacher Man
Otis Redding - [Sittin' On] The Dock Of The Bay
The Temptations - My Girl

And there's more…

Why not make the most of your soul band by adding a few extras? Some soul bands such as Informer offer a live 60-minute lounge set, perfect for your drinks reception or cocktail hour, before they appear again with the rest of the band for the evening party. Soul Education offer free music played inn between their performance sets, so the party atmosphere never dips. Lady Motown is available as: a solo artist with her own high quality backing tracks; a live duo or trio, or with a four-piece band; a Motown Era or Diana Ross tribute and as a James Bond theme music singer. She even offers an add-on Motown Diva DJ Service - now there's a talented lady!

Booking your soul band with Funky Buddha Band

Hiring a soul band like Funky Buddha Band for your event, party or wedding couldn't be easier. Simply click on the contact page, watch our videos and be amazed by the sheer variety of songs in our set lists.

And if you're still unsure of soul

We couldn't resist finishing with this story of soul music reaching out across the age divide, as told by soul diva Lady Motown:

"A mother come to me in tears once at a wedding. Her 18 year old son had been making some moves on the dance floor to a Marvin Gaye song. She told me he was usually very shy and it was the first time since he was 6 years old that she'd seen him dance in public! She was so happy"

HOW LONG SINCE THE LAST BLOG!!!!? ... well take it as a sign that we have been really REALLY BUSY!

It is true, we have been busy gigging all over the country playing at weddings, functions and corporate events these last 6 months.  I've taken a load of photos on gigs and will include some in this update.

So, throughout December we were the host band for Best Parties Ever.  We were based at Syon Park and London Docks; two great bands got the party going every night starting off with a combination of cool jazz and chillout music followed by our new party set. 19 gigs in 24 days was hard work, we played our socks off, but it was great!  

2014.... Happy New Year! yes I know it is rather late.  On January 4th we got straight back to it and played at Finsbury Town Hall, what an amazing stage it was... see photo below.  We've been to Dartmouth, London, Chichester, Essex, Hitchin and our wonderful hometown BRIGHTON!  I don't have all the photos here and now but I will look them up and add them on.  We've added in a few new songs too including: Happy, Lose yourself to Dance, Get Lucky, Lets dance, Everybody Dance, Waiting all night plus a few more I can't think of here on the spot!

I've been busy on the piano too, playing at weddings and functions, check out the mirrored piano at The Dorchester

The stage at Finsbury Town Hall

The dancefloor at Syon Park

Our home for December - stage at Syon Park

The London Docks band

A piano fit for Elton John (The Dorchester)

Wedding party goers!

Funky Buddha get the party going at the 2013 Print Awards in London!

We were delighted to be invited to play at the 2013 Print Awards in London this week.  Our 7 piece party band did an hour of cool jazz and chillout music over drinks and canapes as well as 2 hours of full on party music.  Special thanks to all the staff at The Grovenor Hotel in Park lane for looking after us so well throughout the evening.

The ceremony

Enjoying a boogie after