The entertainment you choose for your wedding reception most often determines whether your reception is over in an hour or two, or whether it will go the duration and beyond. You must choose your entertainment wisely or all the money you spent for the facility, flowers, food, etc., planning on a 4-hour reception, may have been in vain. Okay, so you know you need quality entertainment. Now which will it be? A band or a DJ? The following suggestions are intended to help you decide between a "LIVE" band or a Disc Jockey.

TO GET THE BEST YOU WILL HAVE TO BOOK EARLY
It is best to plan for entertainment as early as possible. For example, if you know you are planning a 4-hour reception, you must know that food, flowers, cake, and the bouquet toss are not going to be enough to hold everyone's interest for four hours. Some type of entertainment must be considered. The entertainer should be one who has years of experience performing at wedding receptions. Entertainers of this caliber will usually book up very early (as much as 12 to 18 months in advance), so waiting to see if you have money "left over" after you have secured everything else will often leave you shopping for left-overs in the entertainment field. Again, if you want your reception (celebration) to last for three or four hours, start budgeting and shopping for entertainment as early as possible. You don't even have to wait until you've secured the facility. Many entertainers will allow you to book them with the option of filling in the location later, as long as you stay within a specified geographic region and the chosen location meets their power and space requirements.

VARIETY
It should go without saying that the best choice of entertainment for your reception should include a big variety of musical styles. You don't want to alienate any of your friends or family. Everyone deserves to have a great time at your reception. Okay, so variety it is! Which can give you the most variety, a DJ or a band? This issue can be tricky. On the one hand, you would consider a DJ as having the ultimate variety at his disposal; however, this is not necessarily the case. Disc Jockeys and bands alike must have the authority to "throw away the song-list" when it "ain't" working. Your DJ must have more than just the top 200 popular party songs from a particular year at your reception. He must also be equipped with the greatest classics covering many generations of music. There can be a limitation even with a DJ if you didn't shop and plan wisely. Most professional disc jockeys will meet these requirements but it is always wise to discuss the issue of variety with them just to be sure they come equipped to handle almost any situation.

Bands are usually somewhat limited in their song choices when compared to a disc jockey. Bands and DJ's alike must anticipate requests and prepare accordingly. The professional quality bands, like disc jockeys, are constantly adjusting their song selection to take into account the latest trends. Experienced bands know which classics they should have in their repertoire. By classics, I mean the songs from the past that just seem to never die. For example, "Unforgettable" by Nat or Natalie Cole, and "The The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra. But classics can also include rock, pop, disco, and R&B hits like "My Girl", "Unchained Melody", "We Are Family", "Mustang Sally", "Play That Funky Music", "Twist And Shout", and "Old Time Rock And Roll", just to name a few. And if a guest requests a song that the band doesn't know, some bands will try it just for fun. They will usually present it to the guests as a "stump the band" game with comments like, "we are trained professionals, don't try this at home." The truth is, if even one member of the band knows the song, the band can usually "wing it" and make it a fun part of the show. Bands can usually be flexible with a song too.

BREAKS
A DJ can keep music playing virtually all night without a break. If he/she needs to go to the restroom, they can put in a long song that gives them enough time to take a short break for nature.

One concern about bands is that they take breaks. It is virtually impossible for a band to play continuously for four hours with no break. Think of the last concert you went to by your favorite artist. They usually last 1.5 to 2 hours at the most. And halfway through, there is an intermission so the band can rest up for the second half. Some bands offer the option of having you pay for extra musicians so the music is continuous. They will have "double coverage" for each instrument and alternate musicians throughout the event. This can be okay but bear in mind that using substitutes in this way can change the personality/sound of the band as compared to their tape. You never really quite get the sound you heard on the tape (when they were using their regular musicians).

Some bands play a "break tape" while they are away. The break tape can vary from "lame" to good though. Be careful about the use of a break tape. A mediocre band will sound better to your guests after they have listened to 15 minutes worth of "elevator music" and are bored out of their mind. At the very least, ask if the band will allow you to bring your own tapes and/or CD's to be played during breaks. This is no guarantee since even you may guess wrong about what songs your friends and family will like, but I'll bet you won't pick elevator music either.

There are now a very small number of bands that actually provide a "LIVE" interactive DJ during their breaks. As far as variety goes, this covers all the bases. You get a full set of live music from the band (using their regular musicians so it sounds like their demo or better). You also get the flexibility of the DJ to play the music during the breaks. This break music is usually something totally different from what live bands play so it also adds to the variety. For example, club-mix hits like "Ride The Train", "Gettin' Jiggy With It", "Tootsie Roll" etc. and/or some of your own requests.

Another thing to consider about breaks is this. You must at some point in the reception cut your cake, make toasts (unless you did the toasts at the rehearsal dinner), toss your bouquet and garter, etc. If you have a DJ, you must stop the music anyway in order to take care of these traditions. If you have a live band, it is a good idea to cut your cake, make your toasts, etc. while the band is on break. The professional quality wedding bands are accustomed to providing a master of ceremonies for such formalities and they will usually suggest that you plan to cut your cake, toss your bouquet, etc. during one of their breaks. This gives you the most live music while allowing you the time needed to enjoy the other wedding traditions. If the band supplies an MC he/she is accustomed to working through the breaks, assisting with toasts, announcements, etc.

SPACE AND POWER
The amount of space a DJ requires to set up his equipment in is usually much less than a band. If your reception venue is extremely tight on space, money aside, you may have no choice but get a DJ. If you have any idea that you may want a band, check with some of the experienced bands in town and ask about the venues you are looking at. They can give you a "real" answer about the place. Some of the venues will tell you what you want to hear until they've got your name on the dotted line. Then, when you think you've found the perfect band, the venue tells you that they have a limit on the size of the band.

THE BOTTOM LINE
It can be tough to make the decision about whether to use a band or a DJ. In general, if you have the budget, a great live band will create an excitement at your reception that will not soon be forgotten. If you don't have the budget to get the highest quality band, consider a high quality DJ. But don't get a budget DJ. While the CD version of the popular songs all sound the same, subtle details like the quality of the sound system, lighting (or not), and the interactive skills/experience of the DJ are what you are paying for. If you are troubled about hiring a DJ (because you wanted "LIVE" entertainment) but you can't afford a great band, consider this. Hire a great DJ and spend just a little more to have say an Elvis impersonator come by about halfway through the reception as a "surprise guest." The impersonator can perform for about 45 minutes and then mingle with your guests for photos afterwards.